Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-03-31
SIBERIA
(ContInued.)


o.oeria was at an end. But the cour
oi MOSCOW speedily availed itself q
Tue divisions amongst the Tartar peo.
PIE and the mobiles, the former o,
"hom admired Yarmak and the con.
uuct OF the Russians, disliking Kutch.
um hhan for his intolerable zeal in
propagatlng the Mohammedan faith
"A body of 300 Russians accordinalv
penetrated to the Tara without opno.
Sit'on, built fort there and wa;tad
'or relnforcements. Other places
were subjugated and fortresses estab-
i'sned' 10 consolidate the conquest
more towns were built, colonies plant.
Gu ana settlements established. Much
more would have been done and tho
Russians would undoubtedly have
mad possession of all Mongolia. had
not the Jealousy of the Chinese inter
fered.
The system on which Siberia has
oeen and continues to be colonized is
after all admirable in theory and
would be SO in practice if justly car
RED out. The perpetrators Of hsi-
nous crimes are sent to the mines,
those who have been banished for
minor delinquencies are settled in vii
lagos or on farms, and political of
lenders Except, indeed, in case of
conspiracy or treason) are generally
established In little knots. In fact
tor reforming criminals 1--WE say moth
ing OF the dark reverse of the pict-
ure) Siberia is no doubt the best pen
ltentIary in the world. When not
bad enough to be sent to the mines.
each exile is provided with a lot of
ground, house, a horse, two COWS.
and agricultural implements; and al
so, for the first year, with provisions.
For three years he pays no taxes
whatever, and for the next ten only
half of the full amount.
In order to fill him with fear and
hope, to operate in his favor, he clear
Iy understands that his very first slip
will send him from his house and his
family to toll as an outcast in the
mines.
The escape of exiles is not an uu-
common thing in Siberia, aud some
times occasions tremendous alarm
through the circumjacent country.
In Atkinson's travels in the regions
Of the Upper and Lower Amoor, that
gentleman relates an event which oc-
Cured during September, 1850, and
caused a great sensation throughout
Western Siberia. A party OF Cos
sacks thundered through the quiet
streets of Barnaoul, little after mid
night, and reused the chief of the
miners with the Information that ST.
oeria was being invaded by three
Asiatics, who were march
ng on Barnaoul, where 5000 pounds
If gold aud $4,000 pounds of silver
we're known to be deposited. There
,ame another dispatch increasing the
lumber of invaders to seven thou
and, in fact, that the wild hordes of
Asia had burst forth, headed by an
English Khan. Troops were assem-
lied from all sides. Prince Gorts-
hacotf, the Governor OF Siberia, trav-
led from Ormsk to Semipal4tinsk,
tx hundred miles, in forty hours.
he soldiers pushed forward and ev-
rvwhere met the inhabitants flying,
ntil at last they came within earshot
f more exact intelligence, and it was
scertained that this alarming inva-
ion had its source in party of forty
'ircass;ans who had escaped from the
old mines on the Birioussa. These
ugitive Circassians had no intention
f invading the Russian dominlons,
heir object being to escape from the
reat Siberian Penitentiary and to re-
urn to their far distant homes. They
,ere prisoners of war and had been
ent to work in the mines of Siberia,
yhich was considered aud which in
eality was, an act of great cruelty
1r the so-called ctulllzed Russian gov
rnment. And most certainly, in my
umble opinion, soldiers who had
ravely defended their country and
neir homes deserved a better fate
nan to be mixed with Russian con-
lets, many of whom were convicts
{ the worst class. These brave fell
,ws had been employed at the gold
.ashings on the Birloussa, river (
,hich forms the boundary between
ne governments of Yenissei and lr- 1
utsk. From this place they deter
lined to escape and to rejoin their