Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-07
THE FIRST DAY.
Experience Of . Political "suspect" In . Rus
sian Prison.


Experience Of . Political Suspect" in . Rus
sian Prison.
From Free Russia
which were four cells, each with room for ten
persons. The sleeping berths were for ten
persons, but the space between these berths
and the wall was so narrow as to make it diff
cult for all the ten to walk at once. Several of
them generally sit or lie on the berths. All
the cells were open and the prisoners were
In the court; some were mending their ragged
clothing, some knitting stockings, some merely
lying or sitting in the sun; most of them,
however, were employed in destroying para
sites in their hair or clothing. Several
persons surrounded me and asked who was.
now long was to stay and where was going;
no one inquired why l was in prison; that ques-
ton is considered impolite in prison society.
After having satisfied the curiosity of the ques-
TONERS, most Of whom were in chains and were
to be transported to Siberia, was taken into q
cell, where o vacant place was shown me. on a
sleeping berth an ell wide, with a dirty pillow
stuffed with straw and no mattress or blanket,
for both Of which the prisoners cloak
serves The prisoner who showed me
my place was the ''elder Of the ward
lstarosta); he was very amiable to me and
recommended one berth, remarking that
There's plenty Of room here. there are only
ten OF us; IN all the other cells there are If
teen; that's why put you here" Tho fact is,
that the elder was building hopes on me; he
had noticed that wore spectacles, and had
therefore concluded that must be gentle
man, and, Of course, must know how to write,
ana ne was just then very anxious to write a
peution. l, Of course consented, and asked
him to explain to me his business. He began
an account from which my attention was dis
tracted by sudden sensation of burning ali
over. ..Oh Is it they?'' he asked, breaking
of. .'They?' l repeated, wondering. He
NODDED; my experience was familiar to him.
Never mind, he said consolingly: ''they only
pie SO furionsly just at first, you Won't feel
tore of my cloak: nv shirt was literally
covered with vermin. They were in such
swarms that stood horror stricken; it seemed
to me that u must die from them Nv new
friend, still trying to console me. helped me of
WIN my shirt and we went out into the court.
Laying down the cloak in the hot sunshine to
get warm, we employed ourselves in clearing
the shirt OF vermin. Before laying the cioai:
on the ground the elder held it 10 for me to
LOOK at, and 1t seemed to me to be almost free
from insects. But after few minutes he called
my attention to it again. The vermin hidden
out to the heat. 1t was only
then that I understood in what condition
the Clothing was that had been given
me; drew back with the bitter conviction
thGt 1t was useless to struggle against such
endless legions. But my instructor assured me
that there was no need to despair. that must
have patience and that by working at it eiph-
teen hours day one could get rid OF a great
many in two days. There was nothing for il
put to follow his advice; not that had any
hopes OF success, but rather from sheer desper-
alton. But we had not long to sit in the court.
At pm. our names were called over and we
were locked up in the cell. We lighted some
tiny lamps, filled with grease, and went onswith
our work. Some had contrived to get hold of q
pack OF cards and spent the time in playing.
though with frequent Interruptions, as at any
moment the sentinel might look in and catch
the gamblers in the act, which would have re-
suited in search and the confiscation of the
cards. One of the prisoners. therefore, stood
admiring the beauties of the darkness, acting
meanwhile as scout. and gave notice with a
movement OF his foot every time the sentinel
approached. Then instantly all the gamblers
would put on the most innocent air and occupv
themselves in some other way. At Sam, we
were let out. had not slept at all. nor OBJ
tanned one moments relief from the torment
of the yermin. The prisoners crowded round
the well and drank: some took off their cloth
ing and washed it, remaining naked while
they did SO. The morning chilliness was
still in the air. l and NV new
friend resumed our toll of the lay before. He
was evidently well accustomed to the work.
and looked compassonatelv upon nv Ignorance
and clumsiness. You don't a bit know how
to manages you look half afraid of them! You
shouldn't 60 at it SO gingcrly! 1 know whose
cloak that Is, he went on; "a fortnight ago
there was fellow here, Jack Fool. we used
to call him; quite natural, you know. He
was always soft in his head; and then he was
III, too; just all over wounds and sores from
head to foot. Well, there he'd lie and of
course he got all over these creatures: he never
tried to get rid of them. OF course a decent
fellow wouldn't let his cloak get into that state,
but the fool didn't care-aot he; he didn'
seem to have any feeling somehow;
On learning the biography of nv cloak I an
pealed 10 him in horror to know whether
could not possibly get it changed for another.
He at first maintained thai it was quite need
less, that we could get rid Of the vermin, that
one could not eaten diseases from clothes. &c.
but he failed to convince me. "Of course" he
remarked a. last lone can get il changed: it'll
cost a lot, but it can be done; here, sir, any
thing can be got for money. Why, not only
clean things, you can have spirits. PLAYING
cards, paper, pens and ink-anything YOU Ike. :
My cloak was changed that day. Prisoners
are not allowed to have money in their posses
sion, but a prisoner who has money to his ac-
count in the Office can buy things in the prison
shop by order.
The dealer, like banker, cashes your order.
though in goods instead Of money. and takes
~ per cent himself for trouble and risk.
That evening felt far less miserable in con-
sequence OF clean cloak