The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-25
WOMAN'S SCREAMS
DROVE HIM INSANE,
Former Russian Officer Haunted
by Memory of an Execution
in Siberia
REPURIIc SPEcya:

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York Feb. A.-Ottomar Beirnath. S5
years Old formerly a Lieutenant in the
Russian army. detailed to the task Of re-
moving political prisoners to Siberia, was
led into the reception Office in Bellevue to-
night by Ambulance Surgeon Cavanagh OF
st. Vincent's Hospital.
Beirnath, a typical military officer In ap-
pearance, with broad shoulders and heavy
mustachc, wore two gold stars on his
breast as marks OF distinction, gained in
his countrys service. He was shaking with
terror and covered his ears with his hands
as re stood In the room
To Doctor Cayanagh the man told a re-
markabIe story of rennorse. which was
corroborated later by his wife. Beirnath
says that he Is driven insane periodically
by the memory of an escaping woman
prisoner whom he ordered shot in Siberia
in order to prevent her being devoured by
wolves.
II can hear her scream when the spell
comes on me-" said Beirnath, with a
shudder- II can see her fall with the
wolves jumping on her. On. II was awful,
awful. 1t was during wild snowstorm and
We were crcuchng under 4 hillock.
But I had to order my men to shoot
her. That was right. wasn't II. doctor? 1t
can't be laid to me, can It? But. oh, do
something for me. so i won't hear her
screams"
Beirnath is the son of wealthy linen
manufacturer IN Warsaw. RusSo-Poland.
The son entered the Russian army, and.
after serving In Nanchuria was detailed In
charge of Siberian prisoners. He tried to
steel his heart to the task. but could no
longer bear witness to the sufferings OF his
prisoners.
He says he was forced to execute many
court orders, but after he had one woman
prisoner shot he fed from Russia. He
went to Germany. where he served In the
army for three years. and. tiring Of a mill
was married in Philadelphia shortly after
his arrival there fve years ago. He lives
with his wife and baby at No. 23o West
The police tonight found the man wan
dering about the streets and had him re-
moved to bellevue.
nagh that he was troubled by hearing the
cries and walls Of young woman, He
said he knew the sounds were a hallucina
when he heard them.
II was In charge Of train of prison.
ers." said Beirnath. and was taking them
ter. 1 was a young Lieutenant at that
time. One OF them. young woman. es-
caged during snowstorm -
worth to permit her to escape. SO ! went
IN pursuit with a detachment OF twelve
WEE" we mansged ana s to head her 'o or : % Ne were ane
creeping along under the cover of a bank,
when a pack of wolves broke from the
forest and made for the woman.
Il shall never forget her cries when she
realized that she was lost The animals
were ravenous creatures. and as she sank
in the snow, and they were about to close
around her, jumped to my feet and called
to her to come in our direction.
she struggled to her feet. The pack OF
wolves parted and half of them came to-
ward us. realized that II was all over
shelter OF hiliock. Then gave the order
to my men to take aim and shoot the poor
creature before the wolves tore her TO
pieces"
Beirrath covered his face and repeated
that the screams and the dying agony OF
the woman would never be driven from his
mind.