St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-06
ESCAPED FROM EXILE.
An Omaha Man Escapes From a
Fifteen Years Sentence in
siberian Mines.
He Travels the entire Length Of
Russia, Money Removing
Many Obstacles.

OMAHA, Neb.. Dec. 5.-Jacob Gerber
is once more in Omaha, having escaped
from the Siberian exile to winch he was
doomed year and a half. He arrived
in the city last night after an absence
of twehty-one months. After being a
resident of this city for six years
he returned 10 Russia 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 intentS and
purposes citizen of the United States.
but subsequent events proved that he
had relied too much Oh the privileges of
half-cOmpIeted citizenship, for he was
seized as soon as his identity was dis
covered. Then. though he was at the
time across the border in Germany and
&C worship in church. without trial
or hearing of any sort, he was started
to Siberia in spite of all his friends
could do in his behalf. When the
friends of the unfortunate man in this
city heard of what occurred the case
was called to the attention OF the author
tiles at Washington, but careful in
vestigation disclosed the fact that the
naturalization process had not been
fully completed, and that it would be
impossible for the government to secure
the release of the prisoner. The APP
pearance of Gerber among his old ac-
QuaintanceS last night created surprise.
His story was 4 story full Of outrage
Gus cruelty and suffering. The evil
denceS of the truth of the narrative
were amply shown i'm the frightful
scars and still unhealed sores in the
living. He supposed that he was going
f>f nt hn
had reached his destination nine months
later that he learned that lie was SEN
fenced for fifteen years. He was placed
in herd of 900 convictS and started for
the Siberian WildS. The men were
ir0ned together in pairs, and from the
very moment that they started their
sufferings were indeScri0able. Not once
during the long weary days of those
nine months were the irons removed or
the metal bonds binding them to their
companions broken.
When he arrived at Ilga he was taken
out into the middle of a street and
blacksmith was called, who took off his
letters. Gerber was told that from that
time forward he would have to take
care of himself. He remained there
three months before he found an OPP
portunity to carry into effect the plan
III CSCdDO iiou Oub' LIZ
had excited the sympathy of fellow
Hebrew who was engaged in the mines,
and induced the latter to write a letter
home for him asking his wife to send
him some money. The money, amount
ing to $500, was sent. and Gerber'S friend
took him to YakutSk. He paid $50 to
get to YakutSk, and then took convey
ance by post to Tomsk, a distance of
| 1850 miles, aud paid for it S175. He had
secured the dress of nobleman, and
carried an official portmanteau that
seemed 10 have more to do with saving
| him from annoyance than everything
| else, for he was not mOlested, and was
not asked for passport.
Money removed obstacles that he ell
countered, and finally he reached a
small town within fifty miles of his
home without being detected. He
finally made circuit of 800 miles and
was successful 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 had reached
America. Thus it happened that he at
last arrived i'll Omaha, and of the 81, ZOO
that had been sent him by his wife he
had only 10 cents in his pocket when the
! journey 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 here. They are still at the old
place, but will come here in the spring.