The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-05-29
AN UNh6ARD-oF ESCAPE.

How . Nihiliat Eludel His Guards BY
Amputats"g Hls Thumb.
The recent outrage by the Siberian
officials in flogging two women brings
to mind an episode Of the daring escape
of Siberian exile at Moscow, as told
me by an Englishman, apropos of his
residence in that city for some two
years. Tho exile" said he, ''was the
leader of band of Nihilists noted for
their daring. He had many aliases, but
was generally known a. Petrovski
Physically he was one of the most per-
feet men I ever saw. Ho was of dark
complexion, stood over six feet high
and was built in proportion. 1t seems
that he and part of his band had been
captured in connection with some plot
the authorities had unearthed and had
been sentenced to life servitude in the
mines Of Kara. Knowing only too well
what this meant. the men had become
as desperate as Gagged lions by the time
they reached Moscow, and were willing
to take any chance to effect their es-
cape.
IF remember correctly there were
about a thousand prisoners in this cav
alcade, and they were guarded by reg
iment of St. Petersburg soldiers. I'm
like the other prisoners, Petrovski and
his party were handcuffcd to each other.
They were under a double guard. as il
was known that they would make an at
tempt at escape should the opportunity
offer: No chance offered, however, un-
til the day of starting for the mines
arrived. Tho soldiers who were guard.
ing tho party appeared to be rather
under the influence of liquor. and were
not so vigilant as usual. stood on the
stoop of small inn within ten feet OF
Petrovski and from the expression of
his face knew that something was in
the wind. The officer who had charge
Of this part of the prisoners, who was
noted for his brutality, had mounted hi.
horse and stood near the party. The
guards had walked off some distance
and were conversing together. saw
Petrovski working at his handcuff, and
then saw him draw a common dinner
knife from his jacket.
''The movement did not attract atten.
ton. and he then turned slightly, SO
that his back was toward the officer.
Then / saw that he was going to at
tempt one Of the most desperate es-
capes ever heard of. The man was Ger.
tainly amputating his thumb with the
table knife, so as to allow the handcuf}
to slip over his hand! He worked at it.
never flinching, until the thumb dropped
at his feet. The blood was flowing from
the wound in stream, but he tied it up
with a rag after drawing the skin over
the sickening wound, and had slipped
the handcuff off. His companion was
aware of his movements, but stood like
a statue. The suppressed excitement
I was suffering from, together with the
daring bravery that I was witnessing,
almost made me faint. saw that the
daredevil was as pale as a sheet but
without the slightest sign of fear
HE stood for moment irresolute. and
then began slow side movement
toward the mounted officer. When
within few feet he turned with the
fury of q tiger and selling the Office,
dragged him from the horse.
''Before the guards could recover thei,
senses he had mounted the horse and
started off at a 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.
IN, Y. Herald.