Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-04-15
BLOOD FREEs H!M'
Siberian Exile Wins Release
Through Scarlet Letter.
Convict Kills Eagle to Make Pen
Governors wife Aids Unfortunate
Man to Escape-DetaiIs Reach
America In Letter.


Thrilling details of the experiences
Of native Of Austria who was exiled
by the government OF Russia to ST.
IBERIA. and the dramatic manner In
which he finally succeeded In sending
an appeal to his own government,
thereby regaining his liberty, are told
in letter just received by a Chi
cesoan from relative of the Aus.
trian.
The Austrian, who for two years
lived In Punishment, had left his home
country and had taken a position as
forester In a district In southwestern
Russia.
The details barred in the letter fol-
low:
The presence Of the Austrian arous-
ed the jealousy Of native Russian
who had sought to hold the position
OF forester. After a time ethe latter
formulated some sort Of charges
against the Austrian. without being
given an opportunity to appeal for
the protection of his own government,
the Austrian was given a hasty hear
ing. without the aid of counsel, and
the local authorities. with whom the
disappointed Russian seemed to have
had influence, ordered the Austrian
exiled to Siberia.
The Austrian was sent to a faraway
district of Siberia and for several
months he endured hardship. Then
fortune interviewed slightly in his
favor. Through his experience in the
forests, the Austrian had developed
into crack" shot with the rifle. The
governor of the district to which the
man had been exiled discovered this
and elevated the prisoner to a posi-
ton where his duties consisted chiefly
of hunting game and fowl for the gov
ernor's family. Then the governor
discovered that the Austrian spoke
excellent German. The governor de-
cided to allow the exile to tutor his
two sons in the German language.
Precautions were taken by the gov
ernor. however. not to give the pris-
oner an opportunity to communicate
with the outside world. The prisoners
kind manner with the children served
to win his way into the good feelings
OF the governors wife and in her he
gained a friend who stood him in
good stead eventually.
For more than a year the Austrian
waited for his opportunity. Finally,
during one OF his periods OF instruc-
ton. he succeeded in stealing sheet
of writing paper from one Of the
children.
On his next hunting trip the Aus
TRAN killed an eagle. From one OF
the feathers OF the dead bird he i'm
provfsed quill pen.
Then he pierced a vein in his arm
and squeezed out a quantity OF blood.
With this CHASTITY writing fluid and
his queer pen, the Austrian wrote
note to his home government at Wen
ma, describing his plight and calling
for aid.
Another six months elapsed. during
which time the Austrian took special
care not to,permit any one to discover
the letter In the meantime the
friendship between the governors
wife and himself ripened.
The exile then asked her to mail
the missive for him. He pleaded with
her not to betray him. She told him
she would do It as reward for his
kindness with the children.
The Ietter-the message in scarlet
was mailed and opened in Vienna.
There was little delay. An investiga-
ton was ordered at once and negotia.
tions between the governments OF
Austria and Russia resulted. 1t was
explained that the local authorities In
the Russian district where the Aus
trian had been forester had acted
without consulting the government
The Austrian was given his liberty
and he returned to HIS native home.