Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-10-10
RUSSIANS IN NEW YORK.
Rob r. Walsh Tells of the Cxar's Subjects
in the New World.

In the New world.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Sept. 15.-Of the $4,000 per-
sons of Russian descent or native born
Russians in New York. it is a peculiar fact
that although nine-tenths of them speak
Russian, not more thaR 1850 can read it.
And it is even more peculiar that of the
1850 who can read and write Russian Is
per cent. are exiles, or in other words, per-
sons connected with the Naradnaya VOLTA
or revolutionary party in Russia. These
eight hundred and odd people are many of
them of good ~parentage and highly edu-
Gated, but none of them left Russia from
choice. As a matter of fact they are
nihilists, n persons who would now be
inhabitants of Siberia had they remained
In their native country.
The balance of the Russian population
resident here are western Russians, and
for the greater part Hebrews, which Ian
guage they read, although they converse In
Russian.
During Il conversation which I had a few
days ago with a leading New York Russian
and nihilist, he informed me that although
over 1900 members of the Naradnaya
VOLTA reside in New York they are for the
greater part unknown to each other; that
at least two-thirds of them are, even here,
unde the espionage of the detectives of
the car, and that many Of them, if found
on Russian territory, would be spared the
humiliations of Siberia by ascending the
scatfold for their we'll or i'll considered
patriotism
But what surprised me most during my
interview was what he told me concerning
the detective system of the Russian gov
eminent in the United States.
There being no eXtradition law for politi-
cal offenses with Russia, suspected persons
are carefully watched here by a special
corps of the "Third section of his imperial
majesty's own chancellerie," with a view
to discovering something or anything that
might lead to discriminating persons be-
longing to the Naradnaya VOLTA, now re-
siding in Russia. And SO fearful is the
car of danger from the plottings of the
New York nihilists that even Russian
type is forbidden to be sent from that
country to the United States. Every letter
from here is carefully examined before it
reaches it's destination, and the addressed
is placed under careful secret surveillance,
no matter how innocent may be the con-
tents of the document.
An amusing incident of this expensive
and, says Mr.. -. useless espionage hap
pened q short time ago.. A young lady of
respectable %parentage landed from Kieff, in
Russia. No one came to meet the steamer.
But the officials of the car had cabled
their agents here to watch her. Her move
ments were most mysterious, for she did
not take a cab to drive to a hotel. She ex-
pressed her baggage secretly, and %independ-
emily walked out of the pier shed. Close
behind followed the officers of his majesty
the czar, when suddenly at the corner of
Grand street and Broadway a gentleman
saluted her.
They were certain of a discovery now;
but 10 and behold' the stranger who &C
costed the lady so Familiarity was their res
ident chief-she was his wife.
My informant was better informed than
the czar's officials, for he knew she was
coming and watched for his friends sake.
He learned what he w~anted-and they9
Well, they did their duty and succeeded
with their usual success.
And so the wal goes on. Correspond
ence is carried on freely between the exiled
nihilists and the brethren at home. The
news from Siberian and Russian presses
somehow or other reaches New York. But
the car is everywhere" and the rubles
Of the people are spent on a most extrava-
CANT and practically useless detective sys-
tenn among the cities where dwell his ex-
lied subjects. Rob f. WALSH.