The Opelousas courier., 1901-08-31
ESCAPING FROM SIBERIA
H~w Russian COnvicts Manage to Secure
Freedom.

Freedom.
Recent developments in Russia have
served to direct public attention anew
to the state of affairs in the vast Mus
covite rnalm. This is the ting Of year
when the wretched creatures con-
demned to a life of practical serfdom
in Siberia make their most strenuous
e%ndeavors to escape. Practically in no
part Of Siberia is Imprisonment SO
much to be dreaded as In he mines of
Kara. Spring is considered the best
time to make the break for liberty, as
then the rigors of a Siberian winter
are passed, and there Is then more
chance of success.
Many miles Of desolate territory
must be crossed, and in the dead Of
winter such attempts are worse than
futile, for the despairing convict only
escapes from serfdom to die Of expo
sure or starvation on the bleak Sibe-
rtan desert. Yet, foolhardy as it may
seem, many do make the struggle for
freedom, neferring probable death ia
this form to the miseries of the prison
pen.
Once the wretches have eluded the
sharp eyes of the guards and escaped
from the prison proper there is always
some guide to direct them for the first
hundred miles or SO. Night is the time
for the attempt, and in the darkness
some succeed. After the prison Is left
behind them all travelling must be done
under cover Of darkness. When a vile
lage is reached all is dark and still,
save at one cot, where a light Is ever
burning in the window. There the
desperate refugee knows he may find
friends and perhaps shelter during the
coming day.
The system Of convict pens is not
condoned by the natives, and they are
ready to be of any possible assistance.
OF course, this must be done with
the greatest secrecy, as detection
might mean the same fate for the cot
tager and all his family. Therefore
the greatest caution must be observed.
In the window a little table is placed,
on which stands a lamp, a plate and
a jug. When the cottager and his fam
lily sit down to their frugal meal a
choice morsel is selected and set on
the plate, while the jug is filled for
the ever expected unfortunate way
farer.
When the hospitable night sheds her
cloak Of secrecy over the world the
convict, leaving his place of conceal
ment, steals up to the lighted window
and, pushing it open, takes the plate
and jug and refreshes himself for the
next stage of his long, dreary march
to liberty. But where to go? Doubt
less his former happy home has been
cannot return to see, for detection is
doubly SURF where he is known. The
only resort is to plod to some neigh
boring village, where perchance he
may learn some news of the dear ones.
And all this misery for what?
Because, forsooth, he may have been
suspected Of d~isIoyalty to his ruler, or
he may only have incurred the hatred
or i'll will Of the local police. Little
wonder that the present uprising
throughout the realm is assuming
alarming proportions. The voice of
civilization, official edicts, royal
ukases may have amelorated these
desperate conditions somewhat, but
the system Of Siberian Punishment is
built ON a poor foundation, and it can
he only a matter Of time when a vast
upheaval will bring about a change
in conditions in Russia.