The Washington herald., 1908-01-26
FLEESDREAD SIBERIA
Swiss Professor Makes Dar-
ing Dash for Liberty.
HAS A REMARKABLE STORY
NJ. Maurice Gehri. a Teacher Who
Freely Expressed His Political
After Months of Captivity-Escaped
from Guards and got to Japan,

Geneva. Jan. 25.-An exciting and re-
markable story Of escape from Siberia is
related by NJ Maurice Gehri Swis.
professor, who unexpectedly returned tc
the home Of his parents at Morges, in the
canton OF Vana. a few days ago, after q
Of thrilling experiences.
NJ. Gehri was born at Morges. on April
vi. 1885, and after q brilliant school and
university career. ne decided to become
3 schoolmastey and accepted a post as
professor Of French at the Gymnase de
Gitomir, in the government Of VOlhynla.
He took up his duties in the spring of
1905, and began to study the political
problems of Russia with enthusiasm. The
sympathy he felt with those who were
trying their utmost to bring about re-
, forms of tho laws and to alleviate the
conditions under which the vast majority
OF the people lived soon attracted the at
tentlon of the authorities TO the young
Swiss master. He was in sympathy with
the efforts OF the rcformers; and as the
son Of "A free country. in which 1t is no
crime TO speak openly, he did not hest
tate 10 express his opinions. His clearly
defined views aroused the suspicious Of
the police. He was closely watched. and
on August %, 1905 (olj stylel he was ar
rested as a revolutiOnist
Sent OF tO siberia.
Political offenders in Russia have little
chance of obtaining a hearing much less
Of obtaining justice-and on April /, 1907,
after q trial which was mere mockery,
he was sentenced TO transportation for
life. On August he set out for Siberia
with q band Of other prisoners The pris-
oners We're carried 10y train as far as
Krasnoyarsk, in the basin OF the Yeniseo,
where they detralned in order to COM
plete the journey by road on foot. Day
after day they tramped on, weary and
footsore, but as they advanced farther
and farther from civilization the guards
sulien and relentless as they were, be-
came less careful in their supervision and
less strict. Doubtless they thought that
escape was impossible-and indeed. the
majority of the prisoners, respondent and
in despair, had no heart 90 make an at
tempt
But while most of the others were re-
signed to their fate, NJ. Gehri was keeuly
alive 20 everything that was taking place
He saw that the laXity of the guards
made an attempt to escape possible. and
he resolved 20 watch for and 10 seize the
first favorable opportunity. Success meant
life and liberty, instead Of "a living tomb;
failure would not make his position much
worse. And If be happened To be killed
while making the attempt-Well, his trou-
bles would be over
The opportunity came on September II.
when they were about half way between
krasuOyarsk and their destination, the
penal settlement and II. Gehri and two
others, to whom hc had confided his in
tentiCn. seized il with both hands While
the guards were drinking the three men
, crept out into the darkness, determined To
make a bold dash for liberty although
they had very little if any idea OF the
direction they should take And in order
20 make pursuit more difficult, they sep
sratcd almost at once.
Finally Reaches Japan.
After many adventures. A. Gehri
reached Vladivostok, and finally Japan.
whence DE telegraphed for money to pay
his passage home to Switzerland He set
sail on November l6 on board the Mes
sageries Maritimes liner Toukin. and ar
rived home few days ago safe and
sound, and not mue.l epset 10y the ter
TIble experiences he had had His return
was quite unexpected. and when he
reached home hts parents Were wonder
ing when, if ever, facy would see him
again