The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-12
ESCAPING FROM SIBERIA.
Hapless Convicts Secretly Helped
by Kind Villagers.
From Pearsons Weekly.

by Kind Villagers.
From Pearson's Weekly.
Those subjects Of the tsar who are
sent to Siberian prisons for "A real or
fancied offelse against the social laws
or the political DEGREES of the power
that is, know that they will be treat
ed harshly; but in no part Of the
dreary country Is imprisonment so
cruel as in the Kara prison, where
the conviCts work i'm the mines.
Attempts to escape are u common
occurrence all over the country, but
dash for liberty from the Kara mines
is far greater than from any other
prison.
The miserable creatures who en-
deavor to elude the iron grasp of the
tsar's officials prefer the spring for
thoir attempt. There is more chance
Of reaC hing the outer world, of cross
ing the many miles of desolatc terri
tory that separate them from a place
of safe ty i'm the early months of the
year; but they cannot always choose
their own time, and in the very depths
of the Siberian winter the desperate
men make the struggle for freedom.
prefarring the rigUrs Of night tramp
ing in the coldcst season to the miser-
les of the prison.
How do these men find their way?
How do they live"
They know the direction in which
safety lies, and they tramp onward
until they reach some spot where they
are safe. That spot may be far away
from tho town at which they imag-
med they would arrive, but what of
that? They are free, that is the all
important matter.
Yet there is some guide fer them
along the first hundred miles or so;
for in the night when all is still and
the peasants in the scattered villages
are sleeping, the refugees heart is
gladdcued in his dark and solitary
journey by the friendly gcam Of
lamps in tho cottage windows. From
the depths of Asia to the borders of
Europe. almost. ut least one window
in every village is illuminated by u
lamp. placed there for the benefit of
those who must not be seen"
For the mOujilis have pity on them
and help them. The. escaped ConViCtS
| cannot travel by day, lest they be de-
nOunCed to the guards who are search
| ing for them They have to find GuS-
tenance where they may; money Is
| useless to them, as they dare not open
| ly enter a tavern or indeed any other
| place in order to buy food or to beg
| for il, even. The peasants dare not
| openly receive or help them, and the
| chance of success would be very small
! but for the device of the mouiik.
! If YOU enter the huU,se of Il peasant
| in the vicinity, say, of Irkutsk. and
| partako of a meal, you will motto" in
| the window little table ON which
stands II lamp, a plate and II jug.
| When the meal commences. one Of the
| family places portion of the food un
| the plate quite choice morsel is
selected, and YOU fancy that another
| and more important guest is expected
! \ piece of everything is set out on
the plate and the jug is filed with
kvas. You begin to feel rather small
| When You entered YOU We're treated
! like noblaman, but evidently YOU are
not tn" chief guest.
However, the guest does not come
and, more mystiiied than ever, you
| seek an opportunity of asking the
| meaning of the strange preparations.
"Who iS it all for?' you ask.
For the brodiajl; for these who
| must not bc seem is the reply.
Yes, those delicacics are for the con,
victs. When they stealthily creep int,
Il village at night and see that light
they know that on the same table IL
the lamp is food and drink. They hay,
only to push IN, window and it opens
50 that they may take the plate an'
jug and refresh exhausted nature.
The muujik does not wish to Sc,
them; il is bette not. When he Ge"'
the empty plate and jug in the morn
ing he H. pleased for he knows tina
h. has helped SOME POOR creature II
his effort To ESCAPE from cruelty anI
u livlnE death and get back To life
and human sympathies.