Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-05-27
/ LIES LONG SHADOWS.
he Story ola Siberian Exile.


:
heavy slumber, which. lasted until the
guards appointed to take me to the
place of trial aroused me.
Heavily manacled, was marched
through the streets to the court, and
as 1 passed through the crowd gath
cred around it's doors many were the
words of pity for me heard on every
side, and many the prayers that God
might comfort. me and have me in His
keeping.
81 will pass over the scenes in
court-the testimony of the soldiers,
the Kisses Of the people when the
judge condemned me to life of penal
servitude in tie Siberian mines, AMI
their eagerness to catch a nearer
glimpse of me when l passed out on
l,y way back to prison. The recital
would but weary you. The next; day
l began by long and toilsome journey
to Siberia.
with many other exiles was
marched through the town and out
into the country by the road that led
past my forge. Long before we came
in sight of it, was straining my eyes
to catch glimpse of the little home
stead loved SO we'll; but when at
length 1t came in view another sight
enchained my attention and stilled in
a moment the eager throbbing OF. my
heart. All! What sight was that!
Coming toward us, round a bend in
the road, was e. tumbril. heavily
draped with black, and, following it,
q long procession of men and wom-
en-, many Of them weeping bitterl.": "a
mist blurred my vision and ,-aa ri.i .-.l
the tumbril until to my tear-dinrsd
eye it seemed as great black cloud
that wrapped the whole countryside
in its sorrowful folds. On me it cast
it's darkest shadow, and cried to the
guards to kill me and lay me beside
my dear ones, for there was not on
Gods fair earth one more desolate
than 1. But they only cursed me for
madman and lashed me with their
whips to urge me forward. q,
r "The tumbriI was almost abreast OF
us when the mourncrs recognized me,
and a great cry of compassion went
up from all, for they knew how it had
been with nae, and their hearts were
sore to see me treated thus in the
presence of my dead; and moved by
common impuse they broke in upon
our ranks, and, closing round me-, bore
me, despite the frantic strivings of
the guard, to the tumbril's side. One
passionate kiss on the she'll that hid
my darling from my eyes, one fierce
cry, of vengeance on the authors Of
my misery-and I knew no more.
when I came to myself l was ly-
ing at the bottom Of the wagon in
which the guards carried their food
and equipment The tumbril and
mourners, the familiar countryside
all had gone-and naught save the
toiling band of human misery, the
poor Siberian exiles. was in view.
81 will not dwell on the details Of
that terrible journey. Suffice it to
say that we reached Toholsk, after
months of incredible suffering and
privation, a smaller band by many
than when we left Velna. Death had
been merciful to the weak, and let
only the strong to suffer. And terri.
BILE, indeed, were our sufferings dur
ing the first years of imprisonment,
for a cruel man govern ID. us, and
rxled US with rod of iron. =.
:, "One day, while we were at work,
a fellow prisoner told me that new
warden had arrived at the prison, and
would be on duty for the first time
that night. 1 paid but little attention
| to what he said, and when night fell
and was locked in my cell I had for.
gotten all about it. 1t was the night
warder's duty to visit the cells every
hour, commencing at 10 o'clock. On
that particular night was more than
usually restless. It was the anniyer.
sary Of that fatal day at Velna, and
paced my cell with ever quickening
steps as I recalled, one by one, the
events of that terrible time. The
prison clock struck 10, and I paused
moment to listen for the familiar
grating of the bolts at the end of the
corridor as ,.the warder entered to
make his usual round. But every
thing was silent. I waited a few mo
ments, and then resumed my walk
The quarter struck, and still no war
der came. Then I recalled what my
fellow prisoner had told me, and I saw
how it was The man was new to
his duties, and, like enough would
not come at all. But even as the
thought passed through my mind
heard the bolts grating in their soc
kets, and, few moments later, some
one stumbled up the steps that lee
from the corridor'to my cell and fel
heavily against the door. With ar
oath. he recoverd himself, and, unlock
ing the door, flung it wide open.
"The dim light prevented me at frs
from seeing his face, but knew from
his heavy breathing and indistinct
speech that he had been drinking
When, after q slight gpausei he raise
I the lantern and the light fell on his
soddened features, 1 started back will
cry of surprise, for recognized il
him the soldier who. with a compan
ion, had visited ne in Yelna prison
and had mocked at me and insultet