The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-12-13
A RUSSIAN
EXECUTION

An eyewitness has given the follow
| ing account of the execution of Nau-
moff. -Nikitenko and Siniavsky. the
| three rien condemned to death for CON-
plicity in the recent plot against the
Car of Russia, the existence of which
still is regarded in St. Petersburg with
great amount of incredulity:
AT o'clock in the morning a small
steamer belonging to the Neva river
police started from the landing stage
adjoining the Lietny Saol (summer
garden). towing a large barge behind
it. The Public Prosecutor (Procuror)
was on the steamer. accompanied by
the Secretary of the Court Marshal, a
Colonel of geniarmes, who formerly
served in the Schlusselburg fortress,
and boasts that he is used to hanging
those blackguards:' a young official
delegated by the Department of Po-
lice. military Captain and an uncouth
looking lad of 19. who had volunteered
his service as hangman.
''On the large barge were placed the
three condemned, with a convoy Of
100 soldiers. The steamer proceeded
down the Neva in the direction of
Kronstadt. Its occupants were very
lively. The Colonel of gendarmes told
stories the official asked for a piece Of
the rope with which the prisoners We're
hanged. because it brings luck at
cards. the hangman proudly declared
that he belonged to the Union of Rus
sian Men and that he delighted in
hanging revolutionaries, etc.
AT about O'Clock the steamer land
ed at spot called Lissy Moss (Fox's
Nose) on the Finnish coast, opposite
Kronstadt. The prisoners. surrounded
by the soldiers and followed by the
officials. marched to the place of exc
cution, about a mile and a half distant
from the landing place. They stopped
at small square grass plot resembling
a tennis lawn. In the middle of this
the gallows were erected, and near It
was a little platform upon wheels.
The Colonel of gendarmes directed the
When the prisoners saw the gallows
Naumoff asked whether he could see a
priest. A priest approached him and
began to speak to him. Naumof said,
L don't wish to confess to you. Give
me your cross, I want to pray The
priest took off his cross and gave it
to the prisoner, who, holding it. fell
upon his knees and prayed earnestly
for a few minutes.
The officials present were evidently |
impressed by Naumoff's demeanor. |
When his prayer was ended the rep |
of the Department of Po-
ice, with marked courtesy. motioned |
him toward the gallows with the re-
mark: Please step this way
obviously, il was intended to con-
er a privilege upon him by allowing
lin to escape witnessing the agony of
lis comrades by being hanged first
Then followed a terrible interval, dur
ng which the interminable death SEN
ence was read over to the prisoners.
Whenever the name of the Car was
Pronounced the soldiers. according TO
ustom, instantly uncovered their
eads. The prisoners omitted to do so,
the executioner roughly
truck their hats off.
"Naumoff was executed, the two
theirs standing by with uncovered
yes. Nikitenko's turn came next. The
ruelty of reading the sentence was
nee more repeated, but the remaining
risoners maintained a fearless and
ignified composure.
When Siniavsky was pronounced ]
!, be dead the hangman endeavored to
Ike the wedding ring from the dead
lan's hand (the prisoner had been by
oecial permission married the day be-
IRE his DEATH. but the officials inter-
ened. "-Baltimore sun. =