The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-14
THE HE'LL OF sAeHAL1N.
A New Home for Russian Exiles in
the Northern Pacific.
From the New York Tribune

the Northern Pacific.
From the New York Tribune.
A few months ago the political and
diplomatic world of Europe was sur
prised by the announcement from St Pc
tersburg that the deportation of prisoners
to Siberia was to end next year. Numer-
Gus eulogiums in Consequence were spoken
and printed upon the car and his coun-
sellers, and the announcement was hailed
as evidence of a great reform movement
in Russia. But the delight and satisfac-
ton of those interested in human progress
were premature. Siberia, it is true. is to
cease to be the penal colony of the Rus
sias, but land even more terrible to ex-
lies is to take its place. The reasons for
the change were made public few days
ago in the northern capital.
Few people, not students Of geography,
probably recall the Island of Saghalin, or
Tarakai 1t lies in the Pacific ocean,
north of Japan, and forms the most
eastern possession of the white car. 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
a name familiar TO the world, as it is to
become the home of the future exiles.
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 i'm
mense province, will open up new
country to trade, and Russian merchants
already count upon gaining great wealth
in that direction. The government hopes
to direct Russian emigration toward
Siberia when the railroad is in operation,
and develop mighty Asiatic empire AS
an aid to these plans the stain is to be
taken from the name Siberia Russian
merchants and voluntary settlers in
Siberia have convinced the government,
according to Russian papers, that this
can only be done by--ceasing to deport
criminals and political exiles there, and
establishing another penal colony. Sag
halin in the future will be, therefore, the
name with which the Russian police will
conjure.
The climate, according to authentic
writers, is more severe than any part of
Siberia The island is known among
Siberians 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 Sag
hahn. An anonymous writer in the
Odesskij 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 "Brodiagan." Despite the ac-
counts of terrible suffering and hardship
brought back by unsuccessful fugitives,
the Saghalin "Brodjagan" increase in
numbers every year The hardships of
Siberian fugitives are described as mild
in comparison Surrounded on all sides
by the ocean, with the nearest land hun
dredS of miles distant, escape from the
place is almost impossible.
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 a 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 into shreds when the
provisions are gone and when hunger and
the bites of poisonous insects have weak
ened the poor fugitives, 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 fight fare probably
the worst of all. In December the chan
mel is frozen, and this fact lures many to |
destruction. They travel only by night, !
concealing themselves in deep ice holes in
the daytime in temperature which can
not be described. But words fail to pic |
ture the terror and misery and suffering
of these fugitives.
"Among the remarkable prisoners now
on the island is Sofe Bluehstein, known |
as the golden hand She is a criminal |
genius of the first order. Despite the
fact that she has been in solitary confne- |
ment for years, she has been able to or
ganize a band of criminals which has |
committed many atrocious murders. |
AltL ough possessing the criminal instinct |
in high degree she is not free from the |
weaknesses 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 bomely garments attractively. /
When she consents to talk of her eventful /
life she never forgets the Shah Of Persia, |
who cost her so much money. When /
the golden hand was still young and |
beautiful, and comparatively rich-the |
result of her INSCRIPTIONS life-she de- |
cided 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 way 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 rubbies |
in pursuit of his majesty's gems. She |
recalls the expense to this day, with sor-