The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-11-07
CONVICT AND SOLDIER.
A Tragedy OF siberia.

Thee comes from Nladivostok a
story remarkable for its pathos and
tragedy even among the dark tales
that make up the record of Siberian
life. At that city, as has already
been announced, the construction OF
the trans Siberian railroad was be
gun some months ago. The work
was formally entered upon with i'm
posing formaIities at the time of the
visit OF the Czarewitch. For this
purpose number of convicts were
taken thither, as laborcrs, under a
strong military guard. Among these
convicls was one white haired old
man, of patriarchal aspect. He WAS
a native of Koorok, and had al
ways been a law abiding subject.
But on one occasion the Govern
ment surveyors were measuring off
a slice of his ground, which they
proposed to seize He protested,
ano in his earnestnesS, ChanCed to
step upon the surveyors chain, as it
lay on the ground before him. Now,
the surveyor W the representative
of the Gar, and his chain for the
time being represented the Imperial
sceptre. The old peasants mis-
step, therefore, was an act not only
of gross disrespect to the Little
Father, -. ''oh treason itself. The
culprit was instantly "rreSted, put in
irons and locked in cell. o. being
brought to trial, however, he sue.
ceeded in convincing the Judges that
his fault was accidental and not IN
territorial, and accordingly the ut
most leniency of the tribunal was
extended to him.
He was not sentenced to death,
but was sent to toll in a Siberian
chain gang for the remainder of his
life.
Working on the railroad at Vladi-
vostok, this poor old man one day
noticed the soldier who, with loaded
rifle, acted as guard over him and
his companions. The soldier locke d
wonderfully familiar to him, and the
old man gazed at him so steadily as
to neglect his work and to bring
upon himself from the overseer a
and a threat of the knout.
After a time, the workman edged
his way so close to the guard that he
could speak to him, and he a-ked
him who he was and whence he
came. The soldier, of course, made
no reply, and did not even notice
who was addressing him. The mill
tary law absolutely forbids a soldier
to speak to a convict or to notice
him in any way, unless to shoot him
if he tries to escape But those OF
his comrades who stood near saH
the soldier turn deathly pale, and
then brace himself up with more
than ordinary rigidity.
But the old man persevered
Needless of the threat, Of the over.
seer, lie threw down rs tools, lett
his work, and staggered up to the
guard, who remained silent and
mott. Mess. Their eyes met, the old
mans streaming with tears, the
soldiers dry and fixed as those of
the dead.
alexis, my son Is it thou Is
it thou?" cried the hoary headed .
convict.
Still military discipline kept the
guard as silent and motionIess as a
statue. His face was a picture OF /.
mortal torment. Then, despite his .
efforts to control himself, his lips /
quivered his knees trembled. He
5wayed to and fro He &: asped his .
rifle convulsively and drew himself
up as if on Dire s-parade The rext
moment his arms fell to his sides,
the rifle dropped 20 the ground, and .
without a word OF even a groan, he
fell at lis fathers feet apparently a
corpse,
The convict threw himself upon
his sons body, covering it with .
kisses and uttering wild cries Of
and OF grief. The over
seer and the other guards, seeing
what had happened, but not under
standing it, rushed to TIE spot. They
that the old convict had .
attacked the soldier, perhaps killed
him 1t was their business to sup
pose that, anyway. 50 they raised
the butts OF their rifles and in a mo .
ment would have knocked out the .
old mans brains. But one suggested .
that they should first drag the con
vict from the soldiers body. lest
some OF their blows should fall upon
the latter. This they struggled in
vain to do. Though half a Gozcn
Of them tugged at them they could
not separate the two bodies, and the