Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-06
BLUFFS
SPOT ON FOOTSTooL
Section of Siberia Handed the Prize
for General Drearf-
ness.

There is absolutely no place In the wide,
wide world SO desolate as Verkhoyansk,
in Siberia. The unfortunate men who live
there, who has to live therefor they are
political exiles most of m-gr old in
a few years, and, after indescribable suf-
ferings, either lose their mind or commit
suicide, unless they rapidly die Of cold and
hunger.
While travelling around the world (writes
a correspondent 1 heard a great deal about
the cold pole, and the horrors Of life at
Verkhoyansk. and became curious to see
for myself whether 1t was black as 1t was
painted.
Getting there was no comfortable task.
One travels in the most priitive fashion
in these regions. But. finally, 1 came to
the famous village-if an degeneration Of
100 dilapidated houses, earthen huts and
indescribable heaps of filth can be called
a village.
There are but two houses worthy Of the
name-the tiny church and the residence
Of the chief official and his subordinates.
The other dwellings are small dilapidated
wooden huts, where dozens of political ex-
lies are herded together. There are no roads
to speak OF. Here and there rustic boards
have been thrown down to mark the way,
Dul Iney disappear unueF the reIuSe winch
is dropped from the houses.
And, now. think of the mournful silence
and of the darkness. There are no birds;
there are no animals. save a few horses
and a herd or two of reindeer. in and
around Verkhoyansk, and the winter is one
long, terrible night.
1t is only four times a year that the
post comes. and It contains letters, an
kf,,,aNaa a.41 --- -
money for a few privileged ones. l dare say
the reader can imagine with what hides
crtbahle eagerness the poor wretches watch
the arrival of the reindeer or dog-drawn
sleigh which brings news from home. 1t
is the most pathetic scene 1 have ever
witnessed and l do not wish to witness
another similar one.
Sons of the men went into Mysteries,
others tainted, but the majority cried
cried like little children, and collapsed, for
the news is mostly bad news. A man
called Abramoff-orce an eminent physi-
c%ian-for whom 1 took a great liking, had
not heard from his mother for over a
year. A letter was brought in to him
at last, just as we were smashing tea with
a hammer-for tea, like everything else in
this abominable ,climate, turns into solid
stone. The letter informed him that his
mother was dying. 1t was dated seven
months back. Abramoff wept a while and
then began to laugh stupidity.
| The next day the chief official, with
whom 1 was dining, quietly informed me
that Abramoff had been found dead in his
den.
"Dead?" 1 exclaimed. HE died of sorrow,
then"
Il don't know" was the reply. He hung
hl~mself-the fool"
During the long winter months the entire
population has to remain indoors. The
night seems endless and the silence with
out is maddening, In their dingy quarters,
lit only by the fire-for candle and lamps
are a ~luxury-the miserable exiles sit hour
after hour, talking Of the past when their
mind is capable OF an effort, but most Of
the time silent and desperate.
The exiles enjoy a certain liberty. The
officials do not fear evasions. How should
go? They are hundreds and hundreds of
miles away from civilization and could
not find a morsel of food away from the
settlement. And there is the cold, forests,
ice, snow-death lurking everywher for
victims.
Meanwhile, the officials drink, to while
away the time. 1t is their only occupation
At least they forget the horrors Of this
polar solitude, The prisoners cannot afford
vodka and they do not ~forget.-London
Answers.