The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-22
PATHOs IN SIBERIA,
An Aged Convict Recognizes BIS Son
as One of His Soldier Guards.

An Aged Convict Recognizes His Son
as One of His Soldier Guards
From the London Telegraph.
An interesting account of most tragic
meeting between father and son, who, after
a long separation, deserted each other
standing on different sides of the impossible
gulf that divides this worlds sheep from the
goats, has just reached me. 1t occurred
near the city of Vladivostock, where the
construction of the new Siberian railway
was lately commenced In honor OF the car
owitZs visit. Among the workmen, or
helots, whose RuerdUn is many stripes and
no pay, there are some thousands of the
least criminal convicts in the country.
Many of them are known to be innocent OF
the crimes laid to their charge, while Others
are being punished for acts which have
absolutely nothing In common with moral
crime.
Among the latter was one hoary old man
of venerable aspect, native of Koorah,
who had deliberately trodden on the chain
of the governmental surveyor as he was
measuring the ground because he was sus-
pected of an intention to transfer some Of
the peasants land to the crown. This i'm
prudent act was labeled violent resistance
TO tue lawfully constituted authorities"
the old man was found guilty, aud as the
rigors Of Siberia were deemed inadequate to
give this daring spirit his due. he was &C.
ported to the moro terrible island of Sag
halien. When the security Of free work
men began to be felt he was taken from
there. conveyed to Siberia and rent to work
along with one of the convict gangs. One
day he was struck by the familiar look of
the soldier who, with loaded rife, guarded
his gang, and he made bold to ask him
whence he came. To this question the
soldier, forbidden by the military rules
to enter into conversation with the con-
victs, gave no reply. The old man, however,
grew more fidgety, soon ceased work alto
gether, and fixed his dark, piercing eyes on
the soldier. AT last, unable to control him
self any longer, he pronounced Christian
name softly. calling out, My dear, dear
son." The soldier quivered, grew pale,
with an effort compressed his lips, convul-
sively clutched his gun and pulled himself
together for a moment-but it was only one
moment; the next his emotions had COM
pletely mastered him, his hands dropped
helplessly to his sides, his rife slipped with
dull thud to the ground, and he himself
fell heavily without word or moan, as
il cut down by scythe. The old father
threw himself on his body called him ten
Derby by his pet name and covered him
with tears and kisses. The other guards
and taskmasters seeing, without under
standing, what had happened, rushed to
the spot, surrounded the convict. who, it
was evident to them. had felled his guard,
and raising the butt-ends Of their guns,
prepared to dash out his brains. Some Of
them next tried to remove him by force,
but he held the unconscious guard SO tightly
locked in his embrace, kissing him aud mutt
tering to himself: "He knows me; yes, he
knows me now, my dear boy" that they
were powerless to separate them. At last
they were both removed on a dray TO the
hospital, and the true significance of the
scene dawned on the Infatuated soldiers,
who were now deeply touched by what they
had witnessed. st was" writes my cor
respondent. "a most narrowing scene-one
that shall remember with ashudder to my
dying day."
The next morning the doctor declared
that the soldier had lost his reason, ana
must be removed to madhouse. The con-
vict, on being informed OF this, and ordered
to begin work as usual. refused quietly at
first then roared and raved like a maniac,
and was at last put in a strait waistcoast
aud confined along with the other madmen.