The morning call., 1893-11-18
HIS STORY is A ROMANCE.
fleets His Brother by Chance i'm
San Francisco.
WHOLE FAMILIES DRIVEN OUT.
Colrnan Zimmerman's Experiences
With Russian Officials and His
Good Fortune.

When the English ship Walden Abbey
arrived in this port from Japan few days
ago she carried a young Siberian Jewish
exile whose story is a romance.
lie worked his way on the vessel as an
ordinary seaman, and as such the name of
COlman Zimmerman appears upon the
ships articles. The Golden West was his
land of promise aud he would sail the seas
no farther. So when the Walden Abbey
lay at rest beside wharf young thinner
man stepped ashore and disappeared in
the city.
He did not come as an immigrant (al-
though be was such. pure and simple), but
as a sailor; and because be failed to return
TO the ship his captain registered him as a
deserter. Now Zimmerman is somewhere
in the redwOods chOpping cOrdwood for a
living.
Oncoming ashore he had letter of intro
duction to prominent Jewish firm in San
Francisco. which was intended as a pass
port for his safe and comfortable passage
TO brother in Vancouver Island. The
letter was a strong recommendation and it
put Zimmerman on his feet the moment it
was read. From the business office Zim-
norman was taken TO the merchants
home, and there received clothing aud
money sufficient to keep him from want
for tong time TO come.
A ticket to British Columbia was bought
for him, and two days later it was ar
ranged he should go north by steamer. In
the meantime couDtIyw0man OF his called
at the friendly house and met zimmerman
who, hearing from her that there were
many Siberlan-J eXieS in San Fran
cisco. resolved to accompany her to where
they lived. He was only too well aware
of the Punishment of his people and kins-
folk from Siberia and thought possibly he
might meet some whom he knew. SO he
went down Sixth street with his guide.
who introduced him to a family on Garden
street near Harrison. Zimmerman was
more successful than he had imagined.
1t was many years since he had seen
his brother, and all he knew wa. that
first Siberian who greetsd him was the
man whom he had travelled so far to meet.
The JOY at such an unexpected meeting
was great indeed. Instead of sailing next
day Zimmerman remained in town until
he and his brother went to the woods
The story that he told and which is
vouched for by responsible men here and
in Japan is tale Of persecution and in
justice.
81 had good position in an Office at
Blsgovestchteask," said be. through an
Interpreter. MY salary Was 80 rou bIes a
ltiODtEs uub DOCduoC l. Wdo a CoN l. was
banished. My mother was exiled, too, for
the same reason, and she is now in Japan.
Four Jewish families were banished from
Chita, two families from BlagoneStchtensk
and six families from Nertchinsk, a small
town near Chlta.
1.-The Jews in Siberia were treated SO
badly that they had no more rights than
horse. Their business was ruined, their
property cehfiscated and they were taxed
before that until they could not live. Some
of them were arrested for nothing. but
criminal charges were made against them.
That meant more and worse punishment,
and then it was either Saghalien Island or
Punishment. We preferred exile to the
Siberian prison and left Siberia never TO
return. L was accused of robbery and en-
beZz ement. The idea was to SEND me to
prison instead of letting me leave Siberia,
bat got safely to Japan aud friends kept
NE there till had chance to leave on the
English ship. l am free now and have
recommend atoms from good people in
Siberia and Japan. which disprove the
false charges"
An incident more picturesque and dra-
matte than the meeting between Zimmer-
man and his brother was an encounter
which the young exile had on street
here. Some destiny, II seemed, guided his
footsteps. He was walking along view
ing the novel sights of an American city
and looking into the faces that wore eX-
preSSlonS new 10 MIN, Wnen ne met his
aceuser. Zimmerman was dumfounded.
He could not believe be saw Alright, but it
was the same man.
The establishment was mutual. When
the accuser and his victim met face to face
in free land Zimmerman, stalwart and
powerful of frame. was the superior man.
"Forgive me-" was the first exclamation
of the stranger.
81 forgive you," was the simple reply,
and the men parted.
Friends of the Zimmermans at 81
Garden street confirm the newcomers
account of himself and his recital of perse-
cution of the Jews in Siberia. They are
Jews who quite recently found an asylum
here after Punishment from Irkutsk, in
Siberia. Solomon Cheriom, who is master
of the little settlement, had an experience
Identical with that of Zimmerman. He
was blacksmith at the mines and had to
leave. although his trade is scantily sup
piled with men in Irkutsk. Since coming
here be has shown himself to be clever
mechanic and a worker as we'll. His peo-
pie, he was very proud 10 relate, are taken
care of in San Francisco by the Jewish
Alliance until they find employment.