The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-11
OUTRAGED BY RUSSIA.
INEYNC1Ns CAPTURED AND KEPT IN
SIBERIAN MINES.
Horrible Treatment by the Authorities
Penalties for Poaching on Russian Terri
tory-Tbe Story Of One Of the Sufferers
EesrfuI Experiencc.

One Of the greatest outrages ever inflicted
ipon American citizens by the decree OF
foreign power, dispatch from Boston 10 the
New York Sun says, has been the imprison-
ment Of four New England sailors-one OF
Them born in Boston-for two years and ten
months in Siberian coal mine. One Amer;
can died after starving upon rice soup ana
being eaten by yernin. TINS seems alsD 10
have been the fate of the twelve or fifteen
Japanese who made mp the rest of the crew
The first member of this little party to
reach home after being mourned as dead Is
Captain Joseph W. Morris, Of Boston. lie
suffered unheard Of cruelty as punishment for
poaching in Russian territory, anu Is one VI
two survivors of the awful punishment IN
f1icted upon the crew. The fact that he was
poachinc invalidates his claim for indemnity
from the Russian Government
This is Captain Morris story OF ms suner-
ings ....;a ., oinco.nturod on account
of the sealskins We had on board, and we
quickly made for fog bank, steering south
southeast, going through the water AT the rate
of about eleven knots. The man-of-war was
probably making twelve or thirteen knots. and
rs she came out Of the fog and sighted us she
was about six miles distant. She Immediately
fred a shot for us 10 heave TO. Instead OF
heayipp 10. however, we cracked on every
stitch of sail but II did little good, for the
Russian soon began TO drop shot around us
pretty close Ne held consultation ana con-
sidered the chances of escape and capture
The rest thought we could make the fQg bank
and elude our pursuers, though felt doubtful
about il myself, but we decided TO try II. But
IL was no use When about one and half
miles from the fog bank the man-oi,war De-
gan to shoot clean over us, and at last one
shot cut the manmast i'll two. There was
nothing to do then but 10 heave TO-
"Our twenty-five japanese were huddled
10 hmm ffPtN
slams opened on us with their rifles, and shot
straight into the bunch of Japs killing seven
at the first yolley. | didn't understand tins
ct first, but in looking up saw the flag flying
and knew at once what the matter was. SEX
ing Ratchet, ran and cut the downhaul ana
let the flag overheard The hring then
ceased"
Captain Morris then tells how he was ques-
toned az TO his business IN those waters, how
he was ordered aboard the man-Of-war and
his schooner taken in tow, and how he and
his crew were taken to Vladioos Took. There
they were put under guards and forced TO
sleep on the beach on dried seaweed for nearly
two months awaiting the trial. 1t was con-
Quoted in Russian When it over the
only thing they knew was that they had been
esnvicted of violating the seal and fishing
laws They were taken to the town jail. The
Captain continues
AT the end of a week we were taken out,
wet and hungry. and started on the road for
Eicolaski, $50 miles TO the northward, near
the Gulf Of Pen Jinsk. We all walked, guard
included We slept under cover only two
nights of the march, which took us twenty
three days. When we reached Nlcolash we
learned that we were sentenced TO work IN the
mines three years Our rations were pound
Of dry bread day. The guard would shoot
game for themselves; on tins march we were
cruelty treated. Our names We're called, one
BY one and each of us received from the IN
terpreter paper stating that each must dig
and send up from the mine FIVE car loads of
coal day. II the stated amount of coal did
not come up no rations would be sent down,
% that if any of us were sick we would have
to starve to death.
Il was the first 10 60 down, and | did not
Gee the light of day for two years and ten
months / was left in pit 200 feet long and
about twenty wide. The darkness was so in
tense that was never able to see but few
feet in front of me. After had been down a
little while / saw a light at the other end of
the pit. at once went towards 1t, and there
beheld one of the most woful sights ! ever
saw in my life. IL was a man six feet tall and
built in proportion. He was covered with coal
dust from head to foot, his clothes were IN
tatters. and he looked like a fiend The light
that had seen came from the miners lantern
on his head. On seeing me he let forth n saw
age yell, and came towards me rapidly, talk
ing in Russian, to which | could only reply
30 his picking in disgust.
Later an officer came down, bringing with
him two belts and a chain with rvetlng IN
struments. The belts were of thick leather,
padded on the inside so that they would not
cut into us when put on. The officer Tiveted
two bands of iron TO the outside ofthese belts.
and then put one on each of us, connecting us
with an iron chain eight feet long. Up to tins
time the Pole, for that, | learned, was the
nationality of my fellow prisoner, had worked
in the pit alone.
'Why we were chained together / did not
know, and don't know now, unless IT was to
increase the punishment, or TO prevent escape,
though the latter was absolutely impossible i'll
q pit so many feet beneath the surface of the
earth, with a single outlet up the shaft. at the
mouth of which was stationed guard day
and night
THE Pole was really insane and for day
or two my condition was mighty uncomfort-
able. He ate my rations OF rice-soup and
threatened to kill me when | expostulated.
At last hunger drove me TO desperation, and
the Pole and had terrible fight. He was
much stronger than /, but he had no skill,
and got the best of him and gave him
sound dribbing. After that we got along all
right"
morning and found my companion dead. |
was in a dilemma / was chained to a dead
man, and with tive carloads of coal to send up
or no rations. While was turning ii over in
my mind thought struck me. BY this time
j was nearly starved. | thought that if |
could wheel the corpse from the vein of coal
70 the shaft, take IT off there and dump my
coal into the car, and work hard enough to do
two mems work ] would get the rations sent
down for both of us; and tins ] did for four
days. sending both lanterns up every night
At the end of this time couldn't stand il any
longer, and decided to do my own work
only.
AT the end Of fifteen days, having had to
lift and carry the fellow around all the time /
began 10 feel weak from labor and sick from
the stencil Of the putrefying body What to
do didn't know. But at last fearful thought
came 10 me that makes me shudder TO this day
and there was no way but TO carry it out |
took my shovel and cut the corpse through At
the waist. removing the belt. thus by the only
possible way freeing myself from the body. |
placed the portions of the corpse on the car.
and sent them up on the next load of coal
On the next car down were hammer and
coal chisel which l had OWNED was for the
purpose Of taking of my bands and chain.
This did. aud sent them up with the next
load Of coal. This was all the recognition
they gave TO my sending up the dead body. |
learned when came ont that pardon had
come for the Pole only a few weeks after his
death
Now was alone. and kept on at my five
carloads daily until one day. after had sent
up my second car, paper came down telling |
piN ON no