The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-02-02
An Episode :
OF the Russian
Revolution
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN

A meeting Of a revolutionary commit
tee broke up in petrograd, and the
members went out conservatives
two-at tine iii order that they
should not attract the attention Of thn
police. A couple emerging from thu
building went together down the stree
Peter" said one to the other ip an
tndertone.
What is 1t, lvan'?"
I'VE have 4 traitor among lis, a spy
of the government, who has Joined our
circle to betray MS" -
"Heavens What can We do to cir.
cumvent him?" g@asea
1T viii he impossible without max
ing sacrifices. am going to the chief
Of police to denouncc him as traitor
to the government, one who pretends
to serve it while betraying its secrets
to the circle. But will not be believed
unless l betray several of our men,
bers at the same time" Ill
But they will be sent to Siberia"
I'VE must contrive to get them OF
before they so, and il that is impossible
We must attempt a rescue"
"A rescue! Impossible"
I'VE shall see."
Ivan Demizorf the next day was
closeted with the. chief Of police. He
named four men who We're plotting
against the government, including the
spy, and recommended, that they be
confined in a room on the top story Of q
certain building. n window ~ which
could be seen from windows,on the
opposite side OF the street. ""0tler con-
spirators, 7 te added will learh-wherc
they are, VIII communicate with them
and can lie arrested" The Chief assent
cd to the plan, the arrests were made,
and the prisoners We're confined as sug-
gested.
Spies were set to watch the opposite
side of the street, and il any one was
seen making signs to the prisoners the
police were to be informed. Tie men
were held several days, but no one was
seen to be communicating. Not only
did the spies become tired Of watching
and consequently careless, bu. those
guarding the prisoners relaxed their
vigilance. 1t was hoped that they
would all 60 to sleep at the sane 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. II at the
end Of twenty-four hours no other fish
were hooked the four men We're to be
sent to Siberia.
That night at 8 o'clock man of
dark complexion, wearing red fez,
was seen to enter the building where
thes prisoners were confined. About
llaff past g a woman with long stride
went in; later negro and still later
man in Montencgrin costume. The
last Of these persons passed in at 10
O'Clock, and none Of them were seen to
pass out. sSs ~
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 cali
ell and were answered by the guard
within and told to break down the
door. They did so and found the guard
bound and gagged, while the prisoners
were gone. They told the relief that
during the previous evening they were
set upon by number OF. men dressed
In different costumes, who had sue
ceeded in snatching their guns. had
overpowered them and taken away, the
prisoners. 4, y!t
The man who wore the fez. first en-
tering the building. was Ivan sDcmt
zorf; the others were members Of
the circle of whichahe was a member.
They concealed Themselves in different
parts OF the building. ana near mid.
hight the negro. who was 30 black that
he could not be distinguished In the
darkness. crept UP, to. the top story,
where the prisoners were confined, and,
leeping. saw that Of the four men com.
Posing the guard ut the door three Were
Reund asleep, and the other was doz-
ing. Returning,s he reported what. he.
lad seen, and the rescHe 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. Il
One of the other men Of the rescue
party got the gun Of man who was
asleep without encountering any re-
sistance,. but the two remaining res
cuers We're obliged to Eight for the 9th
er weapons. However, it was not a
minute before every guard was cover
cd by gun In the hands Of a rescuer.
Demizoff 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 tue mum.
her opposing the guards. and their guns
lad 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 dde 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 lie had been well disguised, so
he made of for parts unknown. He