The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08

between Russia proper and Siberia. and
are distant about 1900 miles from st.
Petersburg. Thence. in company with
other exfIes from whom he was rig
orousIy kept apart. bowever-he was
transported by a steam convict barge
to the city of Tomsk
The journey was painfully slow. and,
owing to many vexatious delays. lasted
Tor nearly SIX weeks During all this
time Donald was closely guarded ana
allowed no opportunity of explaining hi,
false position Several times he 1t
tempted TO speak to those in charge of
him. but was only laughed at, and bru-
tally ordered to keep silence Gradually
the hope that had first been so strong
in his heart faded away and was sue
ceeded by a dull despaf7-a conviction
that he would never be able to prove
his identity. but must suffer for the
crimes of this unknown Serge AIasIof in
whose shoes he now stood He did not
even know the fate that was in store Tor
him. though the vision Of the desoIate
Siberian gold mines was constantly be
fore his eyes. He grew haggard and
thin-a mere ghost of his former seIs--
but deep down in his heart one tiny
speck of hope still remained. It wac
quite possible. he reflected. that some
day he would meet with Russian officials
who might be induced 10 give ear 20
his story This point once gained. Don
aid felt confident Of impressing his
hearers. and setting on foot an fnyes-
tfgatiou that would sooner or later give
him his freedom.
He was aware that no aid could reach
him from other sources. for his friends
in St. Petersburg knew nothing Of his
coming.
Slight indeed was the hope that re-
NAMED to him, and his spirits were at
their lowest ebb when the steam barge
/ landed. one pleasant June evening. before
/ the city Of Tomsk
! The convicts, to the number Of five or
six hundred, were permitted to remain
ion board overnight, but Donald was at
once conducted through the town in a
closed carriage precautfon which. as
he well knew. signifed him 10 be a Grim
/ inal of the highest grade, and one con
/ corning whom the utmost secrecy was
/ desired.
\ torn place in the curtains gave him a
glimpse OF the outer world. and the scene
brought tears to his eyes-it reminded
him SO strongly Of the home that he
would probably never see again. He saw
paved streets lit by eheerfuI gas lamps
churches, schools, newspaper Offices, AID
tkrongs Of we'll dressed people. tt vas
difficult to realize that this was really a
central Siberian town. three thousand
miles from St. Petersburg.
The carriage soon reached the suburbs
ard after rolling along the high bank ol
the river Tom for a short distance il
stopped before the Tomsk forwarding
prison. This was a small town in itself
II consisted Of probably twenty long
low buildings Of logs. each surrounded
by a stockade Of its own, and the whole
I incIosed by q large stockade Of sharpen.
ed logs, square IN shape, with sen.
+ try boxes scattered along the sides and
at the angles. Before each Of these
paced az armed Cossacz.
At this forwarding prison were made
up the exile parties which started out
at frequent intervals. From TomsE
stretches the great Siberian road. clear
to VIadivostok and the Pacinc coast
and along this the poor wretches ar,
/ compelled to travel on foot for thou
sands OF miles, without sufficient foot
OF clothing. Little wonder that thes
perish by hundreds on the way.
The Tomsk forwarding prison is never
empty. Its "kameras" or cells aIways
contain hundreds Of inmates
! The prison Office and the more preteu.
/ tious residence Of the governor were
/ passed. and after a brief ride between
the gloomy log buildings the carriag,
was halted before small square house
/ soIidIy built, which was evidently in
tended for prisoners Of special impor
lance
Donald was hurried from the vehicI,
and pushed through the door, but in tn,
brief interval Of passage he noticed tina
his place of confinement was close {,
the stockade-the side which bordere,
the riyer-and that one Of the log build
inEs lay parallel with it at a dlstanc,
of six or eight yards.
IN the narrow corridor within Iaml
was burning. and IFS dim, smoky Ugh
showed three doors in the side Of tn
wall
Donald was led to the most remoo
one of these. and thrust into a DARK
foul smelling cell He heard the doc
closed and locked and a moment late