The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
ON A RUSSIAN CONVICT SHIP.
Horrors or the Voyage from ODESSA TO the
Island or saEhaIin.

From the London NAL.
Tho sailing OF a Russian convict ship from
Odessa for the Island Of Saghalin, In the Japan
Sea, is always an impressive sight. The motley
crowd. indigenous to all countries, is OF course
present, but there are In addition many Gov.
eminent officials. full OF Importance In their
emblazoned uniforms. and moro numerous mem.
bers OF the clergy attending to perform tho cerc-
mony OF sprinkling the ship with holy water,
and TO give the inmates n parting blessing and
a godspeed. Nothing is done In Russia with.
out the help Of priests, and a Russian Is bathed
In holy water from the cradle to the grave.
The religious ceremony over. It is with a cargo
Of heavy hearts that the convict ship-usually
built at Glasgow. by tho ~way-weighs anchor
and departs. for even n hardened convict would
prefer serving his sentence or his native soil to
dragging out his existence in a foreign land.
But, however that may be. the accommodation
for tho thousand or more convicts on board Is
ample AMI the arrangements for their well. being
complete. The food provided Is good and whole.
some, and it is not an intrcguent thing for pco-
nary passengers n7 we'll rs state prisoners-to
ask for convict soup and rye bread.
Az the convict; are In @fetters, wrist and
nd appearance. The daily .S'r routine mon on
monoiony, the prisoners have resort 10 ali
kinds OF devices to make the time pass away as
pleasantly as inc circumstances VIII allow.
Most lower class Russians are born card play.
ers, SO the ConviCts collect all the odd SCRAPS
OF paper they can lay their hands on. Clubs
and spades are roughly scrubbed on these
slips with the ink supplied for l~ctter.writing
purposes. while to provide hearts and diamonds
OF the requisite color one or more of the com.
pany consents 70 have n vein opened, This deli.
cate operation il performed with the aid of the
tin spout Of II tea can. ground to a sharp edge
on the iron deck. This improvised lancet also
does duty as q razor. serving to remove the re-
naming hair from the head OF some deyout
follower OF Islam. The stakes OF the card plav.
ers are knobs of sugar saved by rigorous econ.
| oIny at the tea table. When these fail. homes
AMI odds and ends are substituted.
On the fifteenth day al sea the letters are re-
moved. This is, indeed, a day OF rejoicing, and
the most hardened criminal gives vent To- a SIGH
OF relicf at being released from these hateful
emblems Of bondage.
The coveted freedom is not, however,. of lono
duration. A poor. inoffcnsive Crimean Tartn.
accidentally trcads on the foot of "a regular cut.
throat villain, to be seized Immediately by rho
throat. The cry Is instantly raised thai tho
MOhammodans are killing the Christians. 4
general melee ensnes, in which racial hatred il
given full play. Tho guard Is called out, and.
turning ON the hot water hose pipes, which nro
kent ready Tor any emergency, soon cows The
colb1tants. The ringleader is placed in irons,
and put on dry bread and water for fourteen
days. The Tartar Is carried more dead than
alive to the hospital. and the rest, guilty and
INNOCENT alike. are kept In chains and shsckies
l for the TSst OF the yoJaga.