The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-06-30
Russian Political Prisoners in
Siberia After Bloody Strug-
gle, Escape Into the Bar
rem Wilds.
PURSuERS REPULSED
IN TWO FIERCE FIGHTS
Plan of the Fugitives Is to
Make Their Way Across
Wilderness, 1000 Miles,
And Enter Alaska.

Vladimir. Northern Siberia. June 30
-Overpcwering and staying twenty Of
their guards in a bloody hand-to-hand
conflict more than 100 political pris-
oners broke from prison In Yakutsk,
the Lena river district, yesterday and
started on their flight for East Caps.
1000 miles away. across the most des-
olate wilderness on the earth's face.
The desperate band was overtaken
by a troop Of Cossacks in an almost
impossible swamp fifty miles east Of
Yakutsk, and, Turing their pursuers
into an ambush, killed ten OF the
troopers and put the rest to flight.
The fugitives were again surrounded
later in the day and in hot fight re-
pulsed the Cossacks, shooting several
OF them down.
1t Is the plan Of the escaped prison
ers to make East Cape in their mad
dash for freedom and from there seek
sanctuary on American soil. in Alas
ka, thirty-six miles across Bering
strait. At the best they will have
nothing more than the frailest Of
boats to attempt the passage Of the
stormy water.
Like Page Of Fiction.
Never in the annals OF barren
land, blotted by deeds of blood and
cruelty. has more desperate fight
for liberty been made than that Of the
prisoners who broke from the Yakutsk
prison. Cut off from flight to the
west, where garrison after garrison Of
the Cars troops would have to be
eluded. they chose flight across an
almost impossible wilderness. in many
places never trod by white men for
hundreds OF miles. Morasses have to
be crossed, deserts braved and noun
tains surmounted before the band OF
fugitives can hope to make the last
desperate try, that OF padding the
Boring waters In frail boats.
Yakutsk is station where for
year or more no fresh transport of
convicts has arrived and the desper-
ate dash for freedom was carefully
planned through the long months OF
the Siberian winter. How the prison
ers obtained the weapons with which
they killed their guard and repuised
the Cossack attacks has not been
learned. When they fled from the
convict station they were also we'll
supplied with food.
A Night Attack.
The attack on the prison guards was
made before midnight. The alarm
was given before the prisoners had
climbed the last wall and shots scat.
tered about them as they made their
dash. Hemmed In, they turned and
fired a volley into the ranks Of the
sold!ers. Hand to hand they then cut
the avenue to escape. A score OF the
guards are reported az having been
slain in the prison confines before the
men dashed through the streets Of the
village and out beyond.
Before daylight. Captain Kolinnick-
off, acting governor OF the Yakutsk
district, had sent a troop Of Cossacks
in pursuit. giving the order Of mo
quarter" Within twelve hours the
fugitive band was overtaken In the
swamp.
Discrediting the strength Of their
quarry, the troopers dashed into the
water up to the knees of their horses.
From the underbrush the fugitives
then poured in the ire that drove the
soldiers back out of range. The sec
ond attack followed few hours later.
Other troops OF Cossacks have
been mustered and tonight an over
powering force will start In pursuit Of
the desperate band. With the mount
ed men the wilderness is even more
impossible and the fugitives may
make good their escape. Guards will
be sent along the coast and inland
from East Cape to cut off their flight.