Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-08
lei Beiss Own Story Of His Life and Russia

that among us prisoners he is the only limo
cent one? He is miserable enough. Dons
you try to make him any worse"
The man left me alone after that
Sunday came, and | was called out OF the
cell by one of the warders To my Joy was
informed that my wife had been given permits
sion to bring me food. / did not see her, nut
the food was given to me. AS went to take
1t, the chief warder punched me In the race
saying:
Dirty Jew! Eat and die You see already
how your fellow dogs of Jews In Kiev are COZ
lecting money to buy you good food!
But | did not mind his words ! was too
happy to think that my wife was safe ana
watching over me.
One day one of the prisoners told me HIS
story. He had been sentenced for Inert. IL
seems that he had been thief for years, but
he fell in love with good woman and mace
up his mind that he would steal no mores
The marriage took place, and he did lead
an honest life until his fellow thieves ronno
him He told them that he was now an honest
man. Their reply was that If he did not help
them they would go and tell his wife all about
his past life. and also give him away 70 the
police
He had no alternative: he went back 10
the old life very unwillngly, but kept the
secret from his wife. One day he was caught.
His wife nearly died from the shock, but IN
prison he confessed everything to her and
promised to lead a good life from then on.
Now know all" she said, y can help yeH.
and, as he told me, as soon as ne obtained
his release they were both going to leave
Russia for America, where he said, 4 can
get honest work, and earn my wifes respect"
His story made great impression on me.
One morning a terrible row took place. In
few moments the entire seventy had joined
in, and vicious fight began. 1t was an aOso-
Lutte pandemonium, the din being indescribable
Suddenly the door opened, and the CHIEF
warder came in. He reported the disturbance
to the Governor, and as result thirty OF the
men were flogged, and the rest put on special
punishment diet, only black bread and water
being allowed them. | had taken no part In
the row, but was punished like the rest.
Soon after this was transferred to another
cell, where there we're only thirty prisoners.
BY this time my boots and socks were quite
worn out, and walking on the asphalt floors
was very painful. asked for some more boots
but they gave me an old pair Of shoes in which
nails were sticking up on the inside tried
to put the shoes on, but the nails cut my Leet
and made them bleed. When tried to walk
fell down on small seat by the wall.
While sitting there prisoner came and
gave me blow in my side, telling me to get
up and give him the seat ] could not stand
on my feet because of the nails, and he, think
ing my delay meaat refusal, gave me such =
blow in the face that the blood poured out OF
NV nose and mouth. In a few minutes my
face had swollen up, and my left eye could
scarcely be seen.
found out afterward that this was done to
see whether had any spirit. and would re-
port this or other matters to the Governor
did not say anything at the time. only sat
down and wept.
A few minutes later they brought me water
and insisted on my washing the blood away
understood that this was also done to test me,
because they knew IL / washed the blood away
should probably not say anything to the au.
thOrities. I refused to take the water
They all became terribly nervous. A hush
came over the whole room. Then one Of them
came TO me and whispered:
"Llsten, Bells. | am also a Jew, and have
been in prison long time. For Gods sake and
my sake wash the blood from your face for II
not they will kin me as we'll as you. You Will
soon be leaving this cell, and / shall always
pray for you. But you don't know what MUIR
derers and ruffians they are and what they are
capable Of doing. Please wash your face"
For hisesake / washed the blood away. But
in spite Of this, when the Governor came round
he noticed my swollen face and the awful state
! was in.
who did this?" he asked did not reply
II insist he replied, tell me at once who did
this, or you will all suffer-
One Of the Christian prisoners pointed out the
man. The rest called out: "He did it."
"Why?" asked the Governor.
because" said the man who had struck me,
'he killed Christian child"
did you see him do it," the Governor asked.
QDWu
with a heavy blow In the face
All of us, including myself, on account Of this
trouble, We're given seven days punishment
called Karzer." We We're put in special dark
cell and given very little to eat
When this was over the authorities took me
away from the rest, because they were afraid
they would kill me. They put In small cell
where ! met man who was employed at the
brick works. His name was Kazatchenko
He told me that he was due for trial soon
and was sure to be acquitted He had many
friends among the warders. and one day be
said II liked he could get one of them to take
letter to my wife. / did not believe him
but as he insisted he could do 1t sent a shor,
message to her. To my great 10y and sur
PRISE received reply from her few days
later.
But my joy changed to sorrow when read
her letter. 1t told of the awful miseries and
anxieties which they had been through, and II
gave me terrible pain. My t'ars flowed ovei
the letter. and nearly washed away the ink
one thing especially upset me- This was the
news that my boy had been taken away from
school because there was no money to pay foI
him. II seemed to be a shame that the Jews
should not look after my children, when they
knew that !, an innocent man, was really sui
fering on behalf them all.
Kazatchenko was given so kopecks by my
wife, who sent it to him through the warder
I frao