Wichita eagle., 1890-03-09
GOING 101SIDDRIl.
Notes by an Ex-Russian Exile
on the Trip to Sambofr.
IN THE KREMLIN AT MOSCOW.

The news recently received Of the awful
outrnges inflicted on Russian political prison
ers at Kara is still the leading topic among
the many Russians who have gone into vol
untary exile in America to escape enforced
exile in Siberia. A number of these people
Eere talking on the subject not long ago in
New York One man who, after three years
the mines, escaped to America, told the
ollowing story of his journey from st. Pc
ersburg to the mines:
After had learned that l was to be exiled
remained in the prison ct ST. Petersburg
for some time. Finally was told that, with
a large party, l was to be sent to Siberia at
once. After we had arrived at the railroad
depot we were driven like SO many cattle into
a car men and women indiscriminately
mixed.
1t was evidently the intention to make our
surroundings as gloomy as possible. The cars
into which we were ushered were almost es
dark as the wagon in which we journeyed TO
the station. A few small windows high up in
the car admitted little light, but prevented
our seeing anything OF the country through
which we were passing. When darkness over
took us, we were not permitted lights,
and amidst such gloomy surroundings we
Travelled from Petersburg to Moscow. The
officer in charge OF our party was an old sol
der of the time of Nicholas |, and like his late
master a more than strict disciplinarian. He
was brutal to prisoners, and we found it i'm
possible to get civil word from him. The
younger members of the party derived their
chief amusement from singing patriotic songs,
in the sweet sounds forgetting that they had
not been hidden to a feast by their autocratic
master, but instead, exiled TO wild, gloomy
country, where they would spend many years
of misery, and some would perhaps pass their
whole lives, with bondage more cruel than
death overshadowing them.
The next day we reached the old white
stone city, near the capital of Russia, always
interesting from the many recollections cling
ing around it. On alighting at the station
we were conducted by CosSacks and gend-
srmes, on foot through the city to the Krem-
lin, inside whose gates stands an immense,
frowning structure, called forwarding pris
on. 1t was surrounded by high stone wall
Within the prison a sickening sight met our
gaze. No matter in what direction the eye
turned it rested on dampness and filth indie
scribable. The cells were large, but their
size for actual use was much diminished
through accumulations of dirt, and, worse
than all, were swarnling with vermin. Each
cell contained a chair or wooden bench other
wise it was deyoid of furniture After our
experience of the ST. Petersburg prison, this
seemed in truth very sink hole. and l won
dered that so many survived a residence in
the place.
The people of Moscow have the greatest
sympathy for exiied prisoners. The starosta
Of our party had many hundred roubles
handed him while we were passing through
the city. Refusal to accept such contributions
would be regarded an insult. They are ten
dered from the fullnes: of sympathetic hearts
and should be accepted in the spirit offered.
While we were only party of politicals, and
many of us well supplied with money, we did
not wish to give offense to the kind citizens,
so accepted their generous assistance with
many thanks
While at the Krernlin we were shown
the horrible iron cage in which the revo-
lutionist Imgarcheff met his death. A sight
of this remarkable instrument of tor
ture is evidently intended to subdue all tur-
bulent hearts. This cage is about ten feet
high and four wide, and still contains the
heavy iron chains which encircled the body
and limbs of the great leader. Imgatcheff
Catherine the Great In the present time a
more refined and prolonged species of cruelty
is practised-slow death in the underground
mines. After remaining three days in Mos
COW, we were once more conducted to the
railway station, where we took train for
Mini Novgorod at which place had 20 sep
arate from the rest Of the party, as my desti-
nation lay in different direction from
i T I.
into the presence of Samoyloff, the colonel of
the regiment, under whose jurisdiction the
etape prisons were.
He refused to let me proceed on my way
by one soldier. l had travelled
from Archangel in that way, and his refusal
angered me to such an extent that told him
that he could send the whole regiment to
escort me if be wished to do SO, one or hun
dred, it was all the same to me. While this
was going on an etape officer APP
peared On the scene, g Capt Eoylowski IA
Pole, who approached me with what he in
tended as winning smile, and asked if |
wished dinner; he said he could send it to me-
Instead, after a few hours, he arrived at the
prison with the local prosecutor TO search and
examine my baggage, saying that he was
but fulfilling his duty, and that any protest on
my part would be of no avail, as as be would
have 10 search my papers before he could
permit me to depart, as they might possibly
contain something against the government.
He disappeared. taking eli my documents and
letters with him, and | did not see him again
for three days. He then sent word that he
had destroyed all my papers, and that might
continue my journey under the care Of two
soldiers. who had orders not to travel more
than one station or twenty-five versts day.
So I started on my way, with soldier and
2 bayonet on either side of me Ii was not a
pleasant situation in which to be placed, es-
pecially in regard 10 the order about the
twenty five versts, but with little ingenuity
managed TO avoid that order. 1t was u
cold, rainy day, and the snow was quite deep
on the ground, which, with the downpour of
rain, made the roads almost impossible in
consequence of which we were forced 10 move
slowly snd many times our wagon wheels
stuck in rUts from which il seemed irnpoSsi-
bic to extricate them.
After q few hours travel we all became
chilled, and when we reached the
first kahak, or liquor saloon, invited nv
guard to have drink of vodka | was
slresdy on friendly terms with them and in
sisted that vodka would protect them from
cold Strict orders are issued 20 soldiers hav-
ing prisoners in charge. and above all things
they are cautioned against parUaking OF any
kind Of liquor. Il was a sore trial for the
men, and sharp battle of conscience and
duty against the allurIrs wiles of vodka en-
sued. Vodka as much as tea s the national
drink, particularly among the middle and
lower classes What wonder. tnen. that the
men could not resist tee temptation. The
struggle was short aad snsrp. and they declc.
I'd in favor Of just one drink OF vodka 10
Keep the cold oft. 1; was ths beginning Of