The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-02-04
SIBERIAN HORRORS.
Cruel Displays Of Barbarous Kussian
Tyranny.


Cruel Displays Of Ba~barous Kassian
Tyranny.
Boston Herald.
In confirmation of the accounts given by
Mr. KEENAN, OF the cruelty shown by the
Russian authorities in Siberia to unfortu-
nate political conyicts comes report from
Yakutsk, in Eastern Siberia, of an incl
dent which, while in way characteristic,
is at the same time more inhuman than
most of the barbarous deeds for
which the Russian political system
is responsible. According to the &C.
count that has been received
thirty exiles under administrative order
that is those who have been exiled by de-
cree OF the authorities in Russia, without
trial before any regular tribunal-were or
dered by temporary governor to proceed
to certain death stations. where they were
to pass their terms OF exile. This journey
was to be made under new rules. which, in
the opinion Of exiles. could not fail in the
result Of the death of quite . number OF
their party, Is the points to be reached
were near the Arctic circle, and the journey
would not be completed until after winter
had set in.
On this account joint petition was
drawn up by the exiles, requesting that the
old methods of regulation be continued.
The petitioners were told not to present
themselves in q body at the government
house, but to await reply in . private
house. Having assembled at the latter
place, they were informed by an officer of
the police that they must go in a body to
the government house. The exiies. being
in doubt as to which of these contradictory
orders they should obey. hesitated.
when the police and soldiers, losing
their patience. attacked and fired upon
them. Some OF the exiles apper u have
had pistols and to have made some slight
show OF defense, which Is said TO have rem
dered the soldiers more brutal in their
treatment. One policeman was killed,
though. according to his own dying state
ment. he was accidentally shot by one OF
the soldiers, while an officer and the COVER
nor, who came up during the disturbance.
were wounded. Six of the exiles, including
one xoang woman, were killed outright,
and nine others, including another young
woman, were wounded.
Ii might have been supposed that this
cruel massacre would have been in itself q
sufficient display of official vengeance. but,
on the pretext that the petition against the
new rules constituted an act of insurrec-
ton, court martial was held, and three of
the surviving exiies were sentenced To
death, while the rest were condemned to
long terms of penal servitude. Among
those executed was one exile who had been
struck by four bullets. and who had to be
carried under the galiows in his bed.
When rope had been pat around his neck
the cot was removed and be was left hang
ing.
While there is no definite reason for sup
posing that . connection exists between
this wanton abuse OF power and the recent
revival Of nihilist agitations st ST. Peters
burg, one could easily understand why the
friends and relatives of those who were
thus inhumanely treated should feel the
blood boil within them, and. regardless of
risks, should adopt what seemed TO them
to be the surest and quickest way Of re-
venging the injuries OF the sufferers and
oil securing . change IN thor
oughly pernicious system of control.
There Is no civilized country in the world,
aside from Russia, where anything ap-
preaching an stroeity such as that which
we have related above would be tolerated
by the people. To find parallels for il II
would be necessary 10 go 20 semi-civilized
countries such rs Turkey. Persia or China.
and even In these countries. where the life
of the subject is considered Of not the least
value when brought 10 opposition to the
viii of the ruler. sueh an instance of OFFICIAL
bArbarity. II il we're publicly known. would
probably provoke the indignant protests OF
the great powers OF Europe.
Thus far the fruits Of victory in this duel
between the ausocrasic government OF Rus
s;a and its dissatisfied people have rested
with the defenders OF the autoeracy. al
though Gar Alex amber ii. has been mum
beresi among the victims OF the strife But
ii does not seem possible that q method of
contros so abhorrent 20 all modern ideas
OF Justice and humanity can continue 10
triumph when TIE blood OF so many polisi-
cal martyrs Is furnishing the seeds for
future opposition.