Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-05-27
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .7iiRf'77i1fi7l77fYi7H'fl
L/FES LONG SHADOWS.
The Story Of Siberian Exile. :



I heavy slumbor, which lasted until the
guards appointed to take me TO the
place of trial aroused me.
Heavily manacled. J was marched
through the streets to the court, and
as | passed through the crowd gath
cred around its 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 sill pass over tho scenes in
court-thc testimony of the soldiers.
the Kisses of the people when The
judge condemned me to a life of penal
servitudc in tie Siberian mines, anl
their eagerness tu catch a nearer
glimpse of me when passed out on
my way back TO prison, Tho recital
would but weary You. The n2Xt day
began by long ana toi!SCmc journey
10 Siberia.
With many other cxiIcs l was
into the country by the road that led
past my forge. Long before We came
in sight of it. | Was slraininS lly eyes
TO catch a glimpse of the litylc home
stead loved 50 wrll; but when at
length 1t came il view another sight
enchainel my attention and stilicd in
4 moment the eager throDDing OF my
heart. All. What sight was that,
the read, was tumb:il, heavily
drapcd with black, aud. following il.
long procession of men and woDl-
en-, many of them weeping bitterly: \
mist blurred my vision ana rrp"e"ifo1
the tumbril until to my t@ar-:tii!rr<d
eye it seemed rs great black cloud
that wrapped the whole countryside
in its scrrcwiul folds. On r!e it cast
its darkest shadow, and cried 10 The
guards to kill ne and lay me beside
my dear ones, for there was net on
Gods fair earth one more Gesolate
than |. Bat they only cursed ne for
a mailman and lashcd me with their
whips 10 urge me forward.
The tumbril was almost abreast Of
us when the mourncrs recognized nc,
and great cry Of compassion went
up from all. for they knew how it had
been with nc. and their hearts We're
sore to see Inc treated thus in the
presence Of my dead: ana moved by
common impusc. they broke in upon
our ranks, and. closing round me, bore
me, despite the frantic strivinss OF
the guard, to the tumbril's side. One
passionate kiss on the shell that lid
my darling from my eyes. one fierce
cry of vengeance on the authors OF
my miscry-and knew no more.
When | came To myself | was ~
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-anl naught save the
toiling band OF human misery, the
poor Siberian cXilcs. was in view.
II will not dwell en- the details cf
that terrible journey. Suffice it To
say that we reached TohOlsk. after
months of incredible suffering and
privation, smaller band by many
than when we loft Nclna. Death had
been mcrciful to the weak, ana let
only tho strong 10 s"ffo" And terri::.
bic, indeed, were our Suff"rinSs dur
ing the first years of impr!&onmcEt.
for cruel man governed. us, ara
r.!ed us with rod OF iron.
One day. while we were al work,
a fellow prisoner told me that new
warden had arrived at tic prison. and
would be on duty for the first time
that night. l paid but little attcHtion
to what he said, and when night fell
and | was locked in my cell had for
gotten all about it, 1t was the night
warder's duty to visit the cells every
hour. commencing at 1C O'clock. On
that particular night | was more than
usually restless. 1t was the annivGr'-
sary of that fatal day at Neina and
paced my cell with ever Quickcning
steps as | recalled, one by one, the
events of that terrible time. The
prison clock struck 10, and l paused
moment to listen for the familiar
grating of the bolts at the end OF the
corridor as tho wardcr entered to
make his usual round But every
thing vas silent. / waited a few mo-
mcnts, and then resumed my walk.
The quarter struck, and still no war
der came Then | recalled what my
fellow prisoner had told me, and | saw
how it was The man was new 10
his duties, and, like enough would
not como at ALL. But even as the
thought passed through my mind |
heard the bolts grating in their SOC
kcts, and, a few moments later. some
one stumbled up the steps that lei
from the corridor.to my cell and fc!l
heavily against the door With an
oath he recovered himself, and Unlock
ing tic door, fiunS it wide open.
THE dim light prevented me at first
from seeing his :acc. but | knew from
his heavy breathing and indi&iin"t
speech that he Ead been drinking
When, after d slight pause, he raised
the lantern and The light fell on his
soddcncd features. started back with
cry OF surprise. for | recognized in
him the soldier who, with a compan-
ion, had visited ne in Ecina prison.
and had mocletI ut me and insultrd
the memory of my dear ones. Some.
.hIao ;y ,,,y lpntt Il nIopmon him, mud ho