The L'Anse sentinel., 1905-08-05


ed to the handcuffs. but now the for
mer is the more usual method. No
matter where the convict may turn,
he drags with him the unwelcome
burden. He even sleeps with 1t on q
bench made specially for the purpose.
How long is he condemned to be
chained to the barrow?" asked.
For two years; and the convict be-
fore him had slept In this bed for three
years."
approached the bed" The head
end OF the bench is worn out with
the friction of the chain. The wood
had rubbed up against the iron for
five years. Even the wood wears
out" grumbles the convict.
The punishment is very cruel, and
would be intolerable II the convicts
did not ease their burdens now and
then. 1t is impossible to chain the
convicts so fast as to absolutely pre-
vent their freeing themselves. With
the help OF their mates sometimes
they grease the chains with soap and
take Off their burden at night under
incredible agonies. But still for few
hours each month they manage to rid
themselves Of their incubus. 49,.
All around us we see angry faces.
They peer hopelessly into the future.
The glances are cold, hard, somber
and bitter. -.
Among the chained convicts many
are captured fugitives. relapsed muir
derers, and many still waiting to be
sentenced.
"Why were you convicted?" Sus-
pected of murder And you?" "Sus-
pected of theft "And you?" "Sus-
pected of murder" Nothing but
suspects" And you?" KILLED two
men" The reply came frank, sharp
and firm.
The Female Prison.
The prison for women is very small.
1t consists of one ward which holds
ten persons. The women convicts of
Sakhaln are punished for their crimes
in special manner. They are given
away to settlers as so-ca.led "life
mates" Only those are in prison
whose cases have not been finally
passed upon. Two women arise as we
enter. One is an old Tcherkesslan
from the hills of Caucasus, who does
not speak a word of Russian. The
other is young woman. She was
banished for life because she had
induced her godfather to kill her hus-
band.
WHY"
II was married to him against my
will. and | loved my godfather.
thought they would send us away
together. But they sent him to one
place and me to another"
In Sakhalin she committed crime
rare in the annals of the island. She
had defended her life mate with a
gun. He got himself into a fight
with the settlers. Nine men sur
rounded him, and were beating him.
She rushed to her hut. grabbed a
rifle, and shot into the group.
You must have learned to love
your life mate?"
"Of course; would | have fought
for him? | might have been killed.
He's good fellow; | hoped could
live with him to the end, and now
there's fine mess to be in"
She dries her tears and sobs si.
lently.
Nothing will happen to her" says
the inspector. She will be convict
Al sxtxy 30. to -
of the distant settlements. Women
in Sakhalin are not punished"
Perhaps some people may consider
this impunity. But what greater pen
atty could there be for woman who
loved well enough to risk her life
and who was sentenced now to be
"given away" to another man?
What a dreadful custom, reminding
one of bygone ages! In the days of
serfdom it was customary to give
people away" toying with their life
and happiness. OF all the prisons in
Rykoffsk this little prison impressed
me most sadly.
The Exec,itioners.
"Hallo, baby!" Halo. urcle!"
Don't you call me nucle, baby, for l
am your godf;Eher. or really your
life mates godfather" merrily ex-
claims Tolstych, the old executioner
Of Sakhalin.
And how do you come to be his
godfather" l ask.
'Ha, ha. your honor, knouted
him."
Have you knouted many peo-
ple?" Tolstych smiles. well. just
as many as you see hereabouts, your
honor" Tolstych is about Go years
old. He does not look day over
40. He Is good-looking man. with
fine mustache and carefully shaved
chin. He is wealthy, according to
Sakhalin ideas, and is somewhat of
dude. Tolstych wears coat. top
boots, and even a leather cap, which
Is the acme of Sakhalin fashions. He
always jokes and is full of fun. "Why
were you banished?" Because of the
old woman!" He had killed his wife
with hatchet. "Why did you do it?''
"She was no good" When he came
to Sakhalin he did not lose courage.
IJo soon found mt xuhot ha xyo. ho.t