The record-union., 1893-11-24
THE HE'LL OF SAGHALIN.
A Home for Russian ExiIes in the
North Pacific.
The Government to Use the Island as
Penal Colony, Instead
of Siberia.

lew months ago the pOiltlcal ana
diplomatic world of Europe was sur
prised by the announcement from ST.
Petersburg that the deportation of pris-
oners to Siberia was to end next year.
Numerous eulogiums in consequence
were spoken and printed upon the Gar
and his counselors, and the announce
ment was hailed as an evidence of great
reform movement in Russia. But the
great delight and satisfaction of those in
terested in human progress were prema-
ture. Siberia, it is true, is to cease to be
the penal colony of the Russas, but a
land even more terrible TO exiles is to take
it's place. The reasons for the change
were made public a few days ago in the
northern Capital.
Few people, not students of geography.
probably recall tho Island of Saghalin. or
Tarakai. 1t lies in the Pacific Ocean,
north of Jap IN, and forms the most east
ern possession Of the White Gar. 1t is
not entirely unknown to the criminal"
world of Russia, for it has been the home
of eXileS whose hopes of seeing their
country practically ended when they
landed on its shores. But it will soon be
name familiar to the world, as it is to
become INC QOul0 Vi GL0 IuLuT0 6All6S.
The change has been contemplated, it
appears, for some time by the Russian
Government. The completion of the great
Asiatic line of railway through the inn
mense province will open up a new coun-
try to trade, and Russian merchants al
ready count upon gaining great wealth
in that direction. The Government hopes
to direct Russian emigration toward Sibe-
ria when the railroad is in operation,
1 o, nd Il iOh al in Z
an aid 20 these plans the stain is to be
taken from the name Siberia. Russian
merchants and voluntary settlers In Slbe-
ria have convinced the Government, ac-
cording to Russian papers, that this can
only be done by ceasing to depOrt crimi-
nails and political eXiles there, and estab
fishing another penal colony. Saghalin
in the future will be, therefore, the name
with which the Russian police will con-
jure.
The climate, according to authentic
writer's, is more severe than any part of
Siberia The island is known among ST.
berians as the Hell of Saghalin"-an
expression which says volumes in the
mouth of an eXpatriated Russian who
knows the terrors of the far East. Up
| to the present time only the criminals
with the worst records have been sent to
Saghalin. An anonymous writer in the
OdeSSkV LiStock recently gave harrow
! ing picture of the conditions on the
| island. From no place do so many try
! to escape-but few ever succeed. The
runaWayS are known as "Brodjagan." !"
| Despite the accounts of terrible suffering
and hardship brought back by unsuccess-
ful fugitives, the Saghalin "Brodjagan'
increase in numbers every year. The
hardships Of Siberian fugitives are de-
scribed as mild in comparison. Sur
rounded on all sides by the ocean, with
the nearest land hundred of miles dis
tant, escape from the place is almost i'm
! possible.
But despite this" says the writer,
''men are willing to risk quick death in
the waves rather than the terrors of the
/ island. AS a rule, the Brodjagan try to
escape in bands numbering from three to
ten. Those who try to make away in the
summer, as rule, take up their abode
in the Tajga, an almost impenetrable for
est. AS long as the clothing and pro-
visions last they are comparatively happy
! there despite their trials. But when the
! clothing is torn to shreds, when the pro-
visions are gone and when hunger and
the bites of poisonous insects have weak
! ened the poor fugitlves, they soon die A
/ few reach the coast, where most of them
are recaptured and taken back to the
places of torture and torment. Those who
choose the winter for flight fare probably
|
mel is frozen, and this fact lures many to
destruction. They travel only by night,
coDcealing themselves in deep ice-holes
| in the daytime in temperature which
cannot be described. But words fail to
! picture the terror and misery and suffer
ing of these fugitives.
Among the remarkable prisoners now
| on the island is Sotie Bluehstein, known
! as the golden hand She is criminal
! nnpiOG ,Nf tho first order DaSnifn the fa ri
that she has been in solitary confinement
! for years, she has been able to organize a
! band of criminals which has committed
many a:rocious murders. Although pos
/ sessing the criminal instinct in high
degree, she is not free from the weak
/ nesses of her sex. Her guards report
that in some unknown way she succeeds
/ in getting rouge with which she paints
! her cheeks. She also colors her eyebrows,
| curls her hair daily, and arranges her
naturally homely garments attractively.
| " hen she consents to talk of her event
! full life she never forgets the Shah OF
! Persia, who cost her so much money p
! When the golden hand was still young
and beautiful, and comparatively rich
! the result of her INSCRIPTIONS life-she
! decided to steal the most beautiful dia-
monds of his majesty, who was travelling
through Russia toward Persia at the
time. She followed him from place to
place. occupying always a special car in
! the train, and endeavored in every wav
! to get into conversation with the Shah.
! But her efforts were vain. She never got
near to the Shah, and was obliged to re-
turn home after spending 10000 rubles in
pursuit OF his majesty's gems. She re-
calls the expense to this day with sor-
ow."-New York Tribune.
Geography to Order.