ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT

After returning from the baptism, we celebrated the ordinance of humility, and were just preparing for the Lord’s supper when I was called to appear before a sheriff who was in the house of a Catholic near by. Bro. Perk went with me to act as interpreter. When we appeared before the sheriff, he at once demanded our passports, and then drew up a statement in which we were both accused of teaching Jewish heresy, and of having baptized two women into this faith. It also accused us of proselyting Russians. The Russian brother was then called in and examined. He testified that he had left the Greek Church eleven years before, and that he had kept the Sabbath for a year, also that I had not taught him at this meeting, for I understood no Russian, and he understood no German, and as there was no interpreter, there was no ground for the charge that I had been teaching Russians. Then the two sisters who had been baptized were called, and asked many questions as to why they were baptized, whether I persuaded them, and why their first baptism, when they were sprinkled, was not sufficient. The officer went so far as to make fun of them, when the husband of one of them reproved him, and told him kindly to mind his own business.HSFM 257.1

There were several Catholics present, also a Lutheran. These seemed to enjoy the whole proceeding, and at the close of the examination several signed a statement that I had baptized, though they openly confessed that they did not see me do it, and that they testified simply because of what we had said in regard to it. Finally the sheriff asked us to sign the statement which he had drawn up. This we refused to do, for we were not guilty of teaching Jewish heresy. He also asked the brethren to sign a statement that they would not work on Sunday. This, of course, they refused to do.HSFM 257.2

The people present declared that they had not called the sheriff, and when we asked him who our accusers were he said we would find out in Perekop. Two of our brethren then became responsible for our appearance at that place the next day, and we returned to the place of meeting, and proceeded with the ordinances, the peculiar circumstances of our situation forcibly reminding us of the time when they were instituted. All thought, however, that when we should appear before the judge in Perekop there would be little difficulty in proving our innocence and securing freedom.HSFM 257.3

On Sunday morning we had a short parting meeting, and then started for Perekop, little dreaming of what there awaited us. The many market wagons which we met, as well as the large market in the town of Arminsky, which was still in progress at 1 P. M., showed how little real regard the people have for the Sunday Sabbath; yet if a Sabbath-keeper works on that day they are very zealous in their interference. At Arminsky we consulted a lawyer, who told us that the charge of teaching Jewish heresy was a serious one, but that aside from this we had little to fear.HSFM 257.4

We arrived at Perekop about two o’clock in the afternoon, and presented ourselves without delay before the Isprafnik, the highest officer of the district, and delivered the sealed letter from the sheriff. At first he treated us kindly, but after reading the letter his countenance changed. He eyed us closely from head to foot, and angrily exclaimed, “We want no preachers in Russia.” We had been told that we would be tried at once, and still hoping that this would be the case, we cheerfully followed at his bidding. Leading us across the street to the court house, he remained only long enough to get a key, and then conducted us to a one-story building in the courtyard, directed us to enter one of the small rooms, quickly closed the door and turned the key, and for the first time in our lives we were in prison, and that, too, in Russia. I shall never forget the anxious face of the brother who brought us from Berdebulat, as he stood staring at us through the heavily barred windows. Then he hurried away, hardly daring to wait while we told him to write to Basle.HSFM 258.1

After our brother had left us, we began to examine our surroundings. A glance was sufficient. Our room was empty, and the floor was nothing but mother earth. After awhile two chairs were brought in, and a speedy trial was promised. We waited expectantly, not knowing as yet how little reliance is to be placed upon the word of a Russian official. Meanwhile we told our sorrow to Him whose ear is always open, and to whom we can have access even when shut away from the world and earthly friends.HSFM 258.2

Toward evening our door was opened, and two policemen bade us follow them. They led us through the town, and at the end of a ten minutes’ walk halted before a large white three-story building, surrounded by a high white wall, and situated at a little distance from the town. This was the prison for the district. We afterward learned that some of its inmates were waiting for trial, and some for banishment to Siberia. The policeman knocked at the gate, a bell was rung inside, then the heavy gate was opened, and we passed into the prison inclosure, which we were not to leave for forty days.HSFM 258.3

They led us in between the guards, and soon we were examined by the jailer and his clerk. First our money was taken and counted. Then watches, knives, pens, and pencils were given up, and the rough prison clothes were brought forward. These consisted of a linen shirt, pants of the same material, a gray mantle, and a pair of slippers. This clothing was not only rough and coarse, but it was thin, and altogether insufficient to keep us warm. We begged to retain our own clothing, and told the jailer that we would not forget any favor shown us. Seeing that we had a good supply of money, he granted this request, and also allowed our German Bibles to be returned to us.HSFM 258.4

Then we were led by a turnkey to the end of the long corridor on the second floor, and locked into a seven by twelve cell, whose only furniture was a wooden framework apparently intended for a bed, and water and slop buckets. A tallow candle was thrust through the hole in the door, and we were left to ourselves. Our hearts were full to overflowing, but we told our sorrows to the Lord, and soon found comfort and consolation from Him who was himself taken captive. We were weary and exhausted, and quickly prepared for rest, our boots and coats forming pillow, mattress, and cover. Soon we slept, hardly feeling the tiny wanderers that had discovered their new victims, and under the cover of night enjoyed their bloody meal. In the morning many red spots testified as to what company we had had during the night.HSFM 258.5

[Illustration] The Prison at Perekop.

Early the next day we were brought into an empty cell, and as we were permitted to purchase for ourselves different food from the prison fare, Bro. Perk ordered a loaf of white bread and a jar of milk. But the food tasted strange, and I could eat but little. After a while the Isprafnik was announced, but all the information we could obtain from him was that our cases were referred to the governor at Simferopol. In the afternoon we were permitted to go down to the office to write. On entering, we saw a prisoner standing in the corner. The jailer, who was scolding him, trembled for rage, and growing redder and redder walked up to the prisoner and struck him half a dozen blows in the face. The mouth of the prisoner began to bleed, but not daring to spit on the floor, he took off his slipper and used it for a spittoon. A strange feeling came over me, and with longing eyes I looked through the barred windows to the open fields where one might enjoy freedom, the precious boon for which I had been so little thankful until the present time.HSFM 259.1

After the jailer recovered from his anger, I was permitted to write a dispatch to Eld. Whitney, and letters to the American consuls at Odessa and St. Petersburg. The jailer tried in every way possible to discourage me about sending the dispatch. He said it would be very expensive, and that we should need all our money before we were released. This was quite significant, and not very comforting, for we had over one hundred dollars. He also informed us that everything we wrote would have to go to Simferopol, to be examined by the government officials before it could be sent to its destination. This was not very encouraging, considering the slowness of Russian mails, but I insisted upon sending the telegram and the letters. It was not until the fourth day of our imprisonment, however, that we succeeded in getting them started for Simferopol.HSFM 260.1

As it was hard to be always locked in our cells, Bro. Perk asked that we might have the same privilege as was granted to the thieves and murderers, that of having a little walk in the prison yard. We were finally granted this privilege for an hour each evening.HSFM 260.2

On Tuesday our brethren from Japontschi and Berdebulat came to see us. They brought two pillows and a few overcoats for our bed, and with considerable difficulty secured permission to talk with us for a few minutes, in the Russian language, and in the presence of the jailer: As they were not allowed to speak in German, Bro. Perk interpreted for me. They brought us some fruit, and assured us that they would do all in their power for our comfort, and to secure, if possible, our early release. Every Sunday except one during our imprisonment they came the long journey of thirty-five miles, bringing fruit and bread, and endeavoring each time to secure an interview with us. This was permitted but twice more during our imprisonment; but they continued to come, and it was something of an encouragement to see them on the prairie beyond the prison walls, and to know that they saw us peering anxiously out of the prison windows.HSFM 260.3

On the second day we had been taken to another cell, from the window of which we could see a part of the town, also the prison gate, and not far from the gate a well where the shepherds came to water their flocks, and where the strange-looking teams, consisting of two camels yoked to a huge wagon, sometimes stopped that the camels might drink. This little town, of about a thousand inhabitants, is situated on the neck of the Crimean peninsula, the isthmus at this place being not quite five miles wide. Looking westward, we could see the waters of the Black Sea.HSFM 260.4

As we became better acquainted, our doors were often left unlocked, so that we could walk in the corridor. We learned that the prison contained about thirty cells, and that there were at this time over eighty prisoners. There were only a few on the same floor with us, and all these were bound for Siberia. As all the prison officers told us that we would be sent to Siberia, we felt that our situation was a grave one.HSFM 260.5

The days passed slowly. Sabbath came, and I was forcibly reminded that I could not now preach the precious truths of the third angel’s message. Never before had I so fully realized what a blessed privilege it was to preach the gospel, and the thought that I might be forever deprived of this privilege seemed’ unbearable; but we sought the Lord in prayer, and the assurance came that he would not permit us to be dragged to a country where I did not know the language, and where we might be committed to a lifetime of slavery in the mines.HSFM 260.6

Sunday came, and the bells of the Greek church rang loudly to invite the people to worship; but the long train of market wagons showed what god was served by the majority. Our brethren came, and we were allowed to talk with them, the last time for many weeks. They had done all in their power for our relief, but had been harshly repulsed at every step.HSFM 261.1

As early as Sabbath we had begun to rejoice at the thought that by this time our dispatch must have reached Basle, and that our letters would soon be in the hands of the consuls at Odessa and St. Petersburg; but lo, on Tuesday morning we were called down to the office, and there were our letters and the dispatch. They had been examined at Simferopol, and returned to us, and we were now permitted to send them. This was the tenth day of our prison life, and as yet no news as to our arrest and imprisonment had reached our friends. Again we counted the hours till the message should arrive at Basle.HSFM 261.2

The next morning we saw the telegraph operator enter the prison. Probably he brought a dispatch for us, but no news came till evening, when we were called down to the office, and the following telegram was handed us: “Whitney in jail. Told police. Could not be found.” We saw that some miserable blunder had been made, and we learned afterward that my telegram, which read, “Whitney, Basle. In jail for Jewish heresy. Write to American Consul,” had been changed by the operator here so as to read, “Whitney in jail. Basle.” The police at Basle had made a faithful search, but they could not find Whitney in jail. Oh, how painful were all these delays and disappointments! The next day, however, we learned that my dispatch had at last been delivered to Eld. Whitney, who, thank the Lord, was not in jail, and who promptly did what he could for our relief, by laying the case before the American Minister at St. Petersburg.HSFM 261.3

During the following week we were told that we should be taken to Simferopol, and later that our case had been referred back to the authorities at Perekop.HSFM 261.4

On the second Sabbath the judge came and called me down to the office, where he began to question me through an interpreter about my history, my plans, and my reasons for coming to Russia. He wrote down my statements until noon, when he left, promising to return the next day. Sunday afternoon the judge came again, and questioned me closely about the baptism, why we “baptized again” those who had been sprinkled, how baptism was administered, and on what conditions a person was allowed to be baptized. Considerable time was spent in trying to make the judge, and the interpreter, who was a Catholic, understand what I meant by conversion or regeneration. Then they questioned me about the Sabbath, and finally about the organization of our denomination. Page after page was covered, for they questioned and wrote industriously for four hours.HSFM 261.5

At the close of the examination, the judge asked me if I would be satisfied to be released on bail for one thousand rubles. If so, he wished me to sign the statement he had drawn up. I did so, and gave him the names of seven witnesses who could testify as to the correctness of the statements I had made. He then called out Bro. Perk, and questioned him for half an hour, and then left, promising to see the witnesses soon, and then to admit the bail. For a time we had high hopes of a speedy release, but soon we learned that in some unaccountable way the judge’s statements regarding the bail were construed so as to apply only to the case of Bro. Perk, and that no security would be admitted in my case.HSFM 261.6

When the brethren heard that we might be released for a thousand rubles, they made a great effort to sell their crops and to raise the money. But on presenting it to the authorities, they were told that this bail would be accepted for Bro. Perk, but that I could not be released on bail. As they knew that I could not understand the Russian, they thought it best for Bro. Perk to remain with me. Thus they as well as we were learning more thoroughly the fact that there is no reliance to be placed upon the word of a Russian official. The very uncertainty of our situation increased their anxiety and added to our misery.HSFM 262.1

Sunday morning we had been moved to a room below, where we could walk in the yard every alternate two hours, but there were so many in this part of the prison, and the stench at times was so terrible, that we longed for our old room. We also found that our food, which we had tried to cover, was quickly overrun by large black beetles that were devouring it rapidly. So at our request we were moved upstairs again, and two days later we were put in another room with better accommodations. We had agreed to pay liberally for these favors, and for a long time they had been promised. The improvement consisted of two iron bedsteads with three narrow boards in the place of a mattress, and a little wooden stand. Simple as these accommodations were, they made our cell look more homelike, and we could keep down the insects better than while sleeping on the large wooden frames.HSFM 262.2

We now concluded to try prison fare, so as to save our money. This consisted of two and a half pounds a day of heavy black rye bread, and a dish of soup at noon. On Wednesdays and Fridays, which are the fast days of the Russian Church, it was noodle soup without meat, and on other days it was usually “borscht,” the national dish of the Russians. This is a sour vegetable soup with some meat in it. When well made it may be quite palatable, but our prison cooks put in half-peeled potatoes, and used meat which was far from being the nicest. As to quantity, we were not stinted; the soup was brought in a wooden tub of three or four gallons’ capacity, and there was usually twice as much as we wanted. In the morning and evening, by paying extra for it, we could get a little hot water to drink with our black bread.HSFM 262.3

Twice during our stay we were allowed to take a Russian bath in a bath-room adjoining the prison. The steam was produced by a large kettle kept constantly boiling. The last time I fainted after the bath, and was quite weak for several hours following.HSFM 262.4

On the 19th of August I received the following letter from the American Consul at Odessa: “Your letter, dated August 4, 1886, was received at this consulate to-day. I will do all that is within my power to secure an early trial. I regret very much that you should have brought yourself in conflict with the Russian authorities on a question of religion. It is a subject on which they are very sensitive, and had I seen you, and known that the object of your journey was of a semi-religious character, I would have warned you that the Russian authorities deal very severely with any effort of this nature. I have written to the governor of Simferopol, and also to the American Minister at St. Petersburg, asking that immediate attention be given to your case.HSFM 262.5

“T. F. Heenan.”

On the following day I received a number of letters which our brethren had brought for me. These had been taken by the jailer and forwarded to Simferopol, to be examined at the office of the Procuror. Strangely enough, they were returned to us without having been opened, and I was now allowed to receive them. The next Sunday our brethren failed to come as usual, and for many days we knew nothing as to what was going on in the outside world. At first I had been allowed to go from time to time to the office, and write in my day-book, but this was now forbidden.HSFM 263.1

After some days I received the following letter from the American Minister at St. Petersburg: “Sir: The Consul General of the United States at this place has handed me your letter to him, and also a letter from Mr. B. L. Whitney. I have written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, asking him to investigate your case, and to grant you quick relief. I fear that it will be found that the laws of Russia forbid any minister of a foreign denomination of Christians, from coming into Russia, and from teaching their distinctive views without special leave having been first granted therefor. I shall do all I can for your relief, but must say to you that the action of the foreign office is very slow.HSFM 263.2

“G. V. N. Lathrop.”HSFM 263.3

We afterward learned that Mr. Lathrop not only wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but, in order to hasten the matter, went personally to the Russian authorities, and told them that I was a Christian, and not a Jew. Had it not been for such kindness on his part, we might have remained a much longer time in prison.HSFM 263.4

Sabbath, the 28th of August, we spent in specially seeking the Lord by fasting and prayer. That evening we received cheering letters from home, and from Brn. White and Whitney. These letters the jailer was so kind as to hand direct to me without sending them to Simferopol.HSFM 263.5

On Monday the Isprafnik came as usual to visit the prison, and chanced to notice on the wall in our room a little writing. When we entered the prison, it happened that we each had a long pencil and a short one. The long pencils were taken from us, but as we were not obliged to change our clothing, the short pencils had remained in our vest pockets. As Bro. Perk had noticed many characters scratched upon the wall, most of them not very handsome, he thought it would be well to put on something of a different character, and with his pencil had written in Russian the first part of each of the ten commandments. When the Isprafnik noticed this, he said that it was forbidden to write anything upon the walls, and the jailer at once ordered the turnkey to take Bro. Perk to the “carcer,” or dark hole. The turnkey hastened to carry out the order, but while Bro. Perk was putting on his boots, the Isprafnik interfered, and a terrible Russian scolding was substituted.HSFM 263.6