The Portland daily press., 1864-09-27
Tuesday Morning, Sept ~, 1864.
Frozen to Death-An Incident Of the Rus

sim Steppes.
was at Sebastapol in the winter of 1861,
and having intensely cold weather / had pass
ed a good part of the time in shooting wild
turkeys, countless numbers of whom, half
starved and chilled with the frost, would alight
upon the hills OF Inkernan and Balaklava, and,
in their benumbed state, would fall an easy
prey to the marksman. It was during one of
these hunting excursions that came upon a,
sight which, after lapse of three years, con-
tinues to force itself on my memory, though
fain would forget.
had made my arrangements for trip up
the country, taking with me as game carrier
stout deaf and dumb gypsy lad, in whom felt
compassionate interest. During the morn
ing shot two turkeys, after which we set out
to return, anu, in the latter part of the fore
noon, we accidentally came upon spectacle
painfully tragic in its nature. Upon little
knoll before us, partially imbedded in the drift
ing snow, sat a stout Russian muiick of about
forty-fve years OF age, habited in the winter
garb of his class-a sheep-skin coat and cap
frozen as solid as marble statue. His head
resting upon his breast, the hands were folded
across gun lying on his knees, just ashe had
fallen into his fatal sleep. ET
His beard, lnoustaches and eyebrows were
white with frost, forming striking contrast
with his swarthy, weather beaten countcnance
/ approached him, gently removed his cap,
brushed the snow from his neck, then careful
ly replacing it, l set his gun up beside him,
and left him alone In the wild steppe, seated
upon his snowy pedestal, q speeches. human
Memnon. He was probably returning home
from an unsuccessful hunt and feeling weary
sat down to rest for awhile, and was perchance
thinking OF his wife and little ones, as the sub
tie influence of congelation crept through his
veins. The effect this sight produced upon
my dumb guide was painful to behold, his
howls and means were piteous to hear; tried
to quiet MIN, but he seemed impressed wi b
the idea that the cold corpse would follow us,
and not till we had placed several miles be-
tween us and the object of his dread did he re-
gain his wonted composure.
If this spectacle agitated my mind, we saw
one in the afternoon which filed me with
greater horror and chilled the blood in my
veins. We were walking rapidly along through
the snow, which was nearly ankle deep, keep
ing the lofty isolated peak of the Traektir-
Dagh upon our left, and the descending sun
upon our right, when / saw something in the
distance which resembled a vehicle. l had
been thinking all day we must be near some
of the cross roads between Bactchetara and
Alma, and this at once confirmed my conjec-
lures. Upon a,nearer approach saw it was
Tartar ARABIA, or diligence, its black tarpaul-
in covering torn and tapping in the wind. In
stantly thought ofwhat may have befallen the
occupants fitted across my mind, and walk
ed toward it with fearful forebodings. As we
drew nearer / saw there were no horses at
tached to it, and my mind became easier. but
all around, behind, before the level country,
presented surface of snow unbroken save by
our own footprints. No tracks led to or from
the vehicle, and it must have been there thir-
ty or forty hours. approached it from be-
hind, and passing along to the side curtain
tore 1t open. Horrors! 1t was filed with
icy corpses -Four human beings, stout, mid
dle-aged men, furred, whiskered and mus
tached, lay in an attitude of repose, their
limbs cold in death. Passing along to the,
forward end found the postillion Stretched
out upon his box, sleeping the sleep of eter-
nifty. My feelings at this time can better be
imagined than described alone on the desc
late steppe, with frightened dumb boy for
companion, surrounded by the congealed
dead weary, cold, hungry, an inclement night
approaching, my fate and the fate OF the boy
with ms, If we should become lost or bewild-
cred, Enthusiastically photographed before me-
But this did not deter me from investigating
this singular but painful sight. &7fss
Familiar with the different modes of steppe
travelling, could easily divine the cause of
this sad calamity. From their habiliments 1
Judged the occupants of the il-fated vehicle
TO be "a party OF Russian merchants on their
way to the South coast, who in crossing the
plains were overtaken by a snow-storm, and
as 1t often happens, the postillion lost his way,
and deeming it impracticable to proceed far
ther TIL daylight, unhitched the horses. Law
down TO pass the night and fell into a deadly
sleep; in the morning the horses became rest
less, and at length broke their fastenings and
fed. 31 g I1AAA .A
By way Of explanation, / will further add
that travellers, in journeying across the coun-
try in these covered wagons, invariably lay
In an inordinate supply OF their favorite corn
brandy, and pass the time while crossing
these monotonous ranches between villages in
teastlng, drinking. and having good time
generally. Whether this party was render
ed insensible to the frost and to their own
perllous condition by an undue quantity of
stimulus do not pretend to say; as we found
them, so we left them; left with no slight ap-
prehenso2 for our own safety. as.fa
LII was late in the evening when we arrived
at the door Of small cottage south OF the
Alma river. We entered without knocking.
our chilled and benumbed appearance Offering
client apologies for such precipitancy. A
motherly looking woman rose up to meet us
and was evidently surprised at seeing strang-
eIs she welcomed us to seats, saying she
'sthought it was her husband coming in, he
having been absent two days. He lett homt
two days before, taking his gun with him, ant
had not yet returned" BE rs @ @a
Quickly my thoughts withdrew back to tht
frozen body OF tbe dead hunter left behind il
the morning, lnwardly saying, "poor woman
your husband is dead" A casual description
she gave of him in the course OF the evening
confirmed my suspicious. Two little children
were sleeping in one corner, and with sorrow
lnl feelings gazed upon them, for knew
that was in the home of the widow and the
iatherless. In the morning / inquired of hel
to whom was indebted for such disinteresteC
hospitality; she replied, "Evan Yarkof wa:
her husbands name''
made memorandum of f. falling her q,
the same time that would inform the polict
ofSebastOpOl Of her condition. She Thanked
me, but said it would be useless. as the nolice
would never trouble themselves about Eva,
Yarkof, the shepherd Of Alma, unless guit1
of some misdemeanor.
We reached home that night, the gypsy lat
and myself, having travelled on foot over sixt
miles in four days. The next morning pre-
cured an interpreter, and repaired to the res
deDce of M. Delegarde, chief Of the police. q
him made known the discovery OF the dill
gence and its inanimate human freight. II
asked me several questions concerning the Il
cality, appearance &c. told him as near 8
could judge where it stood, described the d
yence and the occupants. He then replie
lat according to my report, the diligenc
INST have belonged to Simperopol, and wher
fond it was in the jurisdiction of Bacteh'
oara, and undoubtedly ere this had been dil
covehd and taken in. d ss hk aa6s r.
TIM informed him ofthe melancholy fat
No0