Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1908 — SENT TO SIBEMRIA; MAKES HIS ESCAPE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SENT TO SIBEMRIA; MAKES HIS ESCAPE

SWISS PROFESSOR, SENTENCED FOR LIFE, MAKEB BOLD DASH FOR LIBERTY. UNDERGOES MANY PRIVATIONS Arrested by Russian Officials as a Revolutionist—Tells Story of How He Preferred Death to a I Living Tomb. Geneva.—An exciting ‘ and remarkable story of escape from Siberia Is re- ! lated by M. Maurice Gehri, a Swiss professor who unexpectedly returned to the homer of his parents at Morges, j in the canton of Vans, a few days ago, after a series of thrilling experiences. M. Gehri' was born at Morges on April 11, 1885, and after a brilliani school and university career he decided to become a schoolmaster and accepted a post as professor of French at the Gymnase de Gitomir, in the government of Volhynia. He took up his duties in the spring of 1905, and began to study the political problems of Russia with enthusiasm. The sym-1 pathy he felt with those who were trying their utmost to bring about reforms of the laws and to alleviate the conditions under which the vast majority of the people lived soon attracted the attention of the authorities to the young Swiss master. He was in sympathy with the efforts of the reformers, and as the son of a free country, in which it is no crime to speak openly, he did not hesitate to express his opinions. His clearly defined views roused the suspicions of the police. He was closely watched and on August 28, 1906 (old style), he was arrested as a revolutionist. Political offenders in Russia have little chance of obtaining a hearing—much less of obtaining justice—and on April 4, 1907, after a trial whicih was a mere mockery, he was sentenced to transportation for life. On August 3 he set out for Siberia with a band of other prisoners. The prisoners were carried by train as far as Krasnoyarsk, in the basin of the Yenlsee, where they detrained in order to complete the journey by road on foot. Day after day they tramped on, weary and footsore, but as they advanced fur-

ther and further from civilization the guards, sullen and relentless as they were, became less Careful in their supervision and less strict Doubtless they thought that escape was impossible—and Indeed the majority of the prisoners, despondent and In despair, had no heart to make an attempt But while most of the others were resigned to their fate, M. Oehrl was keenly alive to everything that was taking place. He saw that the laxity of the guards made an attempt to escape possible and he resolved to watch for and to seise the first favorable opportunity. Sucoees meant life and liberty, instead of a living tomb; failure would not make his position much worse. And If he happened to be killed while making the attemptwell, his troubles would be over. The opportunity came on September 17, when they were about 'half way between Krasnoyarsk and their destlnatlon, the penal settlement, and M. Oehrl and two others, to whom he had confided bis Intention, seised It with both hands. While the guards were drinking the three men orept oat into fee darkness, determined to make a bold dash for liberty, although they bad very little, if any, idea of fed direction they should take. And la order to make pursuit difficult they separate ed almost at ones. , . After may adventures, M. Oehrl reached Vladivostok, and finally Japan, whence he telegraphed for money to pay his passage home to SwlUeri&nd. Ho aet sail on November lb on board the Mass eyeries Marltimes liner Toskla, and arrived home a few days ago safe end sound, and not mwob upset by the terrible experiences he had bad. His return was quite unexpected end when he reached koine his parents were wondering when. If ever, they would see him again.

The Dash for Liberty.