Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-25
1snocial corrosnondeneeO

Especial Correspondence
~. PETERSBURG, Dec. 1S.-From
- commanding a fortress to selling
h tea is a long stretch After being
shut up in Port Arthur, made Il
hero of, disgrdced at a moments no
tIce, accused OF treachcry, and sem
fenced to 10 years Imprisonment in a
fortress almost within earshot Of the
imperial palace, ex-Gen. Stoessel has
ma lie plucky attempt to retrieve his
fortunes by entering a largo firm OF
tea merchants In Moscow. il rumors
are to be believed. he is far more
successful I'm commerce than he was
in his military career In Manchuria.
And yet Gen. StocSsel could not have
been ~ bad soldier. for he rose from
the ranks. and that Is harder In Rus
SIa than anywhere else. Many disliked
him foi. it and there Is little doubt that
intrigue had much TO do with his being
hauled over the Goals about tho surrcn-
der of Fort Arthur. Indeed. many pco-
pie think that Russia has treated her
old soldiers badly. Gen. Alexieff. who
was commander-in-ch at the front
during the Japanese war has boon tried
recently and sentenced to fines and mn
prisonment: Gen. Kuropatl1in, who held
the same position has boon publicly
ccnsured. Admiral Nebogatoff shared
Gen. Stoessels fate; the officers OF his
squadron have been caShIcred or other
wise punished for the disasters which
overlook the Russian fleet. Many.
Kuropatlin amongst them. were made
heroes of before they went out to the
front. being presented with jeweled
n
in champagne. between Moscow and
Manchuria.
BLAMED FOR BAD SYSTEM
The defeats that followed came as a
painful surprise, People grew angry
the government grew angry. Somebody
had to be blamed for a thoroughly bad
system. and. unfortunately for them.
the first choice fell upon Gen, Stosssel
and Admiral Nebogatoff. Now, when ono
Is selling tea and the other sitting at
home In poverty, the whole of Russia
is blaming Count Witte, the eX-premier.
But as nobody dared do II whilst he
was in power, the authorities wrath
was expended on those who were not
in power. Quite a series of trials for
careless and reasonable conduct while
In command of troops in Manchuria,
took place-and severe sentences were
passed on those who. a year before, had
been loaded with honors. Both Gen.
Stoessel and Admiral Nebogatoff were
sentenced to 10 years Imprisonment
and of course dismissal from their re-
spectlve services. They were put in
the fortress of st. Peter and Paul
which was built in the reign of Peter
the Great, and has a cathedral at
tsLched to 1t where all the emperors.
expresses and grand dukes and
duchesseS since Peter the Great are
buried. The part allotted to prisoners
is not, naturally. shown to the public;
but 1t looks towards the Neya and the
newer side of the city.
Each of the prisoners had n large.
bright room. which was kept warm and
dry. Before their windows stretched
the river, across which stand the Win
ter palace, the foreign embassies, and
the admiralty But probably the fact
that they could enjoy the finest view In
st. Petersburg afforded them but little
consolation. The eX-general' $ room con-
tatned a camp-bedstead, with thin
mattress, large table before tho win
dow. smaller table against the wall,
few chairs, cupboard for clothes
and a washingstand let into the wall.
Tho windows were covered with iron
railings fixed In crisscrosS fashion, and
the entrance TO that part of the build
ing was guarded day and night.
LIFE IN PRISON.
AT o'clock In the morning tho war
den enters with tea and newspapers. AS
these two warriors We're not political
prisoners they were allowed to do
things which generally are tabooed in
the fortress. The eX-admiral read no
fewer than four newspapers a day. but
General Stoessel, who is not a very cul-
tured man, used to declare that one
was quite enough for him-and he took
nearly tho whole day to get through It.
At 1 o'clock luncheon. consisting of
soup and meat, WAS served. The food
was extremely monotonous; but both