The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-07
WITHOUT A HEARING.
Hardships Of Jacob Gerber, a Resi-
dent of Omaha.
TRANSPORTED TO SIBERIA.
1t Was Impossible for This Government
to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Evidence of the
Cars Humane Policy Toward the Un-
fortunate 600 ConvIcts with Him.

| OMAHA, Neb., Dec. Jacob Gerber II
N Omaha, having escaped from the sibe.
rian exile to which he was doomed q year
and half. He arrived in the city after
an absence Of twenty-one months. After
being resident OF this city for six years
he returned to Russia to dispose of what
property he had there and bring his fami-
ly to this country.
He had taken out his first papers here,
and supposed that he was, to all intents
and purposes, citizen of the United
States but subsequent events proved that
he had relied too much on the privileges
OF half-completed citizenship for he was
seized as soon as his identity was dis
covered, though he was at the time across
the border In Germany and at worship in
a church.
Without trial or hearing of any sort
he was started TO Siberia, in spite OF all
that his friends could do in his behalf
The case was called to the attention Of
the authorities at Washington, but a
careful investigation disclosed the fact
that the naturalization process had not
been fully completed, and that 1t would
be impossible for the government to Sc
cure the release of the prisoner.
The appearance OF Gerber among his old
acquaintances created surprise. He told
OF his inhuman treatment, and le evil
dences OF the truth of the narrative were
amply shown in the frightful scars and
still unhealed sores all over his BODY. He
supposed that he was going to 1.-THE mines
Tor life. IL was not until he had reached
his destination, nine months later, that
he learned that he was sentenced for fif-
teen years. He was placed in herd OF
800 convicts and started for the Siberian
wiids. The men were ironed together in
ntd h..
started their sufYerings were indescriba-
BILE. Not once during the long, weary
days OF those nine months were the irons
removed, nor were the metal bonds bind
ing them to their companions broken.
When he arrived at Ulga he was taken
out into the middle OF a street and a
blacksmith was called who took of the
letters. Gerber was told that from
from that time forward he would have to
take care of himself. He remained there
three months before he found an oppor-
tunity to carry into effect the plan for es-
cape that he had mapped out. He had ex-
cited the sympathy OF fellow Hebrew
who was engaged In the mines, and in
duced the latter to write a letter home
for him, asking his wife to send him some
money. The money, amounting to $500,
was sent and Geber's friend took him to
Yakutsk, thence to Tomsk, IA distance of
fifteen hundred miles.
ne theh secured the address OF noble
man and carried an official portmanteau
that seemed to have been Instrumental
in saving him from annoyance, for he was
not molested and was not asked for pass-
ports. Money removed obstacles that he
encountered and finally he reached a
small town within fifty miles of his home
being detected. He finally made
4 circuit OF three hundred miles and was
successful in leaving Russian soil behind
him.