The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-14
GEORGE
His Travels I'm Russia and His Ex-
posture of Sfkeria's Horrors.

Boston. Transcript.
The action of the Russian government In
expelling from Russian soil George Ken
nan. the noted traveller and writer, is un-
doubtedly due TO the fact that his writings
and lectures have made him decidedly OBJ
noxious TO the Russian authorities.
KEENAN, was born at Norwalk, o., Feb.
Is, 1S45. His opportunities for education
were restricted. Inc circumstances of his
family made ii necessary for him TO con-
tribute 10 the support OF others, and at
the age of twelve he began work in "A teie-
graph office. Being determined, however.
to fit himself for college, he continued TO
carry on his studies. IN which he was daily
engaged. He became a very expert opera
tor, and was successfully employed at
Wheeling, Columbus and Cincinnati. His
work during the years 1852 and 1863, In the
important position he then held, was so
absorbing that he finally gave up his hope
of a collegiate course. In 1864. hearing or
the proposed R~usso-American telegraph. he
was eager to join i'm the enterprise, and
through the friendship of General Arson
Stager. of the Western Union. he was APP
pointed for the work. When this expedi-
ton was brought to an untimely end by. the
successful laying Of the Atlantic cable, Mr..
KEENAN, went by land to st. Petersburg, re-
naming there a year. In the spring OF Il
he returned home. He delivered lectures
for two seasons and wrote a book on his
travels, Tent Life in Siberia which was
published in 1870. With the money obtained
from these ventures he made a trip to the
Caucasus mountains. Most of the winter
of 1S70-1 was spent in solitary horseback
tourney tErOukn DdSntSldu. AlltT III Y
turn he was engaged In various occupa-
tons. He was connected for a time with
an insurance company in New YORK city,
and for seven years reported the work OF
Associated Press. He also did editorial
work and much lecturing. May 2, 1885. he
was sent by the Century, OF New York, to
Siberia TO make an especial study or the
exile system in that country. He returned
in August, 1856, and his account of his jour
ney created a sensation and reused public
-. - u a. nnr rs IL haa a
been before.
Lecture tours followed. On one of these
campaigns he made his last visit 10 Boston
in February, 1898. speaking before the Uni
versity Club the evening OF Feb. IL. While
In this city Mr.. KEENAN, asked as 10 his
statements concerning the prison horrors
pie In America seem 10 still think that
what | then said must have been exag-
gerated, even u~nfounded. Why. everybody
in Russia-the officials esp~ecially-know
that what l said concerning the Russian
system was true. They admit it. In their
own official records they dwell on the
Weaknesses and the cruelties OF the Rus
sian prison system. In a memorial to the
International Prison Congress. which con-
vened recently in st. Petersburg. the Of
fcials called attention to those evils and
trusted that they would be considered with
due gravity by the congress. Ii is no
secret. 1t is universally acknowledged to
be a fact. OF course. when | say this | do
not include the Siberian end of the matter.
Owing TO the isolation OF that country the
sent out rfom there. and the general ig-
| norance OF the Russians as TO what is GO
ing on there. 1t is impossible that the Cars
officials should be cogniZant OF what seem
10 them the petty evils existing I'm Siberian
| exile posts. one here in the East might as
well be expected 10 know everything that
! is going on I'm the farthest end OF Alaska.
What do we really know about Alaska,
| aside from information distributed by the
| newspapers? No. | repeat. | did not ex-
aggerate. | told simply what ] saw. what
| Russian officials knew. concerning the pris-
on system in general of Russia. The rest
| may 60 for genuine revelation. Moreover,
| do not think that there is such bitter
feeling against me I'm Russia as many peo-
ple here might imagine. or course, at the
| time my articles appeared they were re-
sented officially In Russia, Simply on the