He had a
life sentence in Eastern Siberia and he escaped from there and got to
America. For some time none of us knew exactly where he was, and then
we heard rumours that he was dangerously ill at Geneva. Then came news
of his death and his funeral in Paris. His friends had decided to
bring the body there, so that all the comrades might be present, for
there are many anarchists in Paris. They gave him a guard of honour of
Russian students, men and women surrounding the coffin with linked
hands, and there were hundreds of red roses and red carnations, though
it was in the winter--there had been snow on the ground a few days
before. There was a crown of thorns from those who had been his
companions in prison, and the canopy of the hearse was a red flag. If
only I could have been there to do him homage!
"There are all sorts of wild stories about his escape from Siberia. I
suppose he bewitched the jailers as he bewitched other men. He was the
first man I ever heard speak about the Cause. He came to Vienna and
held meetings for the propaganda and collected enormous crowds.
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