OUR RELEASE
On the 5th of September the Isprafnik gave us the first encouragement that I also might be released under bail, and again our brethren were permitted to talk with us a few moments. On the 8th it was announced that the Procuror, who is the highest law officer of the government, would visit the prison. Consequently everything that had the appearance of comfort had to be taken from our cell. Nothing but the bare bedsteads were left, and we had to exchange our coats for the prisoner’s mantle. Soon this dreaded dignitary came, and to our great joy announced that the judge would set us free the next day, and tell us the conditions of our freedom. Shortly the jailer came and told us that, if liberated, we would not be allowed to receive our passports. The next morning we peered anxiously out of the corridor window to see the judge approach. He came in the afternoon, and several prisoners were set at liberty, but our door was locked, a thing which was now quite unusual.HSFM 263.7
When we were released for the usual evening walk, we again paced back and forth over the rough pavement, wondering what new surprise they had in store for us. In no other country have we seen drunkenness so common as in Russia. It is no strange sight to see men lie on the street so drunk that they cannot move. It seemed strange that the great number of men in this condition were regarded with such indifference. But then, whisky is regarded as a holy water, and men cross themselves before putting the bottle to their lips. As we passed the jailer’s house, we could see and hear several men drinking and carousing. The jailer came out, so drunk he could hardly walk, and told us it would be several days before we could be set at liberty, but that if I would give him something, he would secure me my passport. Another man came out, more intoxicated than the jailer, and poured upon us a shower of curses.HSFM 264.1
The judge, who was a little more sober than the others, then came and for the first time gave us the assurance that we should not only be freed the next morning, but that we should have our passports. Our friends in America seem to have known for two weeks that our release had been secured through the intervention of the American Minister, but we were left in the greatest uncertainty as long as it was possible for them to keep the truth from us. How slowly this last night passed away.HSFM 264.2
Early in the morning we were called to the office, and a whole package of letters was handed to me,-letters that I had written, and that I supposed had been forwarded to my friends. Among them was a postal card to my wife, which the jailer had especially promised to forward without delay. Oh, what cruelty! Thirty days had passed, and not one line had been allowed to go to my wife or friends.HSFM 264.3
About seven o’clock we again passed through the main doorway, and were outside the prison walls. Oh, how sweet and precious the liberty seemed! But lo, the turnkey was with us yet, and no passports were in our hands. We were marched over to the office of the judge, where I had to designate some place in Russia as my residence, with the understanding that I would notify them when I was to leave.HSFM 264.4
The judge said that the trial might be in three, six, or twelve months, or not at all, but he granted me liberty to leave Russia whenever I chose. They demanded a Russian copy of my passport. So I translated it into German, and Bro. Perk translated it from German into Russian, while he wrote out an exact copy.HSFM 264.5
The judge then returned our passports, and told us to hurry to Aibar, as our brethren from Japontschi had been called to appear there that day. He also instructed us to notify the brethren in Berdebulat that they need not appear the next day as had been appointed. From this we concluded that our release had been ordered by the higher authorities; for no one but the two sisters who were baptized had had a hearing, and the investigation of our case seemed to have but just begun. The whole management of our case was characteristic of the Russian manner of treating persons accused of any misdemeanor.HSFM 265.1
From the judge’s office we returned to the prison, got our money and clothing, paid what we had promised for the scanty favors we had received, telegraphed the news of our release to the friends in Basle, and hiring the best rig we could find, an old one-horse lumber wagon, we went on our way rejoicing, twenty-five miles to Berdebulat, where our brethren were.HSFM 265.2