Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-04
s|BER1ANs, on sLEDGEs,
SPEED TO new FREEDOM
FROM Mines and Convict Settlements
Victims OF Old Regime Hast
en- to Railroads.
FACING WITH SPRING THAw
Fearing That Rivers Will Soon BE
impossible. Russian Hordes, I'm
coutl, and Unwashed, Sweep in
Endless Chain Across Snow.


TfCMEN. SIBERIA. March 81 tvia
PctroGrad and London. April 81
Fifty thousand slcdgca carrying vic
inns OF the old regime back to free
dom in the new Russia from the mines
ard convict settlements Of Siberia. are
speeding in endless chain across the
SHOWS OF North Asia toward the near
est points on the Trans-Siberian Rail-
way. Their passengers range from
members OF the Old terrorist societies
10 exiles banshed by administrative
decree without trial Or even known o.
fAnse.
II il race against time. as the
spring thaw is imminent ana ,he roads
VIII soon he impasSablc. EXilcs who
do not reach the railroad within Il
fortnight must wait six weeks or two
months until the ice melts and river
navigation begins.
TO witness this unprecedented mi
grafton a correspondent OF tho .Asso-
ciated Press came here with mem
Dor OF the Duma, ". r;osenom. and two
members Of the former Council OF En-
pire. The three officials were sent by
the provisional government to explain
TO the natives the nature OF the great
change. Their mission carries them
TO thousands OF heather Asiatic tribes
men. and they are especially directed
TO instruct voters in regard to the
coming constituent assembly to decide
the form Of Russ;a's new government.
LIBERATION OF sIBERIA'S
PRISONERS HARDLY BEGUN
The liberation OF Siberias prisoners
has barely begun. West OF the Trails
tho Associated Press correspondent
encountered only handful OF cxilcs.
The first large party Was encountered
when the Siberian express reached
Ekatcrinburc. in tho Trails IT con-
sisted OF $50 political convictz and adj
minisirativc exiles. including twenty
members OF tho Jewish revoiutionary
band. mostly from the Ncrkpolensk
district. west Of Lake Baikai The cx-
ics We're travelling in special cars and
had been on the road since March "a
The cars were met by vast crowd
~ the station, which chcered them tu-
muituously The returning cxiles re-
turned the cheers. but they were in
oepiorablc physical condition. shaggy.
uncouth. unwashcd and extremely
cmaciatcd. Many were crippled with
rheumatism. two had lost hands and
feet from Prostitutes
The exilcs had started west so hur-
sicdly that they arrived In an extra
ordinary variety of incongruous garb.
some wore ncw costumes supplied by
s%mpcthizers, and some had handsome
fur overcoats covering their hid sous
Jail uniform. Among the latter was
young millionaire aris,ocrat from
Odessa sentenced TO life ten years ago
for fomentinG a revolutionary mutiny
j. tho Rack Sea feet. others wore
shaggy sheep and wolf skiing pro-
lection against the bitter Siberian
blasts. one man from the Irkutsk city
Jail wore the gold braided uniform
tunic of tho dismissed governor Of
irkutsk under ragged and greasy
ovcrcoat
An Ekaterinburg gathered TO do
honor to tho cXilcs. and a reception and
dinner were hastily mproviscd at which
speech was delivered by Sophia VAS
neT. who spent seven years in Siberian
penal villages for possessing revolu-
tionary literature.
When tho news OF the revolution
spread through Siberia those cXiics
WHO could started for the nearest rail
way. travelling day and night in the
Arctic cold on peasant Sledgcs or gov
crnmcnt post sleighs. Five days after
cXiics entered IrkutsL. but the vast ma
jority were unable to proceed west
owing TO the lack OF rolling stock
These cncamped about the town and
IT least a month will he needed before
They can he sent horne.
The president of the exile reception
committee in EkatcrinhurE gave the
correspondent general picture Of the
present conditions and prospects Of the
cXilcs. He said that there were proi,a-
lily altogether 100000 persons in ST.
!eria who had been released under the
amnesty measure. This number com.
priscs political offenders. including ter
rorists convicted after trial: persons
suspected IF furtherinG revolutionary
aasaans aMaaasaasanaRs
:EvERETHyADDEYC 0nPANYi:
Z i1O9 EAsrMAINSr.