The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-12-12
PArAos IN s,sERIA.
An Aged Convce R,Sogn .. His Son -
on" OF iis soiisr Guards.


On. or Hls soii o. Guards.
An interesting account Of most
tragic meeting between father and son.
who. after long separation. deserted
each other standing on different sides
OF tho impossible gulf that divides
this worlds sheep from the goats has
just reached me- writes the St Peters
burg correspondent OF the London
Telegraph. 1t occurred near the city
OF Vladivostock. where the construc.
tion OF the new Siberian railway was
lately commenced In honor OF the
Ckarowlts's visit Among the work.
men. or helots whose guerdon is
many stripes and no pay. there are
some thousands OF the least criminal
convicts OF the country. Many OF
them are known 10 be innocent OF the
crimes laid to their charge. while
others are being punished for acts
which have nothing in common with
moral crime.
Among the latter was one hoary old
man OF venerable aspect native OF
Koosok. who had deliberately trodden
on the chain OF the governmental sur
veyor rs he was measuring the ground
because he was suspected OF an inten-
ton to transfer some OF the peasants
land to the crown. This imprufsnt
act was labeled. violent resistance to
the lawfully constituted authorities, +"
the old man was found guilty. and rs
the rigors Of Siberia were deemed in
adequate to give this daring spirit his
due, he was deported to the more ter
rible island OF Saghalien. When the
security OF free workmen began to be
felt he was taken from there. conveyed
to Siberia and sent 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. 10
this question the soldier, for
hidden by tho military rules to
enter into conversation with
the convicts, gave no reply.
The old man. however grew
more fidgety. soon ceased work
altogether and fixed his dark.
piercing eyes on the soldier At last
unable to control himself any longer
he pronounced Christian name softly
calling out My dear. dear SON" The
soldier quivered. grew pale, with an
effort compressed his lips. convulsively
clutched his gun and pulled himself
together for moment--but It was
only one moment; the next his emo
tions had completely mastered him,
his hapds dropped helplessly to his
sides. his rifle slipped with dull thud
to the ground and he himself fell
heavily without q word or moan, as
II cut down by scythe. The old
father threw himself on his body,
called him tsnderly by his pet name
and covered him with tears and kisses
The other guards and taskmasters
seeing, without understanding, what
had happened. rushed to the
spot surrounded the convict who.
1t was evident TO them. had felled
his guard. and raising the butt
ends OF their gums 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 and muttering to himself: He
knows me; yea he knows me now. my
dear boy" that they were powerless
to separate them. At last they were
both removed on dray to the hos
pital, and the true Significance Of the
scene dawned on the Infatuated SOL
diers, who were now deeply touched
by what they had witnessed. 1T
was" writes my correspondent "a
most narrowing scene-one that shall
remember with shudder to my dying
day."
The next morning the doctor de-
clared that the soldier had lost his
reason. and must be removed to q mad
house. The convict on being informed
OF this, and ordered to begin work MS
usual, refused quietly at first then
roared and 'raved like maniac and
was at last put in strait waistcoat
and confined along with the other
madmen.