THE RUSSIAN NIHILISTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 177, 20 September 1879, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN NIHILISTS.

A London cable despatch to the “New York Herald,” dated March 31 s’, says : —The revolutionary movement in Russia assumes more importance with every despatch that comes to hand. It is rarely indeed that St. Petersburg!! correspondents are permitted, by the authorities to forward telegrams relating to the present Socialistic troubles, and even letters are subject to rigid scrutiny. This morning, however,the ‘ Daily Telegraph’ has a despatch from its St. Petersburg correspondent, giving some slight details respecting the arrests that have been made in consequence of the attempted assassination of General Yon Drentelin, the chief of the Gendalmerie, on the afternoon of the 25th of March. General Yon Drentelin, as you will remember, was riding along the Neva Quay when he was fired at by a man on horseback, but escaped. It now appears, according to the telegram of this morning, that no less than forty persons were arrested on the night after the attempt. Among those arrested were some of such exalted rank, that they were not sent to the common prisons, including officers of the guard, court chamberlains, and two daughters of a prominent Minister. The greatest excitement prevails among all classes of the population' of the capital. The Government itself is alarmed at the spread of the revolutionary movement, and especially at finding persons in the highest position in active, sympathy with the move raent. The alarm has so far been productive of good, that a committee has been appointed to inquire nto the causes of the deaths of 200 out of the 500 inmates of the Charkofi Central prison within four months. The prison ha« been filled with people suspected of belonging to the revolutionary movement. The recent proclamation issued by the Russian Socialist revolutionary organisation gives, it will be remembered, a catalogue of the cruelties which Prince Krapotkin permitted to bo carrried out cm the persons of the prisoners by one of the gaolers. “ After the invalid prisoner Piotonkoff had been put in chains, the prisoners transmitted to Prince Krapotkin a memorial in which the revolting cruelty of the chief gaoler was set forth—how be had deprived i prisoners of the privilege of obtaining food from outside, had refused them time to take exercise, had put chains on the sick prisoners, had abolished extra rations, and had caused the openings over the cell doors to be boarded up, to the exclusion of ventilation.” And then to punish the prisoners for sending in their complaints, and for “insulting the gaoler,” Prince Krapotkin had some of the refractory put for three days in the black boles, and others put in irons.