The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-06
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PRINCESS FLOUR.
STORY OF A SIBERIAN EXILE
Terrible Experience of Jacob Gerber, a
Resident of the United States.
Arrested While in Germany. Taken to Russia
and Sent to the Penal Settlements With
out Trial or Chance to Explain.

OMAHA, Dec. 5.-Jacob Gerber is once
more in Omaha. having escaped from the
Siberian exile to which he was doomed q
yea and a half ago. He arrived in the city
last night, after an absence of twenty-one
months. After being q resident of this city
for six years. Mr.. Gerber returned to Rus
sia to dispose of what property he had
there and bring his family to this country.
He had taken out his first papers here, and
supposed that he was. to all purposes. cit
izsn of the United States, but events proved
that he had relied too much upon the priy-
ileRes of q half completed citizenship. for
he was seized az soon as his identity was
discovered. though he was at the time
across the border in Germany and at wor-
ship in church. Without trial or hear
ing of any sort he was started for Siberia
In spite of all his friends could do or say in
his behalf. When the friends of the un-
fortunate man in this city heard of what
occurred the case was called to the atten-
tion of the authorities at Washington, but
o careful investigation disclosed the fact
that the naturalization process had not
been fully completed and that it would be
impossiblef for the government TO secure tho
release OF the prisoner.
The appearance of Gerber among his old
acqualntances last evening created sur
prise. His story was recital that was full
of outrageous cruelty and human suffering
The evidences of the truth of the narrative
were most shown in the frightful scars and
still unheaied sores in the flesh. He sup
posed that he was going TO the mines for
life. 1t was not until he had reached his
destination. nine months later. that he
learned that he was sentenced for fifteen
years He was placed in q herd of 800
convlcts and started to the Siberian will
derness The men were ir0ned together in
pairs. and from the moment they started
their sutferlngs were indesorlbable. Not
once during the long. weary days of those
nine months were the irons removed or
were the metal bonds binding them to
their companions broken. When he ar
rived at Ilgn he was taken out in TO the mid
die OF q street and q blacksmith was called,
who took off his fetters. Gerber was told
that from that time forward he would have
to take care of himself. He renamed
three months before he had an opportunity
to carry into effeot the plan for escape
that be had mapped out. He had
excited the sympathy of q fellow Hebrew
who was engaged in business there. and IN
duced the latter to write letter home for
him asking his wife to send him some mon
ey. The money 1890; was sent, and Ger
ber's friend took him to Yakutsk. He paid
$50 to get TO Yakutsk. and then took con-
veyance by post to Tomsk. n distance OF
1,5OO miles, and paid for 1T Sl75. He had So
cured the dress of q nobleman and carried
an Official portmanteau that seemed to
have n ore TO do with saving him from an
noyance than every thing else, for he was
not molested and was not asked for his
passports
Money removed obstacles that he en-
countered and finally he reached q small
town within fifty miles of his home with
out being detected. He finally made cir
cult of three hundred miles and was snc-
cessful In leaving Russian soil behind him.
He lost no time in getting as far away as he
could for he knew he was not safe until he
bad reached America. Thus he has at last
arrived in Omaha and of the 81 1000 in all
that had been sent hir by his wife he had
only 10 cents In lis pocket when the jour-
ney was over. Gerber had about $4,000
worth of property when he left here less
than two years ago. but there will be little
of it left after he gets his family over here.
They arc still at the old place, but Will
como here III the early spring.