The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-09


away again, and so on until death lberates
the unfortunate one from the burden of life
and society from dangerous pariah.
What kind of people these tramps are can
be imagined when it is known that, besides
the political prisoners. the worst class Of
criminals sent to the mines.
one OF the leading characteristics OF the
BradlaSi is their complete Indifference and
| absence of irritation and passion when COM
hitting murder. beginner who has not
passed the school CT mines, is more or less
excited when committing murder. 1t is not
so with the BIadiagi. Hardened in crime,
they XIII with the greatest unconcern. What
astonishes one most is the combination of the
most hardened crime with religious
| feelings. Msfortune-and without any doubt
the Bradlaga is one Of the most unfortunate
OF pelnS IN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES turns his
thoughts towards reilaI)n, while the abb
SERGE of all moral rules leads him to ascribe
all the sins he commits to fatality have on
several occasc ms found myself in roadside
prsCrS Or criminal hospitals with these con-
victs who in Justification of their crimes in
variably said: We are poor sinners, but also
most unfortunate, therefore God will forgive
all SINS"
Whenever they SEE a cross they always
take off their caps AM cross themselves. In
hospitals and prisons, or when tralnpins
they never eat mea. on fast days. In
versation they are very fond of quoting what
at first sounds like Scriptural texts, but in
reality are phrases made up by themselves
for their own Justification such as: "I1od
hates the rich CT this world; 'Sn
committed in perfect humility is no sin;
Besides these religious sayings, they have
great many proverbs which clearly indi-
cate their rough nature as for instance
Prison is not oealh: the knot not hal
ter; strap. bullet He is not thief
who steals-but he who is caught" Dead
men tell no tales "A fool gives, a wise
takes
10 describe more fully this class of men,
whose type is wholly unknown in Europe, L
will relate the following:
In one of the Siberian villages called Ba-
/
sian called Zulczyn; the other Pole, known
as Szacki. They were both shoemakers and
formed a partnership so as to work together
and concentrate their efforts in order to make
a living.
One day they went from the village some
tN enty versts with the Intention OF cutting
small pieces Of wood used there by shoemak-
ers in peggng boots. Reaching some bushes
they separated and began to cut the small
twigs they required LII luck would have it
that party OF twelve Bradiagi just passed.
Perceiving the Pole, they surrounded MIN in
an instant. Zulczyn. who was but a few
PAGES distant, hid ir the bushes and witnessed
what followed. He Gould not help his friend,
as he knew that if he showed himself he
would be instantly killed.
Trembling with fear md holding his breath
he was completed t. remain an unwilling
witness of the tragedy.
Hail. friend, said the tramps, taking off
their caps. Bad luck to you that you nave
met US, but you it is not our fault Such
is the will OF God. How much money have
you got?"
Five roubles, which 1 will give as well as
my clothes if you will only spare my life,
your life is OF 10 use to us, and we would
like to let you go; but you sec, dear friend
We have our laws which we must obey If
you were to escape alive you would report us
to the police, and we might be caught There
fore forgive US poor sinners-but you must
de-
II swear will not oenounce you"
yes, yes; always says that when
afraid and forgetS it afterwards, know.
You had better lose no time talking, but pray
to torture you. You can choose your own
way to die.
All this conversation passed in a low, soft
Voice, as if in gentle persuasion. The
| tenances Of the murders bore no trace of
anger or ferceness they proceeded as if muir
kind Of thought
The Pole tried to soften them by his
prayers, when one of the tramps, who ap-
peared the chief, took his hand kindly, kissed
him and said in friendly tone:
Good man, don't be a baby and ask for a
both the children of one father. Let us fin
ish this business in brotherly fashion. By
resisting you will only suffer more. Choose
which death you prefer. The knife, or club
or river, which is very deep. Or perhaps you
would prefer to kill yourself We will even
allow that
The unfortunate man saw that nothing
could him, and courageously submitted
himself to his fate. Kill me with your clubs
but pray kill at once. And now let me
pray.
Certainly, but let us first wish you good
bye"
And each of the tramps kissed him and
said, separately, Forgive u.s. dear brother"
He knelt down and entrusted his soul to
the Almighty. When he had finished he