The Washington times., 1904-12-04
Traeic Experiences of Two Russian Women Nhilists

There was only one other member ot
her sex, a noblewoman named LUdmila
WoIkenstein. in that prison during the
entire period of Mile Figner's eonf1ne-
ment there. The two women hSd been
conversing through the walls by means
OF rapping out letters. according 70 the
revolutionary telegraph code. for eight
years before they were allowed TO take
a short walk together in the prison
yard. I'VE fell upon each other"
Madame WOlkenstein writes in her
Thirteen Years in Schusselburg, and
didn't we cry" She was released few
years before. so that during the last
years OF her Imprisonment Mile. Figner
was the only representative OF her sex
in the fortress.
Mile. Ffgner Is a poetess. Some Of her
best verse IN the literature OF reyolu-
ticnary Russia was composed by her In
ner. .SchIusselburg cell. This she would
rap out on the wall so that IL would be
memorized by all the other prisoners
and when some OF them were released
her poetry would be conveyed TO the rev.
olutionists at large, who printed 1t in
their underground publications.
Mile Figner had been in her solitary
cell three years when newly arrived
prisoners brought her the news tiat De-
gayef had proved TO be a traitor. and
that TO atone for his sins 70 the party
ne had offered 10 sill the crafty gen.
darme officer wl1 had indneed him 10
turn states evidence. and who was the
most dangerous enemy the revolution
lists had in the gsndarmerie; that De-
gayed's offer mad been accepted and tho
hated officer had been killed in De-
gayens residence.
First Woman Political Convict.
Nine. Breshkofskaya was the first wo-
man 10 be sent to the Siberian mines as
a political convict When her twenty
two years OF Imprisonment and exile
We're ar an end she was allowed 10 re-
turn home, but instead of resting on Der
laurels she soon plunged into the move
ment again. She gathered Up tie loose
threads rf The old organization OF which
Mile Figner was an active member in
the early eighties. For three years she
I Travelled incognita. agitating and organ
izing. founding secret printing offices and
I distributing revolutionary literature.
/ The authorities We're continually hunt
/ sent out as far back as I'VE years ago,
naming her and one George Gersnuni "a
/ the two revOlutionists most eagerly
/ sought By the gendarmes. Gershuni was
/ captured and sentenced To death a year
/ ago while "Grandmoth-r, who found
, il much easier 10 elude the vigilance Of
/ the police owing TO her venerable appear
/ ance continued 20 agitaJe and TO or
! ganize until her party sent Der anc an
| other revolutionist. Dr. Jitlovsky. on a
tour through the United States.
I'VE want 10 tell the American people
/ what our party wants, and incidentally
TO raise funds here," Granny" said
we want the ; mericuns 20 know thai
We are strugglu- for the very things
which they enioy-free speech, free rep
resentative gOvernmeut-aud We hope
that they viii signify thei- sympathy
with our cause in the liberal way f0l
which they are noted.
Nine Breshkofskaya' reappearanc,
among the Socialists of this country hal
caused great activity among RussiaI
spies who watch every movement sh
! makes