Sixteen years in Siberia: Some experiences of a Russian revolutionistDeich, L. G. (Lev Grigor'evich)
History
Sixteen years in Siberia: Some experiences of a Russian revolutionist
Deich, L. G. (Lev Grigor'evich)
Deich, L. G. (Lev Grigor'evich), 1855-1941; Exiles -- Russia (Federation) -- Siberia -- Biography
The story of this escape has been told by Professor Thun, in his
history of the Russian revolutionary movement (_Geschichte der
revolutionären Bewegung in Russland_), and also by Stepniak
(_Underground Russia: Two Escapes_), who had it from Bohanòvsky; but
the readers of the present volume may like to have it repeated with
more detail than our author has thought fit to give.
When Stefanòvitch, Deutsch, and Bohanòvsky were imprisoned at Kiëv,
Frolènko contrived to obtain work in the prison as a sort of odd man
under the name of Michael. He gradually rose to be warder, first in
the criminal and then in the “political” department, where, in spite
of a feigned protest made by his three friends (who did not wish to
appear on good terms with him), he was appointed to their corridor.
They lost no time in fixing a night for their escape together; and
having obtained two suits of private clothes and a warder’s dress for
the prisoners to put on, he let them out of their cells at midnight.
As they were creeping along the dark passages one of them stumbled
against something, at which he grasped to save himself from falling.
Instantly a deafening noise woke the echoes, he had clutched the rope
of the alarm bell! “Michael” hastened off to explain to the staff that
he had accidentally caught at the rope, and luckily this sufficed to
satisfy everyone. As soon as all was quiet again he collected his
companions from the corners where they had hidden, and all proceeded
safely to the entrance, where the key was handed to “Michael” without
a question. They stepped out of the prison almost into the arms of an
officer; but he proved to be their comrade Ossìnsky, who had been
organising the affair, and who now conducted them to the river, where
a boat with provisions was ready for them. They travelled up the
Dnieper for a week, concealing themselves in the long rushes of the
bank if a steamer came in sight; and they finally reached Kremutshy,
where Ossìnsky furnished them with passports and money. “Michael” was
for long supposed by the Kiëv prison officials to have been made away
with by the escaping prisoners.—_Trans._
After the usual formalities I was led away to my cell, and as I passed
along the corridors I noticed that structural alterations had been made
everywhere. The cell in which I was installed was unusually large, and
was almost filled up by the wooden bedshelves; apparently it was
generally used for a large number of prisoners temporarily confined
there, and had now been assigned for my sole occupation, so that I might
not be left among the other convicts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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