The sun., 1894-08-13
pace g, va. % t.s. ,h.. the women and chm

pace set was - fast that the women and chill
The Prohsdaisie prison IN which We were con.
hned II four-story building surrounded By
heavy gates through which nobody could esree' Ell
an escape unless he knew the combination the
locks. In the courtyard surrounding the prison
WAS Byzantine chapel looking strangely out OF
" The oficer in charge called the roll when We
whose names had been called were marched on
to the prison, leaving me standing alone. l was
dressed IN my citizens clothes, and thought
Soldiers were thick as flies. however, and seeing
that could not possibly get past them ! asked
He seemed surprised TO hear that was under
arrest, said my name was not on the list Of pris-
oners, and finally called one Of the Officers who
had brought US there and asked him what he
meant by not having my name on the list. He
explained that was a special prisoner and
the foulness Of which cannot be surpassed by
Of the ruom. eight feet in height, was a vain
scoting VI blue. ON the floor and on the VAIN
SepmS eeS ever .aw You could no put YOUR S
finger on a spot where they were s not Benches
in the bp n the which TermS
sSs 5SSt on RsFf the ne6 and s in ne TTsRs5
You may be sure did not get sleep until the fol-
lowing day, when the insects also rested. Most
~ e shs @ R tn o se
min. How they did Il cannot understand.
The next morning we were all called into the
check for bread. II was black. and looked not
unlike gingerbread Each man was supposed
to receive one and half pounds, but that ne did
not get. The stun was so vile I spit the hrst
mouthful out. One OF my fellow prisoners re-
SSa eTf viii Tse ne S, mot
For dinner they gave MS the same soup as the
prisoners had eaten In the first prison | was in.
| could tell II afar OF by its vile Umell.
II was in this Moscow prison six days The
day we left q. l5-year-old boy was nearly
knouted to death for disobeying an order. He
was bound for Siberia. and received no consid-
GRAFTON at the hands Of the soldiers. As we
walked through the streets Of Moscow the peo-
pie threw small coins at us, and most OF the
prisoners grabbed at them eagerly. In car Of
the train in which we were taken to Moscow
because they had sold cooked food in the streets
OF Novgqrod, thereby Computing with the res
tbey We're ypunS and defenceless. 'O 'n'"i' ~
When we reached 81. Petersburg l was
chained with four men who were suspected of
being enemies Of the Gar, and taken before
some high military officer. His Office hand
some and reminded me Of some prosperous
Americans business Office; but when looked at
the windows | saw that they were heavily barred
and remembered that was in Russia. After
ash2rt me d M % eaisI came h S. IN s.red in ha q
chief officer. who l understood was in com
mand OF all the prisons in 81. Petersburg. asked
and who | was. One OF his secretaries replied
that was an American citizen, but was sus-
peCted OF DtlnH n dangerous criminal. Inc
officer turned to me and inquired how came to
be arrested. l explained fully. and he said he
thought II was all very unfortunate, and that
but for the paper which came with me com
manding him to hold me. he would be glad to
give me my freedom. Then a jailer searched
me and wanted to take my money. objected.
saying that would starye, a. could not eat the
prison food. The officer asked in surprise where
had received bad food. and | explained how
the prisoners had been fed where | had been
confined.
" He assured me that only good food would be
given TO me while l was under him, and gave
orders to put me in q mobiles cell and to give me
such food as noblemen receive. That was the
only cell mt for prisoner that / was confined
in. and the food was fairly good, shortly after
this was transferred to smaller cell in the
military prison and put on soldiers diet, which
consisted OF III pounds Of rye bread, good soup,
tea in the morning and at night. Upon this
fare, which was fairly good. l subsisted until
eseePsd tp.sii. oo,,.n,,,,rr s.o.n. ,nor.n, .,
three plans. The first scheme | formed fol-
lowed and it worked To perfection. IL had also
occurred TO me that when they used to take me
to the public prosecutor would take the advan-
throw sand in their eyes. had sand in my
pockets, but l thought II too cruel, The third
scheme was TO bend the upright bars in the
window OF my cell.
THE plan l followed involved no crime and
was the most simple. and no damage was done
to the Jail beyond tearing an oak plank apart.
The soldiers who allowed me to escape will prob
and the officer in charge will no doubt lose his
rank. am sorry for them. and will write a let
ter to the Public Prosecutor to ease their pun
ishment IL possible"