Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-04
BY JUNIUS Il. WOOD.

'
News. Copyright, 1927.
BERLIN, January 4.-One of the
most unusual characters in the no.
toTious SolovetZky Prison, according
to Julius G. Chevalier, the American,
who has just obtained his freedom,
is a Mexican named Vererra, known
to all the other prisoners as the
"Amerikanski consul"
Nererra arrived in Russia with
his wife, a Georgian girl, educated in
Paris and speaking French and Eng
lish t1uently, but only a little Rus
sian. Narerra was detailed as watch
man at the food canteen, which was
a chilly Job, while his wife worked
in the laundry, which was run by "A
Chinese prisoner, who was a member
of the Third Internationale.
THE Chinese was a jolly fellow"
said Chevalier, but he didn't like
my squad of electricians, because we
insisted on having our clothes wash
ed twice a week during the typhus
epidemic. Like all the prisoners,
there We're two explanations why the
Amerikanski consul was there. One
was that he arrived in Leningrad
with a Grated airship, intending to
fly to the Caucasus, where his wifes
parents were in trouble, and take
them out of the country. The other
reason, which the prisoners prefer
red, was that he arrived in Leningrad
Immediately following the establish
ment of diplomatic relations between
Russia and Mexico and announced
himself as the new minister from
Mexico, demanding a special train
from Leningrad to Moscow, which NJ.
TchiCherin approved.
Cable Spoiled Plans.
"a few days later a cable from the
Soviet embassy at Berlin announced
that the Mexican Minister was about
to depart for Moscow. Eventually the
regal impostor was given another
train ride at Soviet expense, terminal
ing at SolovetZky
THE 'AmerikanSki consul received
about 1000 roubles a month while in
prison and soon suggested that the
authorities at SolovetZky ought to
have a biological garden added to its
accommodations. The idea met with
approval-provided the Amerikanski
consul furnished the funds, which he
did to the extent of 5000 roubles-
providing him and his wife place to
live together and work in the garden.
After l left SolovetZky, while work
ing in the storeroom at Buterka Prls-
on, MOSCOW, a load or dozen trunks
and suit cases arrived. l inquired of
the storekeeper, another fellow alum
nus of Solovetzky, what tourist was
entering the prison.
That's our colleague, the Amer
ikanski consul" he replied.
THE 'Amerikanski CONSUL who
with his wife is now outside Russia,
was the first of several returning res
identS of SolovetZky who during few
days transit at Buterka told the I'm
ish of the story.
THE special list detail were the
only prisoners at Solovetsky who
were not permitted to leave the Krem-
lin gates without guards. The detail
consisted of Is men out of 5000 No
one was able to explain why this
special restriction was imposed. The
Diet all included Baron Won Osten-
sacken, former commander of a
regiment; another colonel,
a young Pole, a young Esthonian,
gentle, studious Russian anarchist;
Prof Numerovski, doctor of interna.
tional law from Warsaw; M. Beckson,
a wealthy Jewish merchant: two Rus
sian officers convicted of espionage on
behalf Of Afghanistan, and two Poles,
and Laxguravitch, who
had been unable to return to their
own country. The last two were sent
to Buterka before me. The day I
arrived they were taken out and shot
on account of some incident involving
900 roubles.