El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-04-03
PRISONERS HELD
IN SIBERIA, OUT
Russians Held for Political
Offenses Are Given
Their Freedom.

nesty day in Tobolsk was the sudden
demand for blacksmiths. The prison
blacksmith, fearing the vengeance OF
the cOnvicts. fled, and private black
smiths, in the general orgy of revolu-
tionary triumph, could not be found.
In the meantime so chained men waited
for the liberation. The newly formed
committee Of public safety, unable to
find blacksmiths, drove the still chained
ccnvicts TO the dismissed governors
palace. where 4 banquet had been pre-
pared and we had our first free meal.
Above the din of speeches and cheers
for the Russian republic could be heard
the jangling of our shackles-"
From TObOlsk prison there were also
released so soldiers. sentenced to life
Tor mutiny during tne revolution Of
1905. leaders in the Livonian peasants
riots and others who were sentenced
for aerarian offences.
Pretty Girl Is An Exile.
Another liberated exile was Sophia
Lijnaitzky. pretty girl Of 10 from
Nitebsk. who was arrested a year ago
on suspicion OF being engaged in politi-
cal propaganda and was spirited away
to the remote siberian village Of
h1utum- She was allowed g a month
by the government for her living ex-
penses and managed to exist by teach
ing adult peasants to read and write
Relating her experiences, she said;
Two Girls Frozen to Death.
In my village the police themselves.
wearing red badges. were the first
10 announce the revolution. Imme-
diately there was a frantic cOupetf-
ton among the exiles TO get home The
first of TWO girls who started were
without proper equipment and were
ONertaken ny blizzard near Nreko-
lensk and, il is said, were frozen 10
death"
Child save Captains Life.
.rnfTrar civil rr-Tr1
q place near the shores Of Lake Baikal,
Sald that the news Of the revolution
was rrst given out by the village
priest in church At once so exiies who
We're IN the congregation rushed out,
determined on vengeance on the local
captain who was a wautOn tyrant
they were met by the policemans ten
year old daughter. who stood before
her father and exclaimed
XIII me first" The chId's action
saved thu captains life.
Experience OF Muravin.
In Tyumen are convicts and admins
tratiVe eXlles who were on their way
10 prison and exile when the Tsvolu-
ton occurred These Immediately
started TO return TO Eurobe Among
them was found Basil Muravin. SEN
fenced 10 death in 1907 for belonging
70 the militant organization of the
Social revolutionary party" Muravin
spent the first five years in the Schlus-
selburS fortress on Lake LadOga. then
four years in other European prisons.
including one at Pskov. where he was
Ilogged seven times by the governor
baron Medem- He was then despatched
to Siberia to end his days as an exile
on the upper Lena. 1Iuravin gave the
following account Of his liberation:
Heard Shouting and Shooting.
when the revolution occurred I was
IN the small Udinsk transport prison
waiting the arrival Of other convicts
for dispatch together TO the east.
had long lost hope OF pardon when 1
learned that ] was free. The discovery
came in most dramatic way. I was
Il the time IN chains as a new conner
1t unknown character I heard a sud-
len shouting and afterWard a terrific
rifle firing Il sounded as II a million