The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-27
REVOLUTION1ST WHO FLED
FROM SIBERIA NOW HERE
Michael Smyrnoff Took Part in
Vain Attempt to Free Nine.
Breshkovskaya.

A professed Russian revoiutionist.
Michael Smyrnoff. has arrived In this city
after escaping from Siberia He took part
In the attempt to take out of Siberia
Catherine Breshkovskaya, the little grand
mother Of the Russian revolution who
at 10 years of age stands In danger OF
n life term In prison at hard labor for
her effort to gain freedom, which failed
by a narrow margin, - told recently In
THE Sun.
Smyrnoff a small heavy set, brown
bearded man. was an exile with Mmo.
Breshkovskaya, having been sent to ST.
IBERIA for fomenting revolution and snug
Cling incendlary literature and explo-
sives He was one Of the group that
planned the escape OF the famous woman
revolutionist and act-u AS a sort OF ad-
vance agent. going ahead on the route
the party must take and arranging in
various frontier towns for hiding places
In case the alarm was given.
He was successful In his part OF the
plan and arrived safely at Irkutsk. While
waiting for the arrival OF Nine. Bresh
kovskaya he learned that she had been
captured a short distance outside OF the
city. Then he decided to escape himself
BY means OF false passports and revolu-
tionary aid he made his way to Vladi-
vostok and there he took ship TO Yoko-
hama Thence he went to San Fran
cisco. which he reached two weeks ago
His purpose In coming TO this country
ls to arouse sentiment here In favor of
the ''llttle grandmother" The Russian
Government has made an important case
of the attempted escape and 100 persons
have been arrested and thrown into prison
In connection with II. The revolutionists
faar M mi prpshLnvsLaNa aud nj
who assisted her will be severely pun
lshed unless sentiment can be aroused
In the United States which will lead to
corresponding feeling In Russia and finally
end in the Communication OF the sentence
passed on the aged woman exile. Smyr-
nofY Is planning mass meetings in various
large cities and has already interested
women's organizations In this city. A
meeting will be held soon in Car
negie Hall
Arrested Twice.
Smyrnoff was arrested in 1908 and
thrown into the prison at Odessa for ten
months on suspicion that he was a revo-
lu;ionary agent. When ne was freed he
his activities. He was arrested
again In 1907 this time on the direct
charge Of melting revolution. On tina,
day the news was brought to him in
prison that his father had been murdered
in a pogrom in Simteropol. He was sem
fenced TO four years in prison. and on the
day OF release he learned that he had
been exiled 70 Siberia for life. without
being permitted to see his family he was
hurried. with many others, across the
frontier and into the wilds.
His prison village was Kerensk where
Nine Breshkovskaya was living. Smyr-
mons admiration for Nine. Breshkovskaya
grew with their acquantanceship. He
was soon the leader Of the revolutionists.
who had for "A long time been urging their
aged leader TO make her escape and
preach their cause throughout the world
The scheme was laid last summer and
five months were required to arrange de-
tails. December . WAS the day selected
Smyrnoff had left Kerensk and made the
fifteen frontier towns between Kerensk
and Irkutsk, principal city OF the province
of that name. 500 miles away. Nine.
Breshkovskaya got away disguised as a
man.
The Coup Fails.
Arrangements had been made by the
exiles In kerensk TO telegraph 70 Smyr-
noff, then at Irkutsk. in case the escape
was discovered. The wires were then to
be cut to prevent official communication
The arrival Of new police chief in
Kerensk foiled the plotters He had
heard a great deal % his famous woman
prisoner and wanted to see her. He was
told she was III. but insisted on being
to her bedroom.
Realizing that she had fed, the police
chief Immediately sent the news to IT.
kutsk. He took the revolutonists by
surprise. Their message that the escape
had been discovered was not received
until later. They cut the telegraph wires.