The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1915-09-23
An Episode
Of the Russian
Revolution
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN


tee broke up in Petrograd. and the
members went out One-sometimes
two-at a time in order that they
should not attract the attention of the
police. \ couple emerging from the
building went together down the street
Peter" said one to the other in an
undertone.
What is ii. lvan?'
I'VE have traitor among us. Il spy
Of the government, who has joined our
circle to betray us"
Heavens. What can we do To cir
cumvent him."
1T will be impossible without max
ing sacrifices. am going to the chief
Of police to dcnOunce him as Il traitor
TO the government, one who prctcnds
to serve it while betraying its secrets
to the circle But will not be believed
unless | betray several of our mem
beers at the same time"
But they will be sent to Siberia.
I'VE must contrive to get them off
before they 20, and if that Is impossible
we must attempt IL rcScLs"
"A rescue. Impossible"'
I'VE shall see"
Ivan DemiZOrf the next day was
closeted with the chief of police He
named four men who were plotting
| against the government, including the
spy, and recommended that they be
| confined i'll a room Oh the top story of Il
certain building, a window Of which
| could be seen from windows on the
opposite side of the street "Other CON
spiratOrs," he added, will learn where
they are, will communicate with them
and can be arrested" The chief assent
ed to the plan, the arrests We're made.
! and the prisoners We're confined as sug
gested.
Spies were set to watch the opposite
side Of the street, and if any one was
seen making signs TO the prisoners the
police were to be informed. The men
We're held several days. but no one was
seen to be communicating. Not only
did the spies become tired of watching
and consequently careless, but those
guarding the prisoners relaxed their
vigilance. 1t was hoped that they
would all go to sleep at the same time.
but they did not. Finally Ivan Demi-
zOrf confessed to the chief Of police
that his plan was failure, but it was
agreed to leave the prisoners where
they were one day longer If at the
end of twenty-fOur hours no other fish
We're hooked the four men were to be
sent TO Siberia.
That night at o'clock a man of
dark complexion, wearing red fez,
was seen to enter the building where
the prisoners were confined. About
half past woman with long stride
went in; later negro and still later a
man In Montenegro costume. The
last of these persons passed in at 10
o'clock, and none of them were seen to
pass out.
In the morning when the relief
guard went TO the building they found
the door Of the room where the prison
ers had been placed locked. They call
ed and were answered by the guard
door. They did so and found the guard
bound and gagged, while the prisoners
We're gone. They told the relief that
during the previous evening they were
set upon by a number of men dressed
In different costumes, who had sue
ceeded in snatching their guns. had
overpowered them and taken away the
prisoners.
The man who wore the feZ, first en-
tering the building, was Ivan Demi-
Zorf; the others were members Of
the circle of which he was a member.
They concealed themselves in different
parts of the building, and near mid
night the negro. who was so black that
he could not be distinguished in the
| darkness, crept up to the top story,
| where the prisoners were confined, and,
peeping, saw that Of the four men COM
posing the guard at the door three were
4, sound asleep, and the other was doz-
Ing. Returning, he reported what he
had seen, and the rescue party. headed
by Ivan Demizorf. crawled up the stair
case. On reaching the top Demizorf
awaited his opportunity, then made a
dash for the gun of the man who was
| nodding.
One of the other men Of the rescue
party got the gun of a man who was
| asleep without encOuntering any re-
| sistance. but the two remaining res
cuers were obliged to fight for the 9th
er weapons. However, 1t was not
minute before every guard was cover
ed by a gun I'm the hands Of a rescuer.
DemiZorf opened the door where the
prisoners were confined and found
them all awake and intensely interest
ed in what had been going on out
side. There were now double the num-
Der opposing the guards, and their guns
had been taken from them. Ropes and
gags had been brought, and the first
thing done was the insertion Of the
latter Then the guards were bound
laid on the floor, the door locked, and
| the rescue party departed with the
| prisoners.
The three bona fide members Of the
circle made their escape across the
border One remained In Germany;
| the two others went to America Dem
izorf did not dare face suspicion Of
having had a hand In the rescue
though he had been well disguised, so
he made off for parts unknown. He