The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-03-30
''Chuf:" A Tale
of SakhaIin.j
BY PAUL MARoossoN

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
White all over with the exception
Of his left ear and the end of his
tail, broad betwixt the eyes, but with
a peaked nose, rather slim legs, and
about the size of fox-terrier-such
is "Chuff."
OF what particular breed or strain
of dogs he is, l am quite unable to
say. But he is a Giliak dog, and
what might be called a canine expert.
He has a record of over hundred
sable-skins. caught all by himself and
brought HON to his master. He was
wont to set OFF into the taiga alone.
hunt till he caught sable, then fetch
brought home to his master He was
sable-hunter at the little native viii
lage Of Nucharo, in the northern por-
ton OF the island of Sakhaklin, taught
him, and afterward presented him to
q young political exile, named Gregg
REV. And it is due to Chuff's skill
that Gregoriev escaped from Sakha-
lin and Is now in America.
The story of Kosciusko Gregoriev
Is not unlike that of thousands of
pitiable on that account. He came OF
a good family in Russian Poland, and
was a student first at Prague, after
ward at Moscow. About a year be-
fore the coronation of the present
Tsar, Nicholas II. Gregoriev, then but
seventeen years of age, was concern
cd In public demonstration which
proved displeasing to autocratic auth
GRITTY. 1t appears to have been lit
tie more than a boyish outburst OF
high spirits, such as in this country
or in England or France, the govern
Rent would never think of noticing.
But not - With Russian autocracy.
For merely a few shouts In the
streets, forty of the students were
arrested. After examination twelve
were tried for sedltion, and five re-
ceived life sentences, three to Sredni
kOlymsk, the dreariest place on
earth" north Of the arctic circle. In
Siberia, and two to the island of SAX
balm. Gregoriev was one of the lat
ter.
Order is heavens first law, and
laws must be enforced. But even to
the most stanch advocate of law and
order there is something abhorrent in
thus blighting Ave young lives for
an otfense so trivial. A life sentence
to Sredni Kolymsk, or to Sakhalin.
is worse than death.
Gregoriev's companion IN exile
Kristan Merroe. committed suicide by
jumping from the convict transport
Yaroslav while it was on the way
from Castries Bay to Alexandrovsk
in Salthahn.
After his arrival at Alexandrovsk.
Gregorievy was first confined in the
testing prison." so called for four
weeks, then put at hard labor: I'm
fact II would be better to call II
inhuman labor. He was set to tow
logs for a distance OF seven miles
along the beach. having to wade in
the sea. The logs we're from the
forest to the north Of the town. and
were used for building new stock.
AIDES His load was three logs. drawn
~ rope over his shoulders. AL
ways the water was knee-deep. often
waistdeep, and this in October whom
In Sakhalin the temperature Is but
a few degrees above frost
a guard with loaded carbine walk
cd along the beach with orders IN
make him hasten. and shoot him II he
attempted TO escape
This is not, az some might be led
- suppose, fanciful picture Of Rps-
sian ibhumsnity but is quoted from an
sttested statement Of the manner in
which prisoners arc treated At Alley
sndrovsk.
wholly unused to such hardship
Gregoriov fell ~ on the third dav
n throat trouble. with fever. but
after lying unattended for a dav in
his cell, was summoned before the
prison superintendent charged with
teigning illness. This omcial was
none other than the notorious Pat
rim, whose name has grown infamous
for cruelty in both hemlspheres.
Yet he seems 20 have been n man
approved by the Russian government
since 1t was Patrin whom the japan.
csc found in charge of the sakbaIn
prisons when they captured the island
IN June last.
Patrin Is described as a huge man.
six feet three inches in height and
Weighing two hundred and thirty
pounds Allowance must ever be-
made for an ohicial who has to deal
with hardened criminals. There is
abundant evidence. however. that this
man, Patrin. habitually porpetratod
needless oruelties, and was a runan