A RUSSIAN PRISON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9303, 1 August 1908, Page 2

A RUSSIAN PRISON.

Wliat It Is Boally Xa&e.

(By B. W. NORREGAARD, in. the "Daily Mail.")

Every now and again one hears reports of the terrible conditions prevalent in the Russian prisons — the damp, filthy, overcrowded cells; the coarso, disgusting food; the harsh, cruel treatment of the hapless prisoners. Quito lately a tale of the sufferings of the political prisoners in the fortress of Schlusselburg was unfolded. Chained hands and feet day and night, fed only on black bread and water, mercilessly beaten with the knout for the slightest, offence, men and women huddled together in damp dene — such was the picture presented to an indignant world. It is perhaps only natural that in the fancy of men Schlusselburg is particularly singled out as «a place of horrors. There is something in the words "island prison " that involuntarily carries one's imagination back to that other island made famous by the stirring tale of Dumas, Monte Cristo's prison on the Chateau d'lf in the harbour of Marseilles — with the additional terror of the icy northerly gales from over the bleak waters of the Ladoga instead of the blue, dancing waves and the mild breezes of the Mediterranean. Frankly, when from the deck of the steamer taking me to Schlusselburg 1 espied the old walls aud the low, round watchtowers of the river-encircle ed fortress, the memory of a visit to Chateau d'lf, creeping through subterranean passages from one terrible, dark, damp dungeon, cut in the solid rock, to another, rose before my mind with vivid clearness. MEMORIES OF FAI/LElf GRANDEES. The fortress, rich in memories of hard-fought battles between the Russians and the Swedes, has served as a prison for many a fallen grandee. Here the wonderful adventurer and statesman Biron was imprisoned after the death of bis patroness, Empress Anna. Here the favourite of Peter, Menshikoff, and the pretender, Johan Antonovitch, spent years of their lives. The large room where Biron was kept imprisoned is still to be seen. 1 had obtained the permission of the President of tho Board of Prisons to visit Schlusselburg, and see with my own eyes what foundations there might be for the allegations that have been made. He would have preferred me to go later in the summer. "We are building new prisons there," ho said. "We have not more than fifty-six prisoners there at present, but, even so, we have had in some instances to put two in one cell. In the autumn we will have room for about four hundred, and next year we will be able to accommodate nearly a thousand. " Tho question of housing the immense, ever-growing number of criminals is a most difficult and most pressing one. There are at present nearly 170,000 prisoners in Russia, and we have, properly speaking, only room for 100,000. This, as you will understand, is as unsatisfactory for ourselves as for. the prisoners. "We are constantly asking for money for the construction of new prisons, but, as you know, money is not very plentiful in Russia just at present. However, there is every probability that the necessary means will be granted by the Duma." I went through the whole fortress. I visited the present prison, went into many of the cells, being allowed to point out those which I wanted to see. BOW reUBONERS ABB TREATED. I spoke to many of the prisoners, learnt of their occupation and their prison routine. I visited the kitchen, tho bath-rooms, the workrooms, the

punitive cells. I tasted the food. Then I went through the new buildings, which were nearly completed.

I can sum up my impressions iw a few words. The prisoners in Schlusselburg are in every way better off than their confreres in similar institutions in England. The prisoners are treated more leniently, they have greater liberties, they are as well or better housed, their food is as nourishing and palatable, the care of their personal cleanliness is greater.

The excellently ventilated cells are 7£ft by 12ft and 12ft under the ceiling. The air in them is fresh and pure. They are heated by hot-water radiators, and abundantly lighted through a large window. After dark they are lighted by an electric green-shaded lamp, which the prisoner may place on his table or in some corner.

A prisoner here is given two pounds of black bread daily, of the kind used by practically all Russians. Three times a day he receives a big kettle of boiling water. The prison does not supply him with tea, coffee, or cocoa, but he may buy these things for himself.

At noon he has a hot meal, consisting generally of a large bowl of soup with a piece of meat and some vegetables in, and a large dish of "kasha," a kind of porridge much favoured by all Russians. I went to the kitchen, which, with its majolica-covered floor, its large stove, and the beautiful copper pans, would do credit to any restaurant. I tasted the "shtohi" (meat soup) and the kasha, both rather better than what is given to the soldiers of the Imperial Guard.

In the kitchen, as everywhere, the most scrupulous cleanliness is maintained. For their daily ablutions { the prisoners in their cells have a basin and a tap, and once a week they are given a steam-bath in a large, wellequipped bathroom. The prisoners are allowed to smoke in their cells; of course, they have to buy their cigarettes themselves. Twice a month they may receive visits from their nearest relations — of course, under supervision, and generally through grilled screens. There is a very good library, from which tney may borrow three books at a time. Of course, there are no novels, but scientific books in every branch of science, books of travel, history and geography, iney may write aud receive letters — of course, after being read afd stamped by the chief of the prison. People who have learnt some handicraft may work in their profession. I saw some beautiful work being done by carpenters and cabinetmakers, but the dearth of space makes it for the present impossible for more than a few to be occupied in this. way. It will be better in the new prison. The prisoners are given three-quar-ters of an hour exercise in the open air daily, six at a time. They walk about in couples, and are allowed to ' converse together, the warders keeping at some distance. Their beds are provided with hair mattresses, whitecased pillows and a blanket, and if they like they may Ho down for a couple of hours after dinner. Frankly, where in the world are prisoners, even political prisoners, better i treated? It must be remembered that these men are not theoretical politicians or dreamers. Meet of them have taken part in armed insurrections (Sebastopol, the Baltics) ; two of them have accomplished political murders; several were caught red-handed manufacturing bombs. The majority of them are uneducated men, sailors or farmers. All I saw looked well fed, clear-eyed, hale and healthy. I was much struck with the confident and pleasant way in which they greeted and conversed with the inspector. Every one of them was asked if he had anything to complain of or if there was anything he wished. One man asked to have a certain book purchased for him, all the others answered in the negative. PRISON PUNISH JIENTS. According to the prison regulations every man sentenced 'to more than eight years' penal servitude during the first two years is chained on nis feet, exceptions being made of men of weaker health. The chains, polished like silver, are not heavy and do not trail, being lifted up in the middle and fixed to a strap hanging from a belt round their waists. Punishments are of rare occurrence. For minor offences the prisoners are for some days deprived of hooks and writing materials, they are refused permission to smoke, or disallowed visits from their relatives. For more serious offences they are placed in punitive cells which are lighted only by electricity day and nignt, where the bed is a wooden pallet, and their food^is bread and water, with, however, a hot meal every fourth day. Only once has a prisoner received corporal punishment— not by the knout, but b^ f the birch. A dangerous

and violent Anarchist tried to assault the president of tho iJoard of Prisons visiting his cell. I have set . down what I have seen with my own eyes. It is possible, even probable, that the conditions in other prisons, particularly in the provinces, are not on a level with those in Schlueselburg. It is certain that many abuses ta place — the further away from the capital the worse they seem to be. But comparing the real, conditions in Schfusselburg with the fancy pictures of the place, I am inclined to believe that even in the provincial prisons matters are not nearly as bad as generally represented. ■