Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-10

gret that England and Russia did not
better understand each other than ap-
peared to be the case in the opinion Of
leading Russians and some prominent
Englishmeu, and hoped the time might
come when the boundary line of their
mutual ambitions in Central Asia might
be drawn with a severe and firm regard
for the world IS peace and happiness. Ar
rived at Moscow, he succeeded i'll finding
his way to the penal esta blishment at
Sparrow Hills, where the young English
artist had rested with his fellow prison
ers en- route for Siberia.
It was at this very spot where Philip,
as boy had seen the band of eXiles
mustered and marched out, as mentioned
by him to Chetwynd during his artistic
inspiration at Primro1 Hill in the En-
glish metropolis. The place was pro5a-
bly, very much in the same condition
when Chetwyud became acquainted with
it as it was in the days of Philips father +,
and as it had been when Mr.. Bremner =,
quoted by the author of ''Stories from
Russia, - visited it thirty years previ-
ously.
Chetwynd found no difficulty in visit
ing the prison and Witnessing an exodus.
On the next day the governor a cour-
teous official whose heart had not hard =
hardend under his melancholy experience
accompanied him early one autumn
morning, net to the great fortress. but
to a series Of strong barrack-like build
ings, surrounded by high wall, not of
6 very powerful defensive character, but
carefully guarded by numerous sentinels.
The governor conveTsed pleasantly in
French and rolled perpetual cigarettes;
DiFly uIE Fnc oh ha1p
round of the penal institution.
The broad courtyard was already oc-
cupied by a large company of prisoners,
each fettered by the ankles, not with
heavy chains, but sufficiently CALLING,
alas, for a general march of little short
Of six months to the dreary wilds of
Eastern or Western Siberia. They in
cluded men and women, the former in
the usual convict's dress, a long loose
coat of coarse grey cloth, the latter in
thick woollen dresses with q kind of cape
or shawl fastened about their shoulders
and another over their heads, worn very
much in the manner of a Lancashire
operative. A portion of their route, the
governor informed Dick, would be made
by river, in enormous barges upon which
were constructed prison cages, where the
men and women were separated, but by
road they travel in bands together It
was true, he said, that some died by the
way, and that political prisoners who
could afford it were permitted to ride,
and also to take with them baggage and
their families, many of whom lived after
some years of severe discipline 10 q COM
paratively free and comfortable manner.
He admitted that there were exceptions,
but hoped that the exile in whom Chef
wynd was taking so deep an interest
might be one of those favored persons.
1t was not often, he said,
that an EnglIshman was included
among the eXiies TO Siberia, but
during the last few years many foreign
ers had interested themselves unduly in
Russian politics. Fanatics from Italy,
France and Germany, calling them
selves, he believed, Socialists and regen-
orators Of the world, and once in q way
the police had, he understood, to pay
their polite attentions to some English
ally of the revolutionists. He could not
understand why England, having so
many political and social difficulties of
her own to attend to, should take so
much interest as it appeared she
did in the internal affairs of Rus
STA. Possibly, as Mr.. Chetwynd
this young English gen.
tleman, Mr.. Philip Forsyth, had been
led away by the destinations of the
Countess Stravensky, whose disaffection
TO the government had been as great a
as was her sudden and eXtraor-
binary disappearance.
Many of the band starting upon their
awful journey had favors and privl-
eges to ask, which in some cases were
granted and in others refused, but on
he whole the men and women seemed
10 be treated at least at this stage of
heir trials, with a certain amount of
particularly on the part Of the
governor whenever he was addressed or
lis Intervention was invited by subordi-
late officers.
At the same time when the gates were |
thrown open, the strong military guard |
IN foot made a formidable show, each !
nan loading his weapon in the presence !
If the prisoners.
Part of the escort was mounted, carry |
ny long spears; they were probably Co.'S |
sacks, and IN the experience of Mr..
5remneT. previously quoted, the COM
handlers of this light cavalry were in the
habit Of using the poor creatures with
unchecked cruelty, riding furiously about
among them, striking them right and
eft with their strong whips, without any
eason for their activity, just as brutal
!TOverS might among their cattle.
On this occasion the men were banded
ogether apart from the women, but
'hetwvnd noticed a far better disposition
han Mr.. Bremner had noted in the treat
nent of the exiles who marched out I'M
Ter his observation; but he restrained
is tears with some difficulty when the |
-ates were closed and he heard the mel
ncholy tramp and clank of irons in
fhlch his imagination easily depicted his
Unhappy young friend.
In the interior of the prison he found
lost OF the men and women unfettered,
ut the governor informed him that he
lIght witness, if he remained, the rivet-
az of their chains. At the same time it
ccurred to the officer to suggest that
lese poor creatures were more to blame
han the government. Some of them
ere criminals of bad type; others
ere political criminals, little better, ex-
spt that in most cases they had been
ell nurtured and were educated men
nd women, who had been too wise to
ccept and obey the laws under which
ley lived. He refused to accept for a |
ioment Chetwynd s suggestion that
any political prisoners III Russia