St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-18
HOW HE ESCAPED SIBERIA.
A Nihilist Eludes His Guards by
AmputatiOg His Thumb.


New York Herald.
The recent outrage by the Siberian
officials in logging two women brings
to mind an episode of the daring escape
of Siberian exile at Moscow, as told
me by an Engiishman, aprOpos of his
residence In that city for some two years.
1.-The exile" said he, was the leader
of band of nihilists noted for their
daring. He had many aliases, but was
generally known as PetrOySki. Phys.
ically he was one of the most perfect
men l ever saw. He was of q dark COM
pleXiOn. stood over six feet high, and
was built in proportion. II seems that
he and part of his band had been cap
tured in connection with some plot the
authorities had unearthed and had been
sentenced to life servitude i'll the mines
of Kara. Knowing only too well what
this meant, the men had become as deS-
perate as Gagged lions by the time they
reached Moscow, and were willing to
take any chances to effect their escape.
"If | remember correctly there were
about thousand prisoners in this cavai-
cade, aud they were guarded by reg
iment of st. Petersburg soldiers. I'm
like the other prisoners, PetrOvski and
his party were handcuffed to each other.
They were under double guard. as it
was known that they would make an
attempt at escape should the oppor-
tunity offer. No chance offered, how
ever, until the day Of starting for the
mines arrived. The soldiers who were
guarding the party appeared to be rather
under the influence Of liquor, and were
not so vigilant as usual. l stood on the
stoOp of small inn within ten feet of
Petrovski, and from the expression of
his face J knew something was in the
wind The officer who had charge of
this part of the prisoners, who was noted
for his brutality, had mounted his horse
and stood near the party. The guards
had walked Off some distance and were
conversipg together. l saw Petr0vski
working at his handcuff, and then saw
him draw common dinner knife from
his jacket.
"'The movement did not attract at
tentiop. and he turned slightly. so that
his back was toward the officer. Then
| saw that he was going 10 attempt one
of the most desperate escapes ever heard
of, The man was certainly amputating
his thumb with the table-Knife, so as to
allow the handcuff to slip over his hand
He worked it, uever fiinching, until
| the thumb dropped at his feet. The
blood was flowing from the wound in a
stream, but he tied it up in rag after
| drawing the skin over the wound, and
| had slipped the handcuff off. His COM
panion was aware of his movements,
| but stood like a statue. The suppressed
excitement / was suffering from, to-
| gether with the daring bravery that !
was witnessing, almost made me faint.
| l saw that the daredevil was as pale as
a sheet, but without the slightest sign
| Of fear.
"He stood for a moment irresolute,
and then began slow side movement
| toward the mounted officer. When
within few feet he turned with the
fury of "a tiger, and, Selling the officer,
| dragged him from the horse. Before
| the guards could recover their senses
| he had mounted the horse and started
/ off at run down the street. A fusilade
| of shots followed him, but he escaped
| them all. His friends aided him. and
| he eventually made his way to Paris,
where he still lives with his wife and
family, but minus his right thumb"
1