A ALIEN HORROR

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11686, 22 June 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

A ALIEN HORROR

CONVICTS FLOGGED AND SHOT. Piuvatk intelligence from Saghalien, partly confirmed in the official Amur Viedomosti, pictures the state of tilings in the convict island. The authorities, finding that the convicts did not produce as much work as is desired, ordered them to labour on Sundays and other Church holy days. The prisoners by mutual consent revolted. The prison chief then resolved to have all the convicts flogged, there being about 100 of them, including women. The prisoners were led out into the yard, there to wait half-frozen, half-frightened to death, for the arrival of the executioner. At last the gates opened to let in a. cart laden with birch and other rods. Shrieks and groans resounded from amongst the prisoners. The soldiers and warders, with loaded weapons, stood watching them, and waiting for the appearance of Hie prison chief to give the order for the commencement of the execution. When he came into the yard (.he convict Sokolenko made a sudden rush towards him, loudly swearing and creating it commotion among the prisoners and guards alike. The prison chief at once discharged his pistol at Sokolenko, who fell on the snot. In the melee that followed more convicts were shot and wounded, others were stabbed. How many victims of that tragedy there were is still a secret, the affair being now in the hands of the local police.