Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-13
BLOOD FREES EXILE.
Siberian Prisoner Wins Release
Through Remarkable Scarlet Let

Il
| Thrilling details of the experiences of
| native of Austria who was exiled by tn
Government of Russia to Siberia, and tn,
| dramatic manner in which he finally
succeeded in sending an appeal to his owl
Government, thereby regaining his lib
erty, are told in a letter just received by
! a Chicagoan from a relative of the Aus
tran.
The Austrian. who for two years lived
In Punishment, had left his home countr!
and had taken a position as forester Ill a
district in Southwestern Russia.
The details barred in the letter follows
The presence of the Austrian aroused
the jealousy of native Russian who hal
sought to hold the position of forester
After time the latter formulated som
sort of charges against the Austrian
Without being given an opportunity tc
appeal for the protection of his owl
Government, the Austrian was given
hasty hearing, without the aid of coun
sci, and the local authorities. with whom
the disappointed Russian seemed to have
had influence, ordered the Austrian ex
lied TO Siberia.
The Austrian was sent to a faraweN
district of Siberia and for several month
he endured hardships. Then fortune in
tervened slightly in his favor. Throug
his experience in the forests the Austrian
had developed into .'crack" shot wit
the rifle The Governor af the district Il
which the man had been exiled discov
cred this and elevated the prisoner TO
position where his duties consisted chief,
of hunting game and fowl for the Cover
nor's family. Thus the Governor discov
cred that the Austrian spoke excellen
German. The Governor decided to ALLOW
the exile to tutor his two sons in the Ger
man language.
Precautions were taken by the Cover
nor. however. not to give the prisoner al
opportunity TO communicate with the ou
side world. The prisoners kind munne
with the children served to win his wa
into the good feelings of the Governor
wife. and in her he gained friend VIII
stood him in good stead eventually.
For more than a year the Austria
waited for his opportunity. Finally du
ing one of his periods of instruction
succeeded in stealing a sheet of wrftin
paper from one of the children.
on his next hunting trip the Austria
killed an eagle. From one of the feather
of the dead bird he improvised a qui
pen. Then he pierced a vein in his ar
and squeezed out a quantity OF BLOOD
With this CHASTITY writing fluid ana
queer pen the Austrian wrote note
his home Government at Vienna, d.
scribing his plight and calling for aid.
Another six months elapsed, durin
which time the Austrian took specii
care not to permit any one to discover t
letter. In the meantime the friendshi
between the Governors wife and himse
ripened.
The exile then asked her to mail tt
missive for him. He pleaded with he
not to betray him. She to-. him sh
would do il as a reward for his klndnes
with her children.
The letter-the message in scarlet-wa
mailed and opened in Vienna. There wa
little delay. An investigation was OF
dered at once, and negotiations betwee
the Governments of Austria and Russi
resulted. 1t was explained that the loo
authorities in the Russian district wher
the Austrian has been forester hao ecte
without consulting the Government. TIL
Austrian was given his liberty and h
returned to his native home.-Chieag
News.