PRISONED PRINCESS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14703, 2 June 1920, Page 7

PRISONED PRINCESS.

lUiJIVL/JLU/ 111 VIW »» JL/JJI7 V-'J-JUU. | (By E. R. Peacock.) j

YEAR QF HORRORS. HERDED IN CROWDED CELL.

"Is that you, Auntie? 1 ' was the exclamation of a young Polish officer as he rushed- into a prison in Vilno to liberate the Bolshevik victims. The "Auntie*' was Princess Gruzinska, who had adopted the young officer when a l>oy and brought him up in her own home. The story she told me is a tragic one, as the release was dramatic: Early last year the Bolsheviks in their attempt to invade Europe succeeded in capturing the city of Vilno. Many of the well-to-do residents went away, but a young priest together with the princess remained to work among the people of the city and combat the efforts of the Bolsheviks to win the people over to their views, which was as much to destroy religious faith and life as it was to capture civil power. The priest got some placards printed in flaming red color, "Christian Workmen Unite." He formed a body called "St. C'assimir's League." and held meetings in the principal church. The league rapidly grew to some 11,000 members. The Bolsheviks regarded the movement as dangerous, and sent delegates to the priest to try to win' him over by promises and threats. Failing in these attempts they accused him of being a spy and his removal was ordered. ~ ' The workmen stood by hirii as a guard, and threatened reprisals if the , priest were interfered with. He remained in the church with more than 2000 jof his followers for two days and two nights. After three conferences had been held, the Bolsheviks fired on the crowd, and succeeded 111 taking both the priest and the princess prisoners. The priest was taken to Minsk, where he was confined in gaol for more than nine months. The princess was shut up in the common prison in Vilno, where her experiences wore-horrible in the extreme. She was put into one of the worst cells, a room of some 12ft square, with a lot of other prisoners, mostly of the criminal class, no discrimination being shown by the' authorities, although the princess pays a fine tribute to the sympathv and kindness of her fellow-pri-soners <?vcn of the worst description. Their common sufferings made_ them forget their other differences. No beds were provided. The place was innocent- of any sanitary accommodat : cn. All slept on the iloor. Vermin of every description abounded, until she was almost eateii alive. The food supplied was disgusting .the soup often having dead mice floating in it. Food sent to her from home was stolen bv the officials. Typhoid broke out. and four prisoners died of the disease, and the mattresses on which they died were given to other prisoners to sleep on. , \ , She was told, sbf* was to bo sltofc. mid priests came to effer her stjiritual consolation. She expected the sentence to be carried on*, every day for thre? weeks. She was allowed ten niinute.> j exercise walk in tbe prison yard twice a week. On one of these occasions as She passed a door a man thrust a piece of paper into her hand on which was written, "You won't be shot, because we-have threatened pogroms on the Bolshevik leaders if they shoot you." Finallv, after about three months' incarceration. continuous firing was heard. The Poles were approaching, and prisoners were being got rid of before the town was taken. The Poles secured some hostages, which che«ked the wholesale executions which were going on. On Easter Sunday morning the crv wa« heard, "The Poles are in Vilno. The prisoners got up and sang the beautiful Easter liymn, "Jesus Christ is risen to-day.' There was firing and fighting actual- ' Iv in the prison, and then the doors were thrown ODen and the young officer rushed in with his exclamation. "Is that von. Auntie?" Tho princess fainted. and was carried- out. It took her many weeks to get rid of the foul effects of her incarceration, as well as to recover from the nervous strain and physical suffering she enidured. The princess is a very charming and mltured lady. She is now professor of English and German at the University of Vilno. and devotes much of her time to the sociol and religious welfare of the people of her city. - ' Her last remark .to me " as '''^pr a religion "makes friends of *lj._ vism takes awfry nil region, *.*! makes enemies of . nil. a fanatical anti r rehp.>ons crnsade, jus^ - as soine barbaric relijnons prpduced fanaticism-' with the* ™ OTBt forms .of, persecution, and I