victs who had poisoned themselves. All were saved except Iván Kalúzhni [brother of the young girl who committed suicide on the 10th], and Sergéi Bobókhof, both of whom died on the morning of November 16th. It is said that, at first, the authorities lost their heads and became demoralized; but the governor of the Trans-Baikál soon took energetic measures to prevent the affair, as far as possible, from becoming known. He went to Kará him- self, as did also the territorial procureur and the colonel of gen- darmes; but what happened afterward I do not know.
I was unable to write you more promptly with regard to this affair on account of circumstances beyond my control.
With sincere respect, I am yours
Hope Sigída, the heroine of this terrible prison tragedy, was the daughter of a well-known merchant named Malak- siánof, who lived and was engaged in business in the city of Táganrog in European Russia. She was born there in the year 1864 and was therefore, at the time of her death, about twenty-five years of age. She received a good educa- tion, and was graduated from the women's gymnasium in Táganrog with the highest honors and the gold medal for the year. It was her intention to continue her studies in one of the high schools for women in St. Petersburg, but, soon after her graduation, her father failed in business, and she was forced to become a teacher in one of the public schools in order to help to support her family. In 1884 she was married to Mr. A.S. Sigída, an officer of the Táganrog Circuit Court. Both she and her husband were revolution- ists, and in 1885 they, with a number of others, established in Táganrog a secret printing-office, devoted to the dissemina- tion of revolutionary ideas. On the 23d of January, 1886, this printing-establishment was discovered and captured by the police, and Madam Sigída, with many others, was arrested and thrown into prison. She was held in solitary confinement from January, 1886, to October, 1887 — almost two years — and was then tried, found guilty, and sentenced to a long term of penal servitude at the mines of Kará.
