The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-13
An lmproviised
Weapon
BY EVERETT p. CLARKE

tie. i was nehfL anu soul Ior the cause
of freedom and became active in try
ing to force the government to grant
the people constitution.
1t was not long before ! was arrest
ed and sent to Siberia. Shall / ever
forget that long, dreary march?
And yet this long march to me was
preferable to work in the mines at
Kara. for In the former case we were
in the open, while in the latter we
were in the bowels of the earth. For
five years l toiled with the others;
then a change came.
| Our condition was so miserable that
many of us were constantly Ill, but
there was period when our food was
so bad and our quarters so poorly kept
that an epidemic of disease broke out
among us. Unfortunately for the gen.
eral good, but fortunately for me, sew
eral of the physicians on duty Mt the
station were taken ILL., My name was
down on the prison register as ply
stefan, and one day | was conducted to
the office Of the governor, who, after a
few questions as to my fitness, direct
ed me TO go to work among the sick.
Naturally while on this duty ! medi-
tated upon whatever chance for escape
there might be in 1t. | was young, and
my strength had not been especially
impaired. therefore considered plans
which would require me to fight rather
than 10 resort to subterfuge. But had
no weapon, and l knew that every
precaution would be taken to prevent
my obtaining one However, having
access to the medical store. / was able
to appropriate an arm that not every
one would have thought of as such.
This was syringe.
So much for a weapon. must next
lay my plan. But this found impos-
sible. At least / could not carry out
any specially arranged plan. l could
only take advantage OF any happening
that gave promise of success. Ny op-
portunity came one night when all but
those who were on duty rs keepers
were In bed. was called upon to
visit a prisoner who required my at
tention. To get what medical imple-
ments needed for him | entered the
supply room and, among other things,
took a syringe and a quart bottle Of
aqua forts. Fortunately found
spatula. which | appropriated also.
Having done my duty by the patient,
/ left him, ostensibly to go to my room,
for so long as l was on duty as physi-
clan was permitted TO occupy a room
In the surgeons quarters. But instead
Of going there | walked out OF the
building and made straight for the
inner gateway. There stood a sentry
who blocked my egress. had filed my
syringe with the deadly liquid and. sud-
denly drawing 1t, gave him a charge in
both eyes. AS had expected, he sent
forth n cry that would arouse the
guard. but before they could respond
was at the outer gate, a quarter Of
nile away.
Here the guard, having heard the
signals and coming on the run, lev
lied his piece at me and called on me
n stentorian tones TO halt. l knock
ID his musket aside, and before he
'ould recover his aim / had put an
'unce of aqua FORTS I'm his eyes.
Had either Of these sentries been
'ierced by bullet he might possibly
ave been instrumental In my capture.
hut. besides the excruciating pain they
they were blinded. Indeed. so
ltent were they on themselves that IL
! quite likely some time elapsed before
hose who Joined them could learn
rom them what had happened. At
ny rate. was well out on fields OF
now before heard any one coming
! pursuit
There seemed 10 be but one chance
'r me. That was 20 leave the road.
enetrate the forest which lined Il aud
ide IN the snow till the search for me
lould be given up. So long as I kept
le road would leave no visible
acks, for the snow had been beaten
ard, but there was danger when
ruck the loose snow ! ran like the
ind, taking my chances on stun.
ing, till ] heard shouts behind me:
en-. choosing a point where the road
as much higher than the ground be-
ie Il. ! ran swiftly 20 the embank-
ent. jumped as FAR as ! could and
nded IN a snowdrift
the snow about me. dart
10 the forest. a few hundred yards
ray. There I hid In a drift tn the
lowing night. when. not hearing any
rther sounds OF those In pursuit. I
ntinued my way westward. guided
the north star. which I kept O.er
! right shoulder.
had no provisions Indeed, the only
ficie had pr0vided myself with. be-
lee my gun and ammunition. was q
I q matches Being attacked by
ele wolf. I gave him q charge Of
be FORTS IN the eyes and Drained
D with a billet q wood ! then
nned him with my spafuia and cut
m him sufficient meat % Keep me
Re Tor some time Though his skin
= ur1anued. q served % keep me
10 FREEING 10 death % several o.
sons during ny journey fpr free
b I was obliged 30 travel slong
southern shore - EHrz hay. ore
!. coming % q ruEbost. ] arrroprf-
q q nud pulled nu ] saw q shfp
= enough fus ne 90 attract TIE e.
fion - Hs crew They took ne
.sr1 and rrr8e1 me % Sweden