Barre evening enterprise. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-1898, 1898-04-27
MILD MURDER.ERS.
CONVICT TRAMPS THAT iNFEST GER
TAIN PARTS OF SIBERIA.

Peculiar Auo"'
The feature of Siberian life which
,,,oet ;mnresses q traveller is the convict
tran,n. He has escaped from the mines
and is YEARLY tramping across the
snowy wastes, cold and hungry and con.
stanty hiding from pursuit, only to be
finally caught and taken back.
Liberty is sweet, but the chance OF
Ultimate escape is very small, as they
all know, and that they make the es-
conc at all must be due to the fact that
oven tho terrible privations of the jour-
ney are welcome change from the liv-
ing grave of the mines.
IN discourage attempts at escape the
oovernmcnt has granted the lawful priv
;,coo to any one to &loot them on sight.
THE ccnvicts, not knowing friends from
enemies, are obliged to avoid Villages
during the day and to have recourse to
h,chwav robbery to satisfy their wants.
centrally speaking these bradlagi are
the worst Of criminals.
One of the leading characteristics Of
tbo lladlagi which distinguish them
tror, either murderers and freebooters is
tb,ir complete indifference and absence
If ;rrication and passion when commit
ting deed Of blood.
Emit what ast0nishes one most Is the
continuation of the most hardened crime
with soue religious ideas and also GER
cain decree Of humility born of the Sc
we're discipline of hard labor of the
MINIS, which produces a show of pity
,oward the victim they are destroying
in the most cold blooded manner.
Ni.fortuuc-and the bradlagi is ono
~ tbe u}ust unfortunate of beings
nnrou,ciou. ly turns their thoughts to-
ward rel.iyn. In justification of their
crimes they invariably say, "We are
moor sinners, but ALSO most unfortunate,
and therefore God will forgive us all
our sins
Wherever they see a cross, they al
ways take eff their caps and cross
themselves In conversation they are
yprv fond Of quoting what at first sight
spem scripture texts, but what in reali-
~ ore phrases made by themselves for
their own Justification, such as GOOD
hates the rich ones of this world, sin
committed in perfect humility is nc
sin ~ "If thou must kill man, don
kill his soul. y
Tit ir peculiar ideas are eXemplified
in the following incident. In one of the
more important villages there lived two
men, a Russian and a Pole, sent there
for some small otTeuse. Both being shoe
makers. they entered into partnership
and tried to gain decent living.
One day they went some 20 verst!
from the village on an excursion, ano
coming to few struggling bushes they
separated and began to gather little
pieces Of wood.
sill luck would have it, party O
70 trarys Just then passed. Percelvlnt
the Pole alone, they surrounded him IL
an instant The Russian, who was bu
afew PAGES off, hid in the bushes ant
witnessed what followed.
He could not help his friend, as h
knew that if he showed himself h
would be killed at once.
Hail friend" said the tramps, TAX
ing off their caps. "Bad luck to yo'
that you have met us, but you see it i
not cur fault. Such is the will of God
How much money have you got:'
give rubles, which l will give you
as well as my clothes, if you only spar
my life. -
"Your life is of no use to us, and W
would really like to let you go; but yo
see, dear friend, we have our laws whic
We cannot avoid. If you were to escap
alive, You would report us to the pt
lice, and we might be caught. Therefor
forgive Us poor sinners, but die 20
must "
All this conversation passed in a sui
dued voice as if in gentle persuasion
The countcnances of the murderers boz
no trace If anger or ierceness.
The Pole tried to soften them wit
bis prayers when one of the tramp
who appeared to be the chief took hi
kindly by the hand and said in frlent
ly tone:
Good man, don't be baby and as
for life we cannot give you. You al
we are both the children of one Fathe
Let US finish this business in brothe
" fashion by resisting you will OIL
suffer more. Choose which death yc
prefer 1890 the knife or stick or rive
which is very deep, or perhaps yel
would prefer to kill yourself. We WI
even allow that"
Il Will not willingly take my ow
life" be said. "God has given 1t
me, ard | will not assail it. Kill II
with your sticks, but pray kill me
once. "
Be quite assured. We have had
great deal of practice, and you won
feel anything"
And now let me pray
he knelt down and prayed. When
mad finished, he looked at his murde
ers, standing silently round him.
Are you ready" asked the. chief.
Ready, he answered in low vol6
1t was his last word. A few blo'
with strong stick on the temp
stretched HIM senseless on the groun
The tranus then stripped the corps
ued stone to the neck and threw
into the river.
They then expressed to one anotl-
thtlr regret at being obliged to X
hlm praised his good qualities a
Went away.-Pearson' s Weekly.
"Yours Truly"
The habits of people in signing II
'FS are receiving some attention, a