Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-30
THE SURVIVORS OF THE JEN-
NETTE.
Their Probable Homeward Route
A Pleasure "trip Through Fine
Country.

Mr.. Perry NJ. d. Collins, who Is now
In New York. had a contract with the
Russian Government in the year 1855
for building a telegraph line into and
through Siberia, down the AmoOr river.
to the eastern coast, which was after
wards transferred to the Western Union
Company, but the line was constructed
| under his direction and that Of Mr..
Kennan, whose letter to the Secretary of
the Navy has lately been published. In
the course of his explorations he has be-
come familiar with the country, so that
his observations regarding the probable
condition of the Jeannette's crew are of
interest Mr.. Collins said that
he had little to add to what Mr.. KEENAN,
had already said, but that he is quite
confident that the missing boat viii be
found, and that the hardships of all the
survivors are ended.
II am sure, he said, 'that they are
now enjoying every comfort and every
luxury of civilized life. The mere fact
that they are shipwfecked seamen would
guarantee it. Besides they are Ameri-
cans Moreover, they are naval men.
Rest assured that the Russian Govern
ment and people will do their utmost in
their behalf. As to their journey home
ward, the best route is by way Of Mos
cow. They will undoubtedly take that.
So far from its being one of difficulty or
discomfort, it is one of absolute pleas
ure. never enjoyed anything more in
my life than my sledge ride from Irkutsk
to Moscow. The distance is about $500
miles, and / was twenty.sev days on
the journey. That was about 130 miles
per day. Talk of sleigh ride in Central
Park alongside of a sleigh ride like thatl
Thermometer? Why, sometimes the
mercury was forty degrees below zero.
but the air was still and dry | was
wrapped up in furs | had three, four.
five and sometimes six horses to nv
sledge, scampering to the music of bells
over the seemingly boundless plains and
through the dense forests. Almost everV
night | was quartered at some noble
mans or gentleman's house in the towns
or in the country, where the most pro-
fuse hospitality was extended TO me. for
| was under government conduct. as
these men will be.
Being asked about the likelihood of
Capt. Berry of the Rodgers getting in
formation of the loss of the Jeanette
and the safety of her crew, Mr. Collins
said:
He has heard all about it LONG ago.
There is an extensive trade all along the
coast in summer carried on in boats, and
in winter on sledges all the way to Behr-
iDg's straits. am sure that Captain De
Long and Captain Berry have been in
communication with each other, and
unless the latter has some further orders
to hunt up that valuable North Pole SO
that another expedition will be sent to
find him, he will get back to San Fran
cisco as soon as the breaking up of the
ice will allow him to get through
the straits. don't see any good
that will come out of this whole
thing excepting that our people NAV
learn something about Siberia. don't
believe there are ten men in the United
States that know anything about it.
Why, sir, it is one of the finest countries
in the world. The summers are short.
it is true, but you can almost see things
grow-and they do grow away up to
nearly seventy degrees-wheat, barley.
rye, buckwheat, oats, and everything
else in the greatest abundance. There is
territory far larger than ours, with six
millions of inhabitants, a territory
abounding in cereals, minerals. cattle
and sheep, and yet most people think it
is prison or skating park.