The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-06
FL0GGING OFTHE WOMEN
ANOTHER STORY OF THE OUTRAGE
IN SIBERIA.

IN SIBERIA.
Madame Sigida's Intention to Slap
the Commandant's Face Not Re-
vealed 20 Her Companions II it Was
meditated-Madame Kavalskaya
Too Ill to Rise from Her Cot,
CHICAGO. March 5-The following com.
munication has been received by the Asso-
ciated Press:
MNNEAPoLIs, MINI, March 4. 1890.
To fhs Associated Press: have Just received
from Russian acquaintance In Paris the fol-
lowing letter with regard to the reported fog
g1ng TO death OF Madame Sigida at the mines Of
Kara, IN eastern Siberia have every reason
to believe that my correspondent is trust
worthy and that he has received directly from
the province Of Trans-Baikh the information
that be sends me. but further than this I
know nothing. The story of the foe-
ging OF Madame Sigida and the suicide
or her companion has been officially denied by
the Journal De st Pdtersbouroe, the organ Of
the Russian foreign Office and by the Sc. Peters
burg Noocs premyG, but these denials, unfor-
tunately, do not carry as much weight as they
would II the Russian government had not de-
me nied the story OF the slaughter OF political ex-
Hes in Yakutsk. last March, a story that am
now prepared to prove before the COMMITTEES
OF the International Prison Association.
GEoRGE KEENAN,.
THE ENCLOSED LETTER
.,
MY DEAR Mn. KENNAN-I hasten 10 send yof
details that received here yesterday frou1
Siberia of the tragedy at Kara, with regard to
which wrote you briefly few days ago. We
learn from trustworthy source that upon sug-
gestion or initiative OF Baron Korff, governor
general OF the Amoor province that it was de-
cided some months ago to put all the polt-
ical offenders at the mines of Kara
upon the footing OF common criminal convcts.
In pursuance of this decision orders were re-
ceived from SC. Petersburg TO turn political
v fxsyAH rxxs.nr -
director ofthe common criminal prison, aud 10
have them shut up In the cells occupied by To-
male convlcts OF tho common criminal
S1,s ea1sS' =, Inc Kara tragedy was the re.
known TO political prisoners ON Oct. "a last.
More than half OF the male political convicts
proposed, az once, 20 commit suicide; but as
an would not agree TO this IL was finally de-
clded to await definite action on the part OF the
prison authorities The men gave notice, how
ever, that they would kill themseves at
About the same time the severities began In
the women's political prison. Nine. Kavalskya.
py order OF Governor General Korff, had been
transferred from Kara TO tho Verkhni Udjnska
prison, and this had prepared the way for
the events that followed as soon aa
her female companions learned the narrowing
details OF her removal to Verkhni Udinski. the
circumstances OF which were as follows: Baron
horn paid visit OF inspection to the women's
political prison at Ust Kara, and entered the cell
where Mime. kavalskaya was lying sick in bed,
prisons that when officers, and especially an
onicer OF high rank, enters CELL every prfs.
oner shall rise TO his or her feet and stand is
the attitude OF attention. Madame Kavaiskaya,
who was In an advanced stage Of prison con,
sumption, neither rose from her bed noe
noticed In any way the governor generals en-
Trance baron korf, ignorant perhaps OF the
unfortunate woman's physical condition. asked
her roughly whether she did not know who had
entered the cell, and why she did not
gest up. Nine Nine. kavaiskaya replied. YEARLY,
now whether you arc the governor geperal or
only turnkey. / am unable to get up" Baron
korff, irritated apparently by what seemed to
kaya be taken to the vernhhni Udnska prison,
and there be put into solitary confinement. This
order was executed by Col. Masuikof, COM
manding officer of the Ust Kara prison, with
great brutality. Mime. Kavalskaya declared
herself unable to walk, and she was thereupou
taken out of her bed by two soldiers. carried
down TO the bank OF the Spitla river Ia Sheet
and put into q small boat for transportation
TO Verkhni Udinska. Her companions held
Commandant Masuikoff responsible, and APP
pealed 70 the higher authorities for the latter's
removal. When sae appeal was disregardedf
they proceeded to enforce 1t by means OF q
hunger srrdke voluntary self.starvation).
and hunger strike OF unheard OF
duration. They tasted the first time sixteen
days When at last commandant Masuikofk
rendered his resignation, the higher authorities
refused to accept IT., and the hunger strike was
renewed for eight days more, at the expiration
obnoxious commandant, Col Masuiko6,
would be removed to another post The prom
ised removal, however, did not take place, and
again the hunger strike was renewed. Tifis
time 1t continued twenty-five days, but most Of
the women were kept alive In spite Of
their refusal TO eat by the administration OF
food artificlally. Al the end of tnis terrible
hunger strike. only Madame sigida and Mad
ame Salova were able 60 stand on their feet
Madame Sigida asked for an interview with the
comme q ian.. In the course OF it she struck him
WhPlhAF teaa
voked by something that he said or
whether she intended to sacrifice
herself with the hope Of bettering the condition
OF her companions Is not known The hunger
strikers we're not aware of her intention to
strike the commandant IL she had such an in
tention when she left them. Nine. Sigida
prison at Ust Kara. as were also Mnes.
Mausknaya and mgrnitzaxa, and Nine, Kaval-
skaya. The result OF the blow given by Nine.
Sigida TO Commandant MasuikoR was tsle-
gram from Governor General Korff directing
that she be hogged- The prison surgeon made
the customary examination OF her person and
TTeporIed rep, re- that she was not IN condition to en-
OF the surgeons decision and OF his refusal 10
be present at the fiogging. He therenpon teIe-
graphed: Garry the orders into execution with
out the presence OF the Doctor" Nine Sigids
was then fogged under the supervision Of the
assistant director of the common criminal
prison, an officer named Verbofski Another
as Bobrofski She died two days later
from heart failure, and almost i'm
mediately after ward Mines. Smyrnitz-
poisoned themselves. The other women we're
SO isolated that they did not know what had
happened, but news of the terrible tragedy
reached the mems prison. and according 20 In
formation furnished by the procureur thirty
OF the male political convicts took
poison. Only two Of them, however.
kaluzhnsor and Bobokof, died. The others
we're saved by medical treatment. Herker,
who was living outside the prison In the free
command, (" shot himself In the head, but as
his pistol was a very small and cheap one, the
wound was not fatal. In the words of the
Kara political convicts, This Ia the be-
ginning OF the end" The governor
OF the province of the Trans-Baikai,
the procureur. the district surgeon, and two
gendarme officers from Irkustk have gone to
Kara. but for more than a week, my corre-
spondent says, no news has been received frorn