The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-02-27
''In Darkest Russia"

w. Blanchard Moore, formerly of the
University of Illinois, gave an illustra-
ted lecture Thursday evening of last
week TO an appreciative audience at the
Majestic Theater. The subject, "Ex-
lies in Siberia" the place frequently
called Darkest Russia" Mr.. Moore
stated that when he started on this
perilous journey he secured credentials
at home which enabled him to get like
papers from the Russian authorities.
He was sent out, he states, by the As
sOciated Press and his mission was to
look into the lives of the poor exiles in
Siberia. He was arrested seven times
as a spy and detained from two hours
to two months, On one occasion he
spent two months in one of the largest
prisons, during which time he had an
excellent opportunity to study the pris-
on system and punishments. The pris-
oners are divided into two general clas-
ses-the murderers and Ordinary"
prisoners. Mr.. Moore says that the
way they distinguish the latter from
the former is by the fact that half
of the right of the heads of murderers
are shaved once week, and upon ar
rival at prison they are placed in soli-
tary confinement for ten days and fed
on sour rye bread and water.
The punishment cells have no WIN
dows and are 80 low prisoner can not
stand erect and so short they can not
lie down. Punishment for ordinary Of
fenses is flogging with heavy birch
switches. The most severe punishment,
however, is floggiug with the plete, a
modified form Of the famous knout. In
every prison there is fiogging table
provided with perforations thru which
| the straps pass for lashing the prisoner
to the table. When flogged. a prisoner
is stripped to the waist and lashed to
the bench face downward. Flogging
with birch switches Is cruel in the ex-
treme, for every blow cuts thru the
skin; but flogging with the plete is in
describable, for every blow seems tc
cut the prisoner in two and he suffers
the agonies of ten thousand deaths.
The best part of Siberia, Mr.. Moore
states, is along the great Siberian Rail
road, which is being settled by emf
grants from the crowded sections OF
Russia. The government furnishes te
each settler small piece of land anc
gives them free transportation.
The climate along the railroad is sim
liar to that of southern Canada, and is
specially adapted for raising grain
Places of Punishment for the majority
; of prisoners is in the northern part
where it is cold and desolate and where
are located many of the mines. All thu
best mines are owned by the Gar ant
operated by prison exiles.
The latter part of the lecture covered
a visit to Count Toulsti, where Mr.
Moore remained guest four days AM
took Is pictures of the count, his home
family and every day life.
, Mr.. Moore delivered his lectur
. dressed as an exiled murderer. H
wore the chain, fetters and a wig
showing right half of the head shaved
He stated that there is one stockad
where the prisoners are chained to tn
walls and that there are no accommo
dations; there the prisoners wallow i
, their own filth and their food is give
them as if they were swine. The
+ rarely live, he states, in this stockade
] more than thirty days. The lectur
|, was interesting and drew horribl
: picture of the exiles' suffering.