Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-08-01

~ arrived man ne told the following
experience:
You know, Of course, of the putting
down Of the revolution In the Baltic
provinces. You also know that my
fathers paper did not support the revo-
luton, though it was liberal. Since the
car had promised liberty Of the press
we supposed we were safe. But the
troops were all about US. and whenever
they entered a town they would declare
martial law and by their drumhead
courts martial proceed to get rid Of
those they thought proper to destroy.
One day our peaceful village received
such visitation. Some countries fear
hurricanes, some fear earthquakes.
would prefer either to what came upon
US. The soldiers respected no one, old
or young, sick or we'll, male or female.
My father was arrested as editor Of
our paper, and l, having written for it,
was also arrested. was Ill at the time,
but that made no difference.
I'VE were tried by the 'drumhead,'
which should be named the black
mattered not whether we were 1nno-
cent or guilty, certain number must
be sacrificed to strike terror into those
who remained. There were about
eighty Of US selected to be shot, my
father and l among the number.
1T is horrible thing-that which is
common at home today-to be marched
out In gang to be shot down like
dogs. Men and women were driven to-
kether to a pen while our fellow citi-
xens looked on without power to help
us. I can see my horror stricken COM
panions wailing, praying or nearing
their end in silence. l can see"-he put
standing among the rest and the look
he gave meme whom he had brought
up from babe. can see that line of
death, hear the word Of command from
the officers. I saw these men raise
their pieces and bring them to an aim.
The suspense between the aim and the
fire was too much for me, weakened
as was by illness. tainted and as
the balls moved down my companions
fell, too, but from another cause.
When came to myself, remember
ing the horrible situation, supposed
that I was in the agonies Of death
Then, in darkness, suffocating, load
upon ME, it occurred to me that I had
been buried alive. had struck the
truth. After the execution the bodies
were gathered and thrown into
trench dug for the purpose. The bullet
intended for me had gone over my
head, and was not hurt. I was thrown
In with the rest and all were covered
over with earth, but not deep or I.
would not be here with you today.
but was not thinking Of this then.
was working az we'll as my strength
would permit-of course it was greatly
magntt1ed by my situadon-and at last
scrambled out. As lay on the surface
gasping to fill my lungs I saw it was
night. There was a chance for my
life.
II lay still for some time, listening.
There was no sound near me that I
could hear. No sentry was needed to
guard the dead. Perhaps the troops
that had stricken us had passed on to
the next town. At last I gained suff-
Client strength and courage to crawl
away. You remember Ivan Drovon-
sky. Well. his house was not in the
town. It was on the outskirts and
near the shooting pen. went there
and called him up. When he saw me
standing at his door he thought I was
my ghost told him my story, and he
took me in and concealed me.
Fortunately, as you know, we were
not far from the German border, and
my friends advised and helped me to
reach it. They furnished me with a
disguise and started with me, since l
was too weak to get on by myself. OF
course had better chance than one
the police were looking for. No one
looked for me, for I was supposed to
be dead. reached the border safely
and. travelling through Germany, took
q steamer for the United States.
but cannot shut out that dreadful
scene. I see strong men and weak
women waiting for the slaughter. l
zee their neighbors, their children, who
have followed them to the place of ex-
scut1on. see again and again always
that fearful line, their pieces aimed at
our breasts. Every night wake suf-
locating In that pit wedged in among
the dead, my companions, and begin
anew that fearful struggle for air, for
life. I dread to live more than 1 dread
cd to de- ii
=: Cheer up. my old friend. In this
land where there Is no car, no Co.'S
sacks, where the people are the only
rulers, the visions that haunt you will
hide away" NORRIS WYNNN.. 4.
There are some minds like either con-