Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-01-22
LAST NIGHTS LECTURE


ing and surveyed the crowd before him
he was much pleased, for large as
semblage was present, nearly every seat
being taken, and had seats been on sale
there would not have been standing
room. He was introduced by MIR. Karl
Mathie The lecture was what it was
advertised to be-a description of Rus
STA, of Russian government and of the
exile's life in Siberia What made the
lecture interesting was the fact that it
was not a description pictured in the
mind of the lecturer from book history
or hearsay, but it was from his own
personal experience and observation.
Albert is not Russian by birth but
was one by adoption but has now
chosen this country as home for all
time to come. He was born in sunny
Italy and when quite young went to
Russia and attended a polytechnic school
at st. Petersburg, where he received an
education, with the understanding that
when he gained the same he was to
serve the Gar either in the army or in
the civil service. He chose the former.
Then his trials and fluctuations began
When he had nearly served his three
years time he was court martialed for
minor offense, and the sentence i'm
posed upon him was that he serve
another three years. At that time he
was stationed in the Caucasian mount
aims, but was transferred to the mines
of Siberia, where his duties were to
watch those confined in the prisons
there. Previous in his talk, Mr.. Alberti
told of the methods of sending supposed
criminals to that cold country. If
man commits any misdeed of a trivial
nature or casts any slurring remarks on
the government, or is even suspected of
doing so, he is arrested without war
rant, does not 90 before Judge for
trial and have a jury pass upon him,
but is condemned to pass weary years at
hard labor in a country where the Their
mometer ranges below 40, and from
whence they scarcely ever return.
For greater offenses they are branded
upon the face. After being placed in
the mines they never again see the light
of day and many have the tools with
which they work chained and riveted
to their limbs In a short time their
hair gets crispy, turns grey and falls
out They become emaciated, their
eyes sink into their heads, and they
present an appearance that would sicken
the heart of anyone but Russian, and
if they are not killed or tortured to
death they soon die from the exposure
and lack of food He described and
showed illustrations of the methods of
torture, and they compared favorably
with the Spanish Inquisition.
When Albert had nearly finished his
second term of army service he was
again court martialed and was again
ordered to put in another three years,
and was this time transferred to the
Ural mountains, where, after nearly
completing his service, ne deserted and
came to America, and seeing what
personal liberty is enjoyed here, de-
cided to remain, but later received
word that property had been left him
in Russia decided to go back and settle
up affairs. While there he was arrested
and thrown into prison and condemned
to be exiled to Siberia. He then de-
seribed the scenes along the route and
of his manner of escape. While cross
ing bridge which, like the Bridge of
Signs, no one ever returned, he intu-
itively gave the Masonic sign of dis
tress, which was recognized by an
officer This officer, afterwards furn-
ished him means of escaping, gave him
II suit of clothes and money, and he
made his way to Constantinople and
secured passage for this country. He
owes his escape from living death
from the fact of his having joined the
Masonic order in Smyrna, Turkey, and
his experience was that the lodge is
something more than a name. Capt
Alberti then showed great many
stereopticon views descriptive of Rus
sian and Siberian life, many of which
were horrifying.
The Masons of this city are entitled
to expressions of thanks for having
given the people an insight into the
methods practiced by the Gar of all
the Russians, the present ones advo-
cacy of universal peace being travesty
on Christianity.
Cones orchestra furnished music for
| the occasion.
Mr. Alberti delivered an address to
the Masons at the temple on Sunday
afternoon on Masonry in foreign coun-
tries and he also spoke to the school
children yesterday afternoon on the re-
lations between this country and Russia