A NIHILIST'S ESCAPE. FLIGHT FROM SIBERIA,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13997, 2 September 1907, Page 7

A NIHILIST'S ESCAPE. FLIGHT FROM SIBERIA,

Xarpowtoh, tlio nihilist who assassinated General Bogalicff in fit. Petersburg, and 110.1 sentenced to perpetual hard labour in Siborio, has escaped, and is now in London.

is.ai'poviteh, as a member of tho nihilist fighting organisation,' was chosen to" QJ3&l6* sinalo General Bogalitif. and fulfilled his mission at tho end of January by shooting the general in tho street. In tho cdureo of his long trial in February, tie proceedings of which Were kept secret, tho nihilist organisation served tho judges with death sentences, threatened to carry out should their oomradc bo convicted. Terrorised in this maimer,..the judges did not condemn tho mltn to death, eeiitciiciiig him to life long exile. This, however, did not satisfy tho Terrorists, who, true to their word, havo up to (ho presoilt moment' ulroady shot two of the three judges, ih 'March Karpovitoh waa sent to Siberia, and from of his doparturo plans wcro in operation to ncaufo his freedom, and on April 12 lie tnado a daring escape. Tho escaped convict is described, as a middle-sized, stoutly-built youhg fellow, with a ma«a of curly, hair, who. bears tho appearauco of' an Intelligent working nian. Aii livening News representative, who secured an interview with him, says Karpovitcili .woro a red jersey, with red tassels hanging .down on tho left side, while frohi a side pocket there dangled a ■ poouliar wateh-ehaiii made of revolver 'bullets joined together \vitli silver wires. CRIME SOUVUNIIi. This curious chain ICarpovitch described as a "very dear souvenir,", and thus explained it: "It is mado of tho bullets which I had on mo when I shot Bogalieff, aud destined either for him or for his suite. Unfortunately I could not firo them all. j\iy friends got hold of them, and after my escape tlioy presented mo with this chain in token of gratitude for jny Work. Tho chain, by tho way,, was made by a friend who iio3 since been shot." Describing his escape, Karpovitoh said:— "When I: was sent out- to Siberia tl'.ero were, unknown to tho authorities, five other members of my party in tho coiu'oy of prisoners. At the same timo a number of free moll followed us front station to station in order to assist nto in my flight. Wo arrived close to the town A r erchneitdinsk, in Knstorn Siberia, where We. wore informed that I should bo sent to tiic desolate district of J3orgusin. from which an escapo would havo boon almost impossible. "It was arranged that I should simulate illncs-". in order to be allowe<l to travel on a cart instead of walking, and at an ap-piint-rd spot 011 1 forest road otir comrtdes v:ho had followed 11s from Russia- whnld bo waiting with, another carriage to take mo ofV. But- although I sinnilatcd illness the officer of tho escort would not allow me to travel ill tho van, So I took a ftronsr 1 elrtetic, the effcct-; at'which assured him of the precarious condition of iny health, and I obtained permission to drive. "Wo readied (lie forest, and when we had arrived at the prearranged spot the driver ma prevailed upon to inspect tho horse 1 !! fret. While tjorafr so he was overpowered. I jumped into another carriage, an l was driven post, hasle into YerclineuilinsV, vJiere I look a train to Yladivftrfoelc, and if-oertt'cd tn Tokio without the sllghlt-fit. dilTiciiltv. M " e'ire I eam» lo England, and lifre I si' ' hide m.vflelf as best 1 can from Iho pre?. - , ing agents." THE CHINKS!'; AT HOME. INCIDENTS IN Tlffi .TOURNHY OP A LEGATION OFFICIAL, A Foreign Office White of more than usual 'interest' has just been issued. In it Mr' W. J. Cfdinett, third secretary to the Legation nt- Peking, describes a journey ho mado in September aaul October last through tho urovlnccs of Shan-tung and KiangSu. Among tho objects which Mr (Jarnctt had 111 view was to examine disturbances in the near futuro in Shantung, the home of Boxcrism. At Oliefoo Mr Oarnett visited a wincriakiii'j! establishment- which lias been at. work for 10 years, though none of the wine is to lie put on tlio market (or another two years. i Ho describes the wines, both r&! and white, as excellent, so that Chinese wines would seem to be a possibility of the near future.

The Chinese dread of " losing face" was illustrated by an incident- in a village. Tlio innkeeper had prepared tea for tho travellers, and wanted their bay to offer it to them. The boy replied that they did not drink it in tho middle of the day, ami the in'cccper still insisting, the hoy replied, "Well, you may offer it yourself, but 1 tell von that these foreigners don't drink it, and if they refuse it you will loso face."' The tea was not ottered.

In o:ie district Mr tiarnott found a great deal nf opium sinokod, and he asked what offcot the recent Imperial edict would have on the custom. Ho was told that the edict would probably bo as little regarded as that relating to tho women squeezing thoir ft'.ot. This edict Was placarded at tho Yumcn, but tho people said, "When tlio jpancjiriji's wife and daughters cease to

bind their feet wo will follow their example," and so far that example has not boon 6ot them.

Mr Gnrnctt says that the attitude of tho inhabitants was friendly throughout tho wholo trip. The women wore . frightened of foreigners, and ho describes as "almorf udicrous" the anxioty of 6omo trying to hop along quickly on their tiny feet, anil to get into, some placc of safety as lie and his companions passed down the street. Nearly every villago possesses on inn, tho only difference betweon them being: tho varying amount of discomfort the traveller has to endure. Tho walls <ito usually of mud bricks, sometimes partially covered with paper as filthy as that which acts as windows, and' bearing a/few red-paper Chineso characters, expressing' "Happiness" and similar good wishes. Tho walls do not always touch the ceiling, and tho door frequently ends a fool, from the floor, so that the traveller may in tho morning find lie lias had visitors in tile shapo of eats, dogs, chickens, and evon pijjs. Mr Garnet t. has a good Word to say for the missionaries, singling out for special praiso ilioso of tho English BapLiai MisHo quotes as an example of tho erase ignorance of the Chinese of even high class tile remark of an important official "j 1 , seo ", | 8 _ "China." on tho missionaries' globe: Have you made China so small on tho globe oil purpose to insult, us?" Apparently Mr Garnet!, suffered much from f no natural or acquired' stupidity of tlio inhabitants. Here is an example: "I asked an ancient villager at tho entrance to his village what the name of it. was. After many questions and replies as to who T was, where I had come from, where I was gome to, and why I wanted an inn. I repeated the original question as to the name of the village, when ho replied: 'How should I know? I am not a learned man.'"

The outlook for the province of Shau-tung is black. Fa mi no is fhreatened, and there is in consemiencc much disorder. Already, it is said, tho mothers are drowning their children in the canal to save them from a more cruel death.

Mr fiarnotl s report, interesting throughout. does not seem fo indicate the'possibility of a revival of Boxerisin.