Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-08-01
A TRUE STORY Of THE
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION


startled MIN.
why, Sergius, thought you wer
dead"
But you see am alive"
"Youg name certainly came throug
our secret press as having been exc
cuted, together with number Of 9th
ers."
The man addressed seemed haunte
by some danger, some memory-what
was his friend could not tell H
looked about him as though he feare'
a policeman or CosSSck was coming
from behind to cut him down.
Come with me-" said the other. "
will take you where you will feel NOR,
comfortable. You cannot have been il
this free country long or you would
not fear your shadow. Wien did vol
arrive?"
Yesterday"
When they were settled at z table
In cafe with something warm before
them to restore the courage of the new
ly arrived man he 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 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 reserved
such a visitation. Some countries fear
hurricanes, some fear earthquakes. l
would prefer either to what came upon
us. The soldiers respected NJ one, old
or young, sick or well, male or female.
My father was arrested as editor VI
our paper, and 1, having written for 1t,
was also arrested. l was Ill at the time
but that made no difference
I'VE were tried by the drumhead,'
which should be named the black
DEATH and, of course, convicted. 1t
mattered not whether we were limo
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 among the number.
1T is a horrible thing-that which is
at home today-to be marched
out in q gang to be shot down like
dogs Men and women were driven to-
gether to pen while our fellow citi-
zens looked on without power to help
rs. can see my horror stricken COM
Danions wailing, praying or nearing
their end in silence. / can see"-he put |
MS hands over his eyes-"my father |
standing among the rest and the look |
le gave meme whom he had brought l
up from a babe. l can see that line of |
leath, hear the word of command from |
the officers. | saw these men raise |
heir pieces and bring them to an aim.
The suspense between the aim and the |
ire was too much for me, weakened
Is 1 was by illness. / tainted and as
he balls moved down my companions
fell, too, but from another cause.
When l came to myself, remember
ng the horrible situation. supposed
hat l was in the agonies of death.
Then, in darkness, suffocating, load
pon me, 1t occurred to me that | had
zen buried alive had struck the
ruth. After the execution the bodies
we're gathered and thrown into q
rench dug for the purpose The bullet
attended for me had gone over my
cad, and was not hurt. was thrown
} with the rest and all were covered
yer with earth, but not deep or l
7ould not be here with you today.
But was not thinking of this then.
was working as well as my strength
'ould permit-of course it was greatly
lagniied by my situation-and at last
crambled out. AS lay ON the surface
asping to fill my lungs l saw it was
light. There was chance for my
fe.
II lay still for some time, listening.
here was no sound near me that l
ould hear. No sentry was needed to ,
uard the dead. Perhaps the troops
lat had stricken us had passed on to !
lie next town. At last gained suffi-
ent strength and courage to crawl
way. You remember Ivan. Drovon-
Ky. Well, his house was not In the :
,wn. 1t was on the outskirts and 8
ear the shooting pen. l went there
nd called him up. When he saw me I
anding at his door he thought was {
y ghost. told him my story, and he O
ok me In and concealed me. Q
Fortunately, as you know, we were b
IT far from the German border, and c
y friends advised and helped me to n
ach 1t. They furnished me with a .
sguise and started with me, since 1 O
as too weak to get on by myself. OF t
urse had better chance than one t
e police were looking for. No one u
oked for me, for / was supposed to t,
dead. l reached the border safely n
I'd, travelling through Germany, took a
steamer for the United States. q
But cannot shut out that dreadful n
enc. see strong men and weak S
omen waiting for the slaughter. 1 B
3 their neighbors, their children, who b
We followed them to the place of ex- G
ution. see again and again always S
at fearful line, their pieces aimed at W
r breasts. Every night I wake suf-
eating in that pit wedged In among W
2 dead, my companions, and begin cl
ew that fearful struggle for air, for tC
e. dread to live more than l dread Ct
to die" s.
Cheer up, my old friend In this II
Id where there is no car, no Cos Il
cks, where the people are the only IL
ers, the visions that haunt you will vi
lie away" MORRIS WYNNE. OF