The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-04-23
THE FIRST DAY.
Exp rienees OF n Political Suspect" in .
Russian Prison.

courts in which were four cells, each
with room for ten persons, says the
author of Free Russia The sleep
ing 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 cour.;
some were mending their ragged
clothing. some knitting stockings, some
merely living or sitting in the sun;
most of them, however were employed
in destroying parasites in their hair or
clothing. Several persons surrounded
me and asked who | was. how long
was 10 stay, and where | was going;
no one inquired why was in prison;
that question is considered impolite in
prison society. After having satisfied
the curiosity of the guestioners. most
Of whom were in chains and were to
be transported to Siberia, | was taken
into a cell, where n 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
nv place was the elder OF the ward
(starosta); he was very aniable to me
and recommended one berth, remark
ing that: There's plenty of room
here; there are only ten of us; i'll all
the other cells there are fifteen; that's
why put YOU here" The fact is that
the elder was building hopes on me;
he had noticed that | wore spcctacles,
and had therefore concluded that |
must be gentleman" and. of course,
must know how to write, and he was
just then very anxious to write Il petit
lion. ]. of course. consented, and
asked him to explain to me his bust
ness. He began an account, from
which my attention was distracted by
a sudden sensation Of burning all over.
oh! Is it they?" he asked. breaking
off. .They?n | repeated. wondering.
lie nodded; my experience was famiI-
Jar to hin. Never mind" he said.
consolngly; they only bite so furi-
ously just at first; you won't feel them
after bit"
l tore of my cloak; my shirt was
literally covered with vermin. They
were in such swarms that | stood hor-
ror-stricken; it seemed to me that |
must die from them. My new friend,
still irving to console me, helped me
off with my shirt, and we went out in
to 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
cloak on the ground the elder held it
up for me to look at; and it seemed to
me to be almost free from insects.
But after few minutes he called my
attention to it again. The vermin hid
den in the coarse canvas texture had
come out to the heat. 1t was only
then that | understood IN what condi-
ton the clothing was that had been
given me; | drew back with the bitter
conviction that it was useless to strug-
Gle 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 eighteen hours day, one could
get rid of great many in two days.
There was nothing for it but to follow
his advice; not that | had any hopes of
success, but rather from sheer despera-
ton. But we had not long to sit in
the court. At 7p. IN. our names were
called over and we were locked up in
the cell. We lighted some tiny lamps
filled with grease and went on with
our work. Some had contrived to get
hold of a p&ch of cards amd spent the
time III playing, though with frequent
Interruptions, as ut any moment the
sentinel might look in and catch the
gamblers in the act which would have
resulted in a search and the conlisca-
ton OF the cards. One of the prison
erS. therefore. stood admiring the
beauties of the darkness, acting mean
while rs scout, and gave notice with a
of his foot every time the
sentinel approached. Then instantly
all the gamblers would put on the
most innocent air and occupy them.
selves in some other way. AT D Il. IN.
we were let ont. | had not slept ut
ali nor obtained one moments relief
from the torment Of the vermin. The
prisoners crowded round the well and
drank; some took off their clothing
and washed it, remaining naked while
they did SO. The morning chilliness
WAS still in the air. | and my new
friend resumed our toll of the dav be-
fore. He was evidently well accus-
toned 10 the work. and looked COM
paSSionateiy upon my ignorance and
You don't Il bit know
how to manage; you look half afraid
of them. You shouldn't 90 ut it so
| know whose cloak that
IS, he went on; "A fortnight awo there
WAS Il fellow here. Jack Fool we
used TO call him: quite natural. YOU
know. He WAS always soft in his head;
and then he was i'll, too; just all over
and sores from head to foot.
W ell, there he'd lie. and of course he
got all over these creatures; he never
tried 10 get rid of them. OF course a
decent fellow wouldn't let his cloak
get into that state, but the f1ol didn't
care--nOt he; he didn't seem TO have
any feeling, somehow"
On learning the biography OF my
cloak | appealed TO him in horror to
know whether | could not possibly get
it changed for another. He at first
that it was quite needless;
hat we could get rid OF he vermin;
that one could not catch diseases from
clothes. etc; but he failed to convince
me. "Of course" he remarked at
last, zone can get it changed; it'll cost
A lot. but it can be done. Here. sir.
anything can be got for money Why,
not only clean things; you can have
spirits, playing cards, paper, pens and
you like"
My cloak was changed that dav. |
Prisoners are not allowed TO have |
money in their possession, but a pris-
1ner who has money TO his account in |
he office can buy things in the prison
shop by order.
The dealer, like banker. cashes |
yOur order thou iii in rroOd. in.to,l Of |