The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-12-17

The eFeAt Hih' rian Traveller Taiks
ai Masnian tlmrharttles

the Russian exile system has attracted
the attention and enlisted the sym.
pathles Of the entire civilized world
arrived here Yesterday, accompanied
by Mrs. KEENAN,, They only re.
manned in the city a few hours. and
left at J \. NJ. for San Jose, where
they will remain a day or two and
then return here.
1t is twenty-five years since Mr..
KEENAN,, then unknown young man.
came TO san Francisco. lie was then
bound out to Petropauovski TO assist
in the construction of the Russo
American telegraph line. KEENAN,
spent two years and half in Siberia
that time. lie travelled over vast
eSDanse of plain and mountain re-
gion, and fell in with the exies at the
remote posts. He became interested
in them, studied the Russian convict
system, wrote at length of what he
saw, and, finally, began telling of the
great wrongs the people endured. 1t
took him good while to get round
to this. The government of Russia
takes care that the visitor shall not
know too much. Such information
as Mr.. KEENAN, got at first was large
ly of such matter as Russia desired
TO have 60 forth. Afterward be saw
and talked with the people, and what
he learned filed him with horror.
KENNAN's LATER TRIPS.
Mr.. KEENAN, made three or four
trips after that first one twenty.fv
years ago.
Mr.. KEENAN, is man of medium
size, slightly inclined to spareness,
and with his face just little thin.
He appears to be about forty five
years of age. His eyes are black,
and at times flash, as he grows int.
rested in his theme. He talks pretty
fast, and he shows that nervous
energy which prompted him to under
take his labor and dangerous trips
through Russia.
One of them was from St. Peters
burg to Minnsinsk, in the valley of
the Yenisei, Eastern Siberia, involv.
ing trip by sledge of over 5000
miles. During the trip he secured
more than fifty pounds of manuscript
matter, pictures and documents of
various kinds from political exiles.
lie also bore letters from exiles to
other exiles. as well as Government
passports. Much of the matter in
his possession was as dangerous as
dynamite. He was frequently search
ed, yet by circumstances strangely
fortunate he managed to get through
without detection.
'tThere are now about 100000 of
the exiles," said Mr.. KEENAN,. "They |
occupy the most desolate regions of |
Siberia, and are scattered far and |
wide in colonies over those wastes.
About $4,000 or 10000 are exiled
every year. OF course the vast maj
GRITTY are low criminals, not political
exlles. The latter number only about
3 per cent. of those that are exiled.
This, however, is somewhat terrible
TO contemplate, especially as the
political otfenses in numberless in
stances amount to mere suspicion.
W omen are also exled in large num-
oers, and there is fearful brutality
about it all that is terrible.
AN INSTANCE OF CRUELTY.
There are very few exiles on the
siberian coast, opposite Bering sea.
They are kept more in the interior
The reason is that if they go out on
he coast they would escape in wbal-
ng and other vessels. The Govern
nent looks out for that
In far Eastern Siberia at Mimi
insk, 1920 miles from st. Peters
urg, lives a learned political exile,
\. M. Martinez, a graduate of the
University of Kazan. His wife is
lso exiled with him. When they
'ent out there years ago Mr.. Mar
moi, who had great taste for
clence, made botanical and other
objections, and gradually interested t
Their exiles thereabout, till now the t
is the most noted in East I
IN Siberia and is known as the MIMI 8
nsk Museum. '
1t is gathering place for all the
ducated exiles of that colony.
IL had at the special invitation of
lr. Martinez called several times at
is home,' said Mr.. KEENAN,, "and c
ad drank tea with himself and wife t
nd discussed the sufferings of the t
Siles. Mr.. Martinez had again in Il
ted me to come on another even ]
g, and | had made preparations to
so when | met him and he told me "
at Mrs. Martinez was sick. In fact, G
at she was soon to become a D
other, and that the visit must there is
re be postponed. r,
"Word was also sent to the Rus e
an authorities that Mrs. Martinez,
cause of the illness, would be
liable to appear and sign the regis
r, as is required once week of all
lies.
''Ihe next day after this word was -
mt Mrs. Martinez was persuaded -
her husband to walk few steps =,
fore their door. Her suffering was -
en-. They had just but stepped ~
tside the door when they were =,
en- by one of the authorities. and ~ ~