Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-15
MARTYRS OF RUSSIA'S CAR
Stories of the Horrors of
Siberian Prison Pens.
THE Administrative EXlLES
Guilty of no Crime but Likely
to be Dangerous.
George Kennan, the Traveller and Writer,
Lectures Upon Russia's Political Exiles
THE Most Revolving Crimes of the
Century--Some Specimen Heroes.

--Ihe Most Revolving Grimes OF the
Century--some Specimen Heroes.
Outside of hegeneral features, absorb
ingly interesting as they were, of George
Remnants lecture at the Opera House
upon the subject of "Russia's Political
Exiles," 1t must be remembered
that the speaker was present last night
week to testify from personal knowl-
edge upon the historic facts of the past
and present existence of these outrages
on civilization as they are perpetrated
now in this last decade of the nineteenth
century. Horrifying as the whole ter
rible story is, this feature of it, that
these fearful outrages, be the statements
true, and certainly the assertion may be
fairly yentured that not single
person in Mr.. Kennan's audience
last night week did aught but believe
him-then the most painful feature of
the lecturers narrowing recital is that
these dark deeds are also transpiring
now. The audience left the theatre
doors weighted down with the most
hideous memories of Russia as may
find their parallel only in the dismal
passages of the Florentine poets
Inferno" If Mr.. Remnants state
ments be true, there are no adjectives
in our lexicon to adequately describe
the damnable practices of the Russian
administration of to-day.
The lecturer was introduced in few
pertinent remarks by Mayor Harring-
ton, who referred to the lecturers fas-
cinating articles in the Century Mdg0zane
upon Siberian prisons.
Mr.. KEENAN, is an attractive speaker,
easy and fluent. While he used manu-
script, he did not read it. A large
camera sheet was continually in use,
upon which were thrown graphic illus
trations, which he made use of in run
ming comment. The protesting class
among Russian subjects, the lecturer
asserted, are not homogeneous. They
are of all classes, from noble to peasant,
and from official to tradesman. The
common bond that links together all the
Russian opponents to the existing sys-
tenn is the declaration that the present
condition of affairs is unsupportable and
must be changed. The protesters are
not party of negation. In all his years
of travel and of intimate acquaintance
with over 500 administrative exiles, Mr..
KEENAN, has not yet met Nihilist, ac-
cording to the accepted American mean
ing of the term. The political eXiles are
not gloomy, frantic cranks. They are
intelligent, in many instances highly
educated men and women, writers, law
yers, physicians, teachers and students.
The first series of stereopticon pic
lures were given for the purpose of dis
posing of the Russian administrational
claim that the larger share of admins
trative, which is the term used to de-
scribe political exiles, are of a lower
order of butchers and peasants.
Some of the pictures of women gave
features of the most extreme refinement
and positive beauty, The degrading
stories of the whipping of these women
bare back in the Kara prison dungeons
excited suppressed Kisses among the in
dignant audience of last night That
was the occasion about a year ago, when
23 of the female political eXciles, ex
aspcrated beyond endurance by their
fearful treatment determined on self
starvation. They ate nothing for %
days. Mr.. Kennan startled the audience
by stating that the prison officials cir
cumvented this by administering injec-
tions by force. Three of the women
committed suide and others died from
prison fever and gradual starvation. The
government outlay for the support of the
administrative exile is S1.15 per month.
The story was told of an unfortunate
young lady, graduate of some St.
Petersburg seminary, who insulted by
some words of the governor of the
prison slapped him in the face. Sic
was condemned TO receive 100 lashes
bare back, from the effects of which she
died. Other horrible stories were told
of an outbreak in one of the etapes or
exile stations on the route to Yakutsk.
Several prisoners were shot dead and
others hanged. One was taken on his
sick bed TO the gallows and there strung
up almost inanimate. Graphic anecdotes
of the escape of political exiles from
Kara to this country were received
with repeated applause.
Audible sarcastic comment was made
in reference to the fact that the Russian
administration had offered large pre-
MUM for the best essay on prison gov
ernment and the life of the Philanthro-
pist Howard.
One of the most affecting anecdotes
related was that of the young exile who
just before taking his turn at the gal
lows scribbled off few lines to his
respited fellows; "make my life count"
his note said, "and write to KEENAN,"
Another story was that of the prison
death of beautiful young woman
whose prison mates smuggled a letter to |
Mr.. Kennan expressing the hope that all |
English speaking people would be en-
abled to learn the truth in regard to
these fearful barbarities.
A series of ghastly pictures were