The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-16
FACED DEATH DAILY
IN BOLSHEVIK CELL
Senator's Aghast at Expert
ences of r. Z. Simmons,
Prisoner Of Reds.
Special Despatch to The sUy.


WASHINGTON, Feb 15.-The Senators
investigating the Bolsheviki propaganda
In America were aghast to-day at the
recital Of tho prison experiences Of
Roger E. Simmons. an American for
estry expert. who spent eleven days in
the hands Of the Red terrorists. not
knowing from one minute to the next
when he was to be led out to the execu-
ton place and have bullets fired through
his heart, as he had seen scores OF his
prison acquaintance Nuffer.
Mr.. Simmons related that he was put
under arrest at Vologda last summer as
he was recovering from pneumonia,
which had prevented him from leaving
Russia when warning was given all
foreigners OF ally nativity to get away.
He said that he was kept for three days
In prison car attached to the Boil
sheVik kommissar for the Vologda
Commune. His passport, signed by Am
bassador Francis, was disregarded by
the terrorist in command, and after
three days OF not knowing whether he
was to be allowed to live or not, he was
put aboard a train and sent TO the main
prison In Moscow.
Prison Cells Overcrowded.
The witness said that in his first place
or incarceration he was cellmate OF
eighty-five men in room meant to ac-
commodate about thirty. He was later
moved to more comfortable quarters In a
cell with twenty-five men, which had
been meant to accommodate twenty
three But II was not OF the suffering
that Simmons had so much to tell the
committee as of the character of the
men with whom he was confined.
He said that contrary to his expecta-
ton nearly all OF the men with whom
he found himself jailed were of the mid
Gle working classes, some OF them
being pc asants. Every few hours one
OF another Of them would be summoned
to a hea ing and usually they never re-
turned. He said that of the number OF
men with whom he was confined 80 per
cent. had no idea of what the charge
laid against them might be.
Mr.. Summons said that after the elev-
enth day OF his confinement he man.
aged, by giving a bride to a sentry, to
| bring the Swedish Minister to his aid
and his release was effected. In the
period OF his Incarceration ne saw doz-
ems of men taken out and shot on the
| simple charge that they were unwilling
to subscribe to the tenants of Boil
Murdered on Treason Charge.
Men who we're Socialists or social rev.
| olutionists who would not, when dragged
before the Bolshevik tribunal. say that
| II released they would work with and
for Bolshevism were ruthlessly murdered
on the allegation OF treason.
He rec!ted the instance OF a young
man of Russian birth, but British sub
| ject, who had been confined with him In
the prison car at Vologda. This man
was led out and shot without even the
form of a trial. He said also that a
Russian gentleman who had been the
counsel for the British Consulate and
who was confined with him had aroused
| him one night saying:
Please come and talk to me. for they
are going to take me out and shoot me
| tomorrow morning. and II you'll tell me
| about America and about Siberia 1t will
keep my mind off the horror OF It."
Mr.. Simmons insisted to the commit
| tee that the hope OF treating with the
| Bolshevists as a responsible Government
OF a nation was altogether out of the
question. AS has every other expert with
any Russian knowledge who has appeared
before the committee he asserted that the
Bolsheviki really constituted themselves
| out of the idealists in combination with
IA criminals