The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-06-12
Horrors of Siberia.

CristO" Alexander Dumas endeavOrs to es-
tablish the proposition that those who have
suffered most are capable of enjoying most.
If that be true, Count Langowskl, an en-
ploye of Hudson's clothing house, Detroit
has an enormous capacity for appreciating
the good things of life, though even his
present Strengthened circumstances do not
permit an excessive indulgence in them.
Count Langowski, as he would be entitled
to be called in Poland, though preferring
plain Frank Langowski, resides at sos Ere
mont street with his wife and two children.
He is very short of stature, very thick set,
very white haired, though only 81 years old,
and very cheerful in disposition, notwith-
standing his sutferings entitle him to be
known as man of many sorrows. He
speaks eight languages. in one of which he
detailed to representative of the Free
Press the thrilling story of his life, how for
IA years he was Russian political prisoner
in the wlds of Siberia-hated, despised,
beaten with stripes. starved and frozen
''It was in 1868 that the Poles rebelled
against Russia" said he in very fair Eng
lish. IL was then 81 years old, single, and
lived with my father, Count Langowski, on
a large farm near Warsaw. My fathers es-
tate was large and he was one of the lead
ing nOblemen of the state. The rebel gen.
eral. TacZanOwski, billeted 500 of his troops
upon us, and although our family had in no
wise participated in the revolt, to refuse the
levy meant expatriation. Therefore my
father acquieSced. Against these 500 trOups
Russia sent 3, 700 men and 60 cannon. The
battle was short and decisive. resulting in the
killing and capturing of the whole 500. Six
horses from our stables that had been pressed
into the service were killed. and two of our
men who were driving. The third man was
whipped nearly to death after the capture.
and then bayOneted. was taken prisoner
and soon set out with hundreds of others on
our way to Siberia. Think of journey of
over 3. 900 miles on foot, requiring 13 months,
with heavy chains on each ankle and chained
by the wrist to another in a gang of one
hundred. That is the way we made the
trip, most of the time the weather being
bitterly cold. with the meanest kind of
clothing, and only allowed seven copecks,
less than five cents, a day for food. At
night we slept in etapes. long. low log or
stone sheds, erected every ten miles along
the way, more often without fire than with
it, always hungry, always cold, and always
in pain from the CALLING chains. At last,
after 13 months of misery. we arrived at the
end of our journey, to encounter worse mis-
cry still. was set to work in the quick
silver mines. Three months is as long as
any human being can stand it to work in
those mines. Many die in the mines and
many soon after leaving them. The fumes
of the mercury rot the bones, loosen the
teeth and leave the man a total wreck.
When [ had partly regained my health
after this experience, 1. with others, was
set to digging holes in the ground. The
holes were not designed for any use what
ever, but were dug just to keep us at work,
and it was while thus engaged that / re-
ceived my first whipping. was too weak
to smooth the side of the hole as nicely as
the officer wanted it, and simply told him
50. For that was taken to the whipping
bench. laid on my face and fastened down
by three thongs. one of which was passed
over the neck, one over the body and one
over the legs, so arranged that man can
not make the least movement. l received
80 blows with the knout, and was two
months and half in the hospital before l
could leave my bed."
"How are these knouts constructed?" he
was asked.
They are stout leather, the points of the
lashes heavily loaded with lead. and blow
from them in the hand of strong man is as
bad as stroke from policeman's club L
have seen men killed at the third stroke
After my first whipping received another
of 125 lashes for calling soldier dog who
had bayoneted prisoner in cold blood. 1
was nearly killed and it was nearly a year
before could resume work. The scenes
of brutality to be witnessed on all sides
were simply frightful. The killing of pris-
Oners by the soldiers was terrible. They
were under no restraint whatever. and the
poor prisoners were even killed for uttering
the slightest word in protest against the