The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-04-03

man Wr1ggleQ ike serpent ana luStlly
roared. His skin became purple red,
but no blood flowed.
M. Pietrowski, in his "Story Of 81
berian Exile" De Lagny and other writ
ers invest the knout with every horror.
They go so far as to assert a long strip
of flesh was torn off the culprit's back
at every stroke. A more trustworthy
account is that of M. Andreoli, which
am disposed to believe, for I saw the
knout myself in Geneva. Mr.. Andreoli
gives it handle from one to two inches
in diameter, and nine inches In length.
At the top of the handle is a ring, then
a lash of rawhide 18 inches long, with
ring at the end; then second lash
and ring; and thirdly came the part
which is the knout proper, namely,
fiat lash of hard leather, Fl inches long,
bent to curve, ending with a hook.
something like the beak of bird. The
entire length of the handle and lash
was six feet The instrument was used
by a convict, who received his liberty
or certain privileges for executing that
job after five years.
We will now deal with the food OF
the Siberian prisoners. At Tiumen
each man was said to receive daily two
and a half pounds of bread, onehalf
pound Of meat on ordinary days; three
pounds on holidays, with salt and pep
per; also an allowance of a drink of
beer. The fare in the Tobolsk prison is
the same; bucketful Of quass, or ale,
provided for every ten men. At Niko-
laefsk, corned beef and grains Of wheat
are substituted for vegetables. At the
Alexandreffy prison one-half pound of
meat and two and half Of bread was
served daily. At Kara, however, where
the men work in the mines, the allow
ance is liberal. Each eats four pounds
of pound of buckwheat and two cups
of Russian tea. Whenever in prison
man does not eat all his food he sells
it to another prisoner, who has better
appetite than the vendor. Tho diet,
however, is considerably affected by the
rigor with which fast days Of the Greek
Orthodox church are observed in the
prisons. Every Wednesday and Friday
are fast days, and there are four great
annual fasts. with an aggregate of at
least hundred days, 50 that there are
probably quite half Of the days in a
year when the prisoners get fast diet,
which excludes flesh food. That does
not apply to those at hard labor, while
other captives, during some OF the long
! fasts, receive fish and fish soups.
Nor is the captive left without clothes.
Prisoners awaiting their trial, also ex-
lies having partial rights, can wear
their own clothes. Those who have lost
their own rights must don the uniform
of the convicts. This consists in sum-
mer of a linen shirt, a pair Of trousers
and peasants coat of camel's hair.
Those condemned to hard labor have
two yellow diamond patches sewn on
their back; those who do no work, one
only.
The annual cost of provisions for each
Siberian prisoner is 65 roubles and u
kopecs ($3S); and for mems clothes,
$40. Womens clothing is less expen-
sive, so that the cost of food and cloth
ing is $50.
According to a convict's behavior he
is placed in q certain category, and the
longer he remains therein and the bet
ter he behaves the more benefits he re-
ceives. For instance, if a man is con-
demned to Is years hard labor, con-
ducts himself well, he serves only 10
years. If condemned to wear irons four
years, he may in similar manner less
higher category, he receives 10 per cent
of what he earns by working for the
government, and in his spare time he
| may work on his own account. If in
the lower category he earns money, but
it is withheld until he advances higher.
Trial by jury is not yet introduced In
to Siberia, but offenders are judged by
tribunal consisting of odd numbers, of
not more than seven nor less than three.
This tribunal is standing institution,
the members of which are paid accord
ing to their grade, from $3.50 to $500. A
procurer (an officer of the government
prosecutes, and lawyer defends the
prisoners. Witnesses are called on both
sides, and the tribunal decides by ma
jority of votes whether prisoner be
guilty or not. In capital or important
cases, the judgment of the local tribun-
ais must be confirmed by the. governor
general of Siberia, and hence when the
vastness of the country is considered, it
will be seen why prisoners remain so
long uncondemned.
There are 10000 liberated Russian
prisoners, but still they are under or
ders not to leave the confines of Siberia
at the cost Of death. Yet several hun
dred escaped and proceeded to their re-
spective homes. Others wander through
the sombre forests 1000 miles south
| ward, in order to go back to- their native
land; but the wolves, bears and buffalos
make mincemeat of their courses.