Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-27
SIBERIAN TRAGEDY.
TEE SAD MEzflEs eg An AGED CONVICT AND
BIS SON.
Thsy Both Lose Their Minds and are Confined in
the Same Prison and il Adjoining Cells
The Son, as s Soldier, Guarded BIS
Oppressed Father.


from Vladivostok q story remarkable for
its pathOs and tragedy, even among the
dark tales that make up the record OF
Siberian life.
At that city the construction Of the
TranS-Siberian railroad was begun some
months ago. The work was formally
entered upon with imposing fOrmalities
az the time Of the visit Of the Care
witch. For this purpose q number OF
convictS were taken thither, as laborerS,
under a strong military guard.
Among these cOnTcts was one white
haired old man, of patriarchal aspect.
He was q native OF Koorok, and had
always been a law-abiding subject; but
on one occasion the Government survey
ors were measuring of q slice of his
ground, which they proposed to seize.
He protested, and in his earnestness,
CHANGED to step upon the surveyors
chain, as IL lay upon tho ground before
him. Now, the surveyor wSs the repre-
sentative OF the Car, and his chain for
the time being represented the Imperial
sCeptre. The old peasants mis-step,
therefore, was an act not only OF gross
disrespect to the Little Father, but high
treason itself.
The culprIt was instantly arrested,
put in irons and locked in cell. On
being brought TO trial, however, be sue
ceeded in convincing his judges that his
fault was accidental and not intention
al, and accordingly the utmost leniency
Of the tribunal was extended TO him.
He was not sentenced to death, but was
sent 10 toll in Siberian chain-gang for
the remainder OF his life.
Working on the railroad at Viadivos-
tOk, this poor old man one day noticed
the soldier who, with loaded rifle, acted
as guard over him ana his companions.
The soldier looked wonderfully familiar
70 him, and the old man gazed at him so
steadily as 70 neglect hts work and to
bring upon himself from the Overseer a
reprimand aud a threat Of the knout.
After time the old man edged his
way so close 70 the guard that he could
speak to him, and he asked him who he
was and whence he came. The soldier,
Of course, made no reply, and did not
even notice who was addressing him.
The military law absolutely forbids
soldier 70 speak TO a convict or TO notice
him in any way, unless 20 shoot him il
be tries TO escape. But those Of his
comrades who stood near saw the sol
der turn deathly pale, and then brace
himself up with more than ordinary
rigidity.
But the old man persevered. Heed !
less of the threats Of the Overseer, he |
threw down his tools and left his work, |
and staggered up TO the guard, who |
remained silent aud motionless. Their |
eyes met, the old mans streaming with |
tears, the soldiers as dry and fixed as
those OF the dead.
alexis, my son! Is it thou? Is it !
thOu?" cried the hOary-headed convict. !
Still military discipline kept the |
guard as silent and mOtionleSs as a /
statue. His face was picture Of NOR |
tai torment. Then, despite his Efforts |
to control himself, his lips quivered, |
his knees trembled, and swayed TO and !
fro. He graSped his rifle cOnvulsively |
and drew himself up as If on dress !
parade. The next moment his arms fell |
to his sides, his rifle dropped to the !
ground, and without word, or even a |
grOan, he fell at his fathers feet, APP
parently a corpse.
The convict threw himself upon s
sons body, covering It with kisses and
uttering wild cries Of endearment and
of grief. The OVerSeer and the other
guards, seeing what happened, but not
understanding 1t, rushed TO the spot.
They supposed that the old convict had
attacked the soldier, perhaps killed
him. IL was their business to suppose
that, anyway. So they raised the
butts of their rifles and In moment
81 ~,
brains, but some one suggested that
they should first drag the convict from
the soldiers body, clest some Of their
blows should fall on the latter. This
they struggled in vain to do. Though
half dozen tugged at them, they could
not separate the two bodies, and the
old man never noticed them even. but
kept on kissing his unconscious son and
uttering his wild, inarticulate cries.
A cart was then brought, and the
two bodies, inseparably clasped together
we're laid in it and taken, under a
strong guard, to the hospital, where the
surgeon could cut of the old mans
arms and thus part the two. But when
the surgeon saw them the truth dawned
mon him. He told the soldiers, and
they, who had been eager 10 toss the
old man on their bayOnets, marched of
with tears flowing down their cheeks.
Presently the doctors got the old man
to loosen his hold upon the soldiers
body, and he was instantly taken back
10 the railroad, and forced, under lash,
to resume his work. They then turned
their attention to the soldier. Under
their efforts he soon regained conscious
ness but not reason. He was incurably
mad. They took him that night to an
insane asylum. The next morning the
old man was marched out TO work again.
but, my son." he cried. How is
my son this morning? Is he living or
dead?"
Then one Of the soldiers for the first
time broke military discipline and in
Cured the risk OF heavy punishment.
ssYour son, y" he said, elves; but he is
hOpelessly insane"
At these words the old man stared,
burst into peal Of fearful laughter,
and fell forward Ia cOnvulsiony. They
carried him away to the hospital and
from there TO the asylum, where they
out him into the cell next to his sons.
There were then two hopeless maniacS
in that mGdhOuSe.