davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-09

ly green. but step and you sink
in the deep; cold, sticky and viscous
mire.
The remark about the neatness
hardly escapes your lips when you
hear around the corner the rafting of
chains. Harnessed to a cart, grasp
ing the shaft in their hands, convicts
are dragging refuse to the sea.
What depressing sight to see men
doing the work Of horses.
The road leads past the prison, and
one can see the grimy window panes
behind heavy iron bars. Right above
us is the hospital and directly oppo.
site the mortuary.
The Chain Prison.
The chain prison of Sakhalin is in
tended for the criminals of the worst
kind. Officially it is called the prison
for the testing of convicts," while the
prison for conyicts showing signs of
reforming" or the free prison." is
used for convicts who have passed
the test of the ''chain prison.
Our chain prison is bad, very bad,"
remarked the inspector. I'VE are
building new one, but it will take
years to get it ready" .,
Attention." calls out a guard. A
rafting of chains, and the convicts
rise from the benches. On Easter
Sunday two of the convicts fed from
the prison, in spite of the fact that
the convicts in a body had given
their word of honor" not to attempt
an escape. AS punishment, all of
them were put in chains. It is moist
and close. Not an attempt at venti-
lation. No attempt at making the
place habitable. No effort to make
existence tolerable. Not even the
usual convict chests are to be seen
anywhere. Bare benches, filthy straw
mattresses are bundled together at
the head end Of the benches. A
NANCY, lean cat plays among the
benches and purrs ingratiatingly. The
convicts are fond of animals, for they
alone regard them as human.
In the center of the room is a table.
or rather tall bench. It is triangu-
lar in shape, wet and dirty, COW
cred with bread crumbs and filthy tea
cans.
We enter cell, where we find two
convicts chained to barrows.
Lets see your Instrument!
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-09

The rusty barrow squeaks, the
chains rattle, and the: men attached
to the barrow show us the implement
of torture. = *3% 0 T @.Hzf T ~
The barrow, which weighs about
100 pounds, is welded to the chain
around the convict's ankles.
At one time the barrows were weld
ed to the handouts, but now the for.
mer is the more usual method. No
matter where the convict may turn,
ne drags with him the unwelcome
burden: He even sleeps with it on q
bench made specially for the purpose.
How long is he condemned to be
chained to the barrow?" I asked.
For two years; and the convict he.
fore him had slept in this bed for three
years." .~.2 20, -<-.. ..,..
/ I approached the bed" The head
end Of the bench is worn out with
the friction fsthe chain. The wood
had rubbed up against the iron Tor
five years. Even the wood wears
out, grumb1es the convict. 5s:3ss..s:.
The punishment is very cruel, and
would be intolerable ii the convicts
did not ease their burdens now and
then. It 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 of their burden at night under
incredible agonies. But still for q few
hours each month they manage to rid
themselves Of their incubus. !.
al around us we see angry faces.
They pee. opelessly into the future.
The glances are cold, hard, somber
and bitter. !. s. !. :;.=
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-09
The Russian Prison Colony and Its
Terrible TRAGEDIES.
DESCRIBED BY A RUSSIAN WRITER
Terrible Cruelty of the Keepers and the Exc
cutioners of Punishment That
Stagger ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. knout''
and How 1t Is Applied,

The interest of the world in the
Russian penal system is awakened by
the capture of the island of Sakhalin
by the Japanese. From time to time
during the past quarter of a century
the civilized world has been shocked
beyond measure at the tales of cruelty
to which the Russian convicts in this
vast prison have been subjected, and
the depths OF degradation to which
these once human beings have been
brought. But Russia has been careful
that but little Of the true picture of the
island should reach the outside world,
and newspaper and magazine writer's
from England, France and the United
States have made repeated attempts
conditions in this great prison land,
and of the atrocious cruelties prac.
ticed there, but none have ever been
fully successful. Much has been
guessed at, and the world would
scarcely credit these pictures of the
imagination.
1t has remained for a Russian to
give us practically authentic pic
ture OF Sakhalin. and though the pic
ture is tempered by seeing things
from the Russian standpoint, it is still
a picture that is so horrible that it
staggers humanity. This story Of the
horrors of Sallhalin has been pub
lished in book form, and it is only
translated extracts from the book
that we can give here:
The First Impression.
First impressions are likely to be
very vivid. I shall certainly never
forget the moment when our steam
launch came alongside the jetty at
korsakotfsk. The landing was crowd
ed with men. A few more steps and
I was lost in that sea which I so
yearned to fathom.
During the months / passed among
the convicts at Sakhalin l could not
free myself from two impressions
which held me in thrall, tortured me
and oppressed my soul like a heavy
burden. They still are holding my
soul under their ban and still are
depressing it. The first of these i'm
pressions concerns my trip to SAX
hahn. Our steamer, which trans.
ported the convicts from Odessa, re-
minded me of huge barge, like those
used in our sea-coast towns for tow
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-09

from Jonas Hanway, the celebrated
merchant and philanthropist, who, on
his return from Russia in 1850, passed
through Dresden. He says There arc
about 700 men employed 1T Meissen In
the mandatory, most Of whom have
not above ten German crowns month.
and the highest wages are 40, 70 that
the annual expenditure 10 not estimate
ed above $1,000 crowns. This manu-
facture being entirely for tho hng'a
account, he sells yearly to tho vslu4
Of 10000 crowns, and sometimes z00.o
600 crowns (R35. o00), besides the mag
nidcent presents hs occasionally
makes, and the great quantity hs pro
serves for his own use. They pretend
they cannot execute fast enough the
commissions they receive from Asia
a. we'll - from Ill parts of Europe1
and re, consequently, under no neees!
sity u lower the enormous price;
Howevek, this must be the consequences
ere LONG II the English and French
continue 10 make such improvements
in this art. 1t IL with great satisfae!
ton that observe the manufactures
OF Bow, Chehsa, and stepney 70 i'm
proved"
, DR.. G. Klemnl. writing in 1910, says
with reference to the celebrated Japan
palace at Dresden, where an almost
complete series of Meissen china is
preserved This collection is extreme
~ interesting, as showing the art
from its first infancy to its ultimate
perfection In the room called Bot
ticher's room there are specimens of
the ancient porcelain executed pre-
viously to 1863, made of the clay found
at Nielsen, red without glaze; the red
polished by lapidaries; the red glazed;
the iron-gray without polish or glaze;
the black glazed, in imitation of the
Chinese; the earliest b1ze and white,
in imitation of the Nankin; then the
first white porcelain; the same paint
ed in colors; flower vases and groups
of cupids, and other exquisite produc-
lions; figures by Handler, two leopards
OF natural size, a colossal bust of Au-
gustus H., the other rooms are filed
with an immense collection of white
porcelain figures Of saints and apos-
ties" This concise resume will give
the reader an excellent idea of the
varied nature of the china produced at
the Nielsen mandatory.
The Chinese taste was predominant
until the appointment of Handler, q
celebrated sculptor. to superintend
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-09
DRESDEN TANKARD, 1zaA.

the modelling. The most usual subjects
on pieces dating from this period are
groups of figures in Chinese costume
In compartments or medallions on a
plain ground, the painting being some
times enclosed in richly gilded scroll
pattern; the body of the object is usu-
ally yellow, green or gray.
Other rare pieces are those decorated
by means of a process invented by
Baron Busch, an ecclesiastic of Hides
helm. whose system consisted Of a
q method Of etching or engraving on the
surface of white porcelain. The cele-
brated Angelica Kaufman was for 4
time one of the artists employed 1t
Nielsen, and her oil paintings as welt
as those Of other eminent painters.
were copied many times over by the
china decorators. ::
The painted and modelled butterflies:
which occur so frequently. were worn
a dress ornaments in the eighteenth
century. Madame Ia Marquise de Gre
qui, in her Memoirs" describes the
Ma.quise de Froulay rs being attired
In velvet dress, fastened up in 4 spe-
cies of draperies with butterflies of
Dresden china. Nielsen snun-boxes.
often decorated with views of the roy
al palaces, are fairly common: 30 are,
also, the bookcases, which are often
exquisitely painted.
Among the pieces which the collec-
tor is most likely to meet with are tea
pots decorated with flowers, chocolate
pots with floral ornamentation: and
bird in high relief on the lid: trays
with sprays Of flowers: jugs with Wat
teauesQue groups; vases with figures
In formal gardens, the handles being
formed OF Cupids; cups, and saucers
(some painted with golden tulips): and
the like. After 1774 the styles and
forms Of the preceding period were
abandoned, classical motifs and shapes
replacing them. The vases lost their
graceful flowing outlines and now be-
came severe, with square plinths.
wreaths of laurel being the fayorite
decorative design, Both vases and
teacups have angular handles.
The Dresden candelabra and clock.
cases are usually artistic both In their
modelling and in the delicate colorine
OF the ornamentation. A fine specf-
men Of the former represents the god
dess Night seated upon plinth, and
supporting branches for five candlea.
round the pedestal are armorial shields
and Cupids. A beautiful clock-case ia
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-09

much method. They consisted of max
Ing various pastes, which, being baked
In the oven, failed to produce true
porcelain, but the secret was not dis
covered until ITO. The means by
which it came to light was, we think,
one of the most curious incidents in
the history of invention. We are told
that Botticher's valet purchased = new
hair powder In Dresden, and promptly
dressed his masters wig with it. The
chemist soon noticed that his peruke
was heavier than usual, and added a
sample of the powder to one of his
mixtures. Calling his valet, Botticher
was Informed that the heavy hair pow
der was discovered by an ironmaster
named Schnorr, who observed a pecu-
liar clay adhering to his horses hoofs
when riding one day near Aue. A few
hours investigation led to the discov-
cry that the powder was made from
the one clay that is capable of produc-
ing hard paste porcelain-we refer to
what is known as "kaolin." The re-
suit was the production Of true porce-
lain. 49,.
. The elector monopolized the discov-
cry, and attempted to keep it close
secret. The mineral was placed in
sealed casks by dumb men, and con-
veyed to Nielsen, where the king es-
tablished great porcelain manufac-
tory. The works were carried on in
the strongly fortified castle Of Al
brechtsburg, where the workmen were
practically prisoners. Everywhere on
the walls was posted the notice, *'Se-
crecy to the Grave This rule was en-
forced at Nielsen down to 1872. Stone
walls and severe penalties, however,
could rot prevent the secret from be-
ing revealed; 1t is recorded that in
1918 a Meissen china worker was bribed
to break his oath and divulge the
method of manufacture to the director
Of the Vienna china works, whence
the art spread far and wide
The king himself when he visited his
mandatory, went. through the form
of taking the oath of secrecy. The first
perfect piece of Dresden china pro-
duced at Meissen was teapot, which
Botticher withdrew from the oven,
and threw into cold water in the pres
ence Of Augustus, and, greatly to the,
delight of all concerned, the teapot
sustained no injury. Botticher man
aged the Meissen factory until his
death in 1919. In 1871 the elector of
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-09

Inc punishment must have been some
thing dreadful. Thus one execution
er TESTED with another. But soon Ter
ski was detected taking a bride from
convict and promising to spare him
in consideration. -, -. %::s
Terski was sentenced to 200 blows
with rods, and Komleff was called
upon to administer the punishment.
"You taught me to handle the
knout. I will show you what can be
done with rods" he grinned. Terski
is rotting yet. What he did to. Kom
LEFT was child's play to Komleff's re-
taliation.
According to the law of Moses. .
TESTED the f1end, "eye for eye, tooth
for tooth. I can knout. was taught
how on my own Carcass
Convict Gubar, who had ATTEMPT
ed to escape, and who was sentenced
to be knouted for cannibalism, had
to be taken to the hospital after 45
of Komleff's: blows. He died three
days later without regaining con.
sciousness. Komleff had been bribed
to do this by convicts who hated
Gubar. .3- :. - ~.
i Corporal Punishment. =
Ivan Grusdeff, sentenced to 80
lashes with the knout for giving an
o6ense, was brought into the office
Of the. doctor at the Sakhalin prison.
''Your name?'' "Ivan Grusdeff." ;:
The doctor throws glance at the
documents, and gasps.a 49, - ''sz' -
"Merciful Heaven! Eighty lashes!'
"The devil!" exclaims the in.
:spector. -s''
|: Eighty" repeats the assistant
like an echo. ,,..
/ Eighty" whisper the clerks. Every
one looks curiously. at the man who
is about to receive 80 lashes with the
knout. The doctor examines the con
vict. The minutes passvery slowly. The
physician shrugs his shoulders. care
you well?" Eyes, sir, quite well, your
honor!" .. ,+...>..> ~ -.
"Quite well, you say?"@ Eyes, SIR
"Have you no pains around the
hearth" s..ts>~ y >.., !
mo, sir; none at ALL" -r... 49,. =
/ do you know where your heart is
you idiot? No pains in the side?
Never? Don t you understand me, you
fool? Don't you feel pains occasion.
allyn ..@ @<::- -
mo, sir, never -ss.sss ,s...=2s 80,
8 The physician looks wrathfully at
the imbecile. Look at me. Don't
you ever cough :? Cough? 2" mo. sir;
Isnever cough!" u; ~ .Ts,s.
\. The doctor is beside himself. with
anger. He throws . look 5of hatred
at the convict. His glance seems to
say: Lie, you devil, lie, why don't
you ?" But the convict cannot see
through it. mo, sir; never
The doctor sits down and calmly en-,
ters: Heart failure" In his anger he
breaks the pen. The inspector looks
at the Doctors certificate. Exempt
from corporal punishment. Take him
out. Everybody heaves sigh OF
relief. The damned idiot! !" said the
doctor later to me in confidence. II
had hard time to save him. He was
as sound as bell. But what could
lido? Eighty lashes mean sure death.
What the devil do they mean BY sen.
fencing man to such punishment? q
The corporal punishment was id.
m!inistered at five o'clock. We &c,
companted the physician to the office.
me ~ horse" stood In. the gangway;
Two bundles Of rods carefully tied
together and about six feet long, lay
alongside the horse. ,' Seven men
were lined up against the wall 81 the
doctors ONCE. The execution stood
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-09


of them with a tube and an asculata-
ton hammer, but the Caucasians
jumped back terrified. Finally the
doctor gave up in despair.
It was Bardunoff's turn. ''Were
you ever punished before?" mo, sir!"
Rub him!"e5A guard rubbed Bardun.
offs body with a cloth; the, skin red
-dened, and clear traces of former
punishments became visible, ~.
stood near the doctor, whose face
was flushed with shame. :. 800. =
Ivan Wassjutin.'" Ivan neared> the
horse" H. ...:
"Off with all clothes" said the exc
cutioner. It was a long while before
he grasped the meaning of the words.
Lie down." Wassjutin mounted
the horse" astride. ~. 80
Take your hands of, lie down:
put your arms around the horse"
Wassjutin embraced the "horse." It
was humtliating, horribly humiliating,
to see naked man stretched on that
horse" and awaiting the cruel lash.
Chruspel, the executioner, looked like
a dog into the inspectors face. -, s
Thirty rods" "s Chruspel picked up
a bundle Of rods, drew one out of
the bundle with astonishing agility,
retired a step, and waited. !:
Go ahead!": The rod whistled
through the air once or twice before
the inspector counted one. Then an
other whist1ing sound, and red stripe
was Seen on the quaking body. 1.-TWO,
three, four, i've" ''>
Chruspel threw the rod away and
took up another. He walked over to
the. other side of the horse. Five
more blows fell on the other side of
the body. -. y =.
Every five blows required another
rod, and Chruspel changed his position
for eacA rod. The sound of the rod
whtstling through the air almost broke
ones heart, and the interval between
two blows seemed like an eternity.
The Inspector counted: Twenty.
nine. thirty" 49,
/ Wassjutin rose on the horse and sat
astride. His eyes were filled with
tears. Get OIL" 3.
Two, and half minutes" said the
doctor. .... ...~ e.,
4 thought it had lasted an hour.
Then came the Caucasians' turn.
Chruspel laid them down ON the horse
one after another. He used the knout
on:them '"in accordance with the YER
dict: "A look at: the inspector ex-
planned to. Chruspel what he was to
do. He grasped the :knout in the
middle, which lis the punishment Of
the half knout." :. ..:z
Bardunoh trembled and shiyered.
He looked helpless like hunted rab.
bit, and attempted to smile. Chruspel
poked him In the ribs. Lie down.
Bardunoff convulsively clasped the
horse and pulled himself together.
Chruspel swung the knout with an
ominous movement. This was not q
punishment Tin, accordance with the
verdict. Of the court" this was q
private transaction, according to
the customs of the Sakhalin prison in.
spectors. :;.a. ~ y. .@@ IT, )
~ The room was perfectly still; not q
breath was heard. .@ :...$l z.".. D
C;hruspel gazed inquiringly at the
inspector. The latter looked about
for 9 moment In confusion, glanced at
the doctor and me, and finally made
+ g sign to the executioner. Chruspel
*grasped the half knout. 4 "a sigh Of
relief was heard from everyone il the
room: Bardunoff' 8 body trembled con.
vulsively. Heaven knows what ter
rible blows the man had expected. For
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-08-09
! Didn't Seem Impossible. :.

4 do you think you could learn to
love me?" he asked the lady, as he
looked into her trembling orbs.
#3= III. We'll, :" she said, archly, popular ed
ucation has advanced with such rapid
strides that one can. almost learn any.
thing In these days! Stray Stories, 4.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-03-15
NEWS AND COURIER ENTERPRISE.
A Big New Press Ordered and a New
BUILDING Erected.

It is understood that the News
and Courier company has closed a
contract for New Hoo Press,
which will print, wheu occasion
demands, twenty four pages at
once, folding and counting each
paper at the same time.
This necessitates the purchase of
a far more extensive stereotyping
outfit. and in addition to this, the
company is tearing down the old,
and building new two story build
ing 10. give more room in the COM
position and make up room.
Work on the now building
began this week, and 4 contract
with the Hoe company was COM
pleted Saturday. The pross Will
be shipped at once, and it is hoped
to got it III operation within about
60 ays.-Florence Daily Times
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-03-15
Notice of Stockholders Meetinu

Notice is hereby given that meeting
OF the stockholders Of the Calumet NJan.
ntncturing Company will be held Mt the
Office of the said Calumet Manufnctuy-
ing Company, in Liberty, S. O.. on
Saturday. March the 25th, 1906, at II
o'clock, n. m,, for tho purpose of ,onsid-
orlng tho issuance Of Two Hundred md
Llity (25O) Shares Of Preferred Stock. in
tho Par Value Of Ono Hundred 1OM
dollars each. This notice has been mn
thorIzcd and directed hy resolutions of
the Beard Of Directors of tho Calumct
Manufacturing Company, held Mt Lib.
erty, :. c., on February 7th, 1905, and
the said resolutions wore in tho follow.
log, words, which are hereby nude n
part of this notice:
RESOLUTIONS.
RcsOlred by the Board of Dircctors of
the Calumet Manufacturing Co. tbnt tho
President Of the saiu company be M
thorized to call Il meeting of the stock
holders Of tho said Calumet N1apurnc-
turug Co, on the 25th day of March,
l9o5. at IL O'Clock n. M, at Liberty, s,
e., Tor tho purpose Of considering tho
issuance Of Two Hundred and l7ifty
Shares of Preferred Slc ok Mt DIR value
OF Ono Hundred Dollars Each. Said
stock to DO entitled to dividends each
year ut the Y tie Of per cant. rer nnnum,
payable semi mi-nnnGully, md these divi-
dci'ds are to he cumulative. The com.
pany having tho optiou Of retiring nll or
Any portion Of said stock after five yet is.
at the end of ten years any portion OF
snd stock not retired shall become first
mHrtgngo on tho company. <,zs;sg'latRssa ty
anu shall receive 6 -, I95,>f cs
from said date. -,,t5asasssa s3Sl s5aaSetON,
Pres. ma ..net Mig. Go.
Feias
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-03-15
SEQ change Of ad of Big Store.

ee-change OF ad of Big Store.
Born on the 7th instant to Mr.
and Mrs. Dave g. Moore, of Pickens
a son.
You gain nothing by holding
your coupons. There will be several
days of the voting after the last pub
llshed report, and you will all have
the same chance ut it.
--There arc twenty.six. cases ON
the calendar for trial at this term of
court, which , ts next Monday, the
10th inst, as lC..ows: Seven for as,
sault and battery; one for petit lar.
ceny; five for violation of tho dispen-
sary law; one for larceny of live
stock; one for rape; one for sale of
under mortgage; one for
forgery; three fo: burglary and lar.
ceny; two for obtaining goods under
false pretense; three for murder; one
for infanticide. It is thought that
he lr' st of these cases will be put off
until tho next term of court, which |
meets on the fourth Monday Uhe
2 .nd) in May. There are also some
cases to be reoponed on appeal.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-03-15

we'll. Mr.. James c"nId not han
lived many more days had tho oI
GRAFTON not been performed. nj
Garrett is to BE comm nded I'd
this benevolent deed, As Mr. Jam}
10 a poor man and was not able d
boar the expense Of the operation
Such deeds as that il doing as VI
are commanded to do. Nav TN
Lord bless Mr., Garrett, ls thj
prayer Of B.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-03-15
CITATION.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
County OF PlcIiOnS

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
County Of Plckens.
by j. B. Newbcry Esq, Probate Judge.
WHEREAS, Boulah V. Lancaster
made suit to mo to grant her Letters
OF Administration Of the Estate of and Of
iects of Robert /. Gilbert, deceased.
IIEsE ARE TIIERLFoEE to cite and adj
moniSh nll and singular the kindred and
Gre dltors OF tho said Robert l. Gilbert,
deceased, that they be and appear be-
lore mo, in the Court Of Potato, to he
held at Piclens Court nouso. s.. e.. on
lhc 22d day of March. 1905, after publ
cation hereof at II o'clock in the fore.
noon: to shcw cause, if any thoy have,
why the said Administration should rot
be granted.
Given under my hand and seal, this
81 dny "t March, 1905, i'll the 120 year
Of our independence.
NIch 8. 2w.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-03-15
SunerViSnr'S Notice.

will be in my office Tuesday
and Friday Of each week to file
claims, pay out money when we
have it, and do anything else I can
to accommodate those having busi,
ness in the Office. Do not come
any other day. GIN. Lynch,
Jun II Supervisor.