The Washington herald., 1919-04-04
The Amazing Story of
Maria BOtchkarepa
Leader of the Russian Battalion of Death

the barge. which was towed by
tug.
In our group was the woman XII
tova, with her husband and two chill
dren. We cooked and ate our food
together, enduring 3 great deal at
the hands of the criminals. There
were some quiet people among the
latter. and they suffered from the
whims of the leaders and their
lackeys.
There was a case Of such a man,
who happened to cross the path of
an old criminal The latter did not
like the way he looked at him. and
the poor man was beaten and, with
out any ceremony. thrown overheard
and drowned. We were all locked up
for it inside the barge and were de-
MED the privilege of going out on
the deck. II was the most cruel of
punishments, worse than a long term
in prison.
We changed barges on the way.
spending about two months on the
water, having snade about 1900 versts
upon arriving at Yakutsk at the end
OF July. We We're beached at night,
but it was almost as light as day.
though much colder.
Our Joy at landing was indescrib-
bic. The local politicals all came
out TO welcome us. We were marched
to the Yakutsk prison, where our
roll was called. Here the women
We're separated from the men, and
those who voluntarily accompanied
their husbands were set free.
l then went to the office to inquire
about the fate of Yasha, and was
told that it was probable that he
would be sent farther north. I was
cared for by the local >politicals, who
sheltered me and gave me new cloth
ing and money with which to pur-
chase food and cook dinners for
Yasha.
Yakutsk Is such a distant place that
the prisoners there are allowed con-
siderable freedom. was nicely
treated by the officials when I took
the dinner-pail to Yasha, and was per-
mitted to remain with him as long
as 1 desired, even in privacy.
Shortly efterward Yasha was in
formed that he had been assigned to
Kolymsk, within a hundred versts
of the Arctic ocean. where the snow
never melts and the winter never re-
lakes its grip. The news struck US
as a bolt from the blue. To be buried
alive in some snowbound hut! What
for? To live like beasts in that un-
inhabitable region from which only
few return to this world!
There was still one ray of hope
Governor Kraft, of Yakutsk. had the
Reputation of being a very kind man,
and he might reassign Yasha If L
begged him. Yasha had been ad-
vised to appea. to the governor, and
he sent me on this mission.
The governors office was in his
home. He received me very kindly
even shook my hand, and invited me
to be seated. He was a tall, erect,
black-bearded man of middle age, and
he showed every consideration for me
as / told my story. 1 proposed to
him to open a sanitary butcher-shop
in Yakutsk II he allowed Yasha to
remain there. as the local butcher
shops were impossibIy filthy.
He at first refused my suggestion,
but. apparently on second thought,
bade me follow into his apartment,
where he seated me at a table, and,
filling two glasses with wine. invited
me to drink with him. / declined.
wondering as to the reason for this
extreme friendliness. He drew near
er to me, laid his hands on my coat
and removed 1t. Before / recovered
from my astonishment he seized my
hand and kissed it. No man had
ever before kissed my hand, and I had
an idea that it was a practice sig
nifying immoral intentions only.
Startled and indignant, 1 jumped to
my feet.
II will give you a thousand rubles,
room for butcher shop in the mark
ct, and keep your husband in Yakutsk.
II you will agree to belong to me-"
the governor declared, trying to calm
me.
lost my self-control. "Scoundrels!
beasts, you men are all alike all all! 1!
all. High and low, you are all de-
praved." Grabbing my coat. ran
out Of the house. leaving the cover.
nor speechlosA