The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-19

THE wAYpERINGs OF A YOUTH PROM TIL
HEART OF ASIA TO AMERICA.


THE wAxpERIyGs OF A YOUTH PROM TIE
HEART OF ASIA TO AMERICA.
HERALD
II IL not often that thoroughly interest
ing individual finds his way into news
paper Office. Odd characters there are
plenty and eccentrics without number, but
one whose experience Is truly unique ana
who fills up the glowing outlines OF one oil
! Ned BuntiDe's heroes rarely drifts INFO
newspaper Office. But there arrived I'D New
| York on Friday last, on the bark CornWai.
| lis. a youth named Alexander Grant, aged
| eighteen years, whose life and travels tnas
| far would fiji romance. While ne mas
been around the shoulders OF the earth. rs
Northern Siberia has been called, ana mas
tweed sailed the Western ocean, ne has
still found time for that education and
GOOD breeding which is the strikipgly lack
| ing characteristic Of youthful heroes gene
rally. He speaks, reads. and writes four
languages grammatically--to wit. German,
Russian, French, and English-and his
history, interviewer as it Is with the I'M
mortal story of the loss OF the Jeannette,
is worth relating.
AN EvENTFUL LIFE.
I'm 1864 Charles Mitchell Grant, an Eng
lisbman, settled in Irkutsk and established
courier route between Nrga, in Mongo-
liza, and Kiachta. In Siberia. Some years
later he undertook and built the first tee-
graph line from China to Irkutsk. He
married In Irkutsk Russian lady, and one
OF the results OF this union was the young
man who arrived here on the bark Corn
wallis on Friday. This youth, Alexander
Grant, was sent with his mother and his
two sisters in 1874 to London to be edu-
Gated. but his mother, finding that the
climate did not agree with her, departed
for her home In Irkutsk. In 1875 young
Grant, who had been left in England at
school, was summoned by bis mother to
81. Petersburg, where she informed him
his father was to join the whole family,
who would thenceforth reside in the capt.
tai. They all came together TO st. Peters
burg and awaited the father, who bad
written from California, where be had
been engaged for some time in mining.
But he never came, and it is believed be
died suddenly, as no word has since been
heard OF him.
The family became very poor. and finally
the Empress, hearing the story OF Mrs.
Grant, summoned her to an audience. 1t
was arranged that Mrs. Grant should re-
turn to Irkutsk and assume charge Of a
school there for the education
of orphan children. Here the whole fam.
lily remained until Lieutenant Danenhower
and the Jeanette party arrived from the
north after the wreck Of the Jeanette.
Lieutenant Danenhower, being without
an interpreter, hired young Grant In that
and as long as the party remained
l. alma xr~i%l la
Grant says he begged Lieutenant Danen-
hover 10 take him with him TO America,
but he said that Lieutensnt HARDER would
be coming later, and might need his SET
vices, and il he did he would no doubt
bring him with him to America.
BOUND TO AMERICA.
When Lieutenant HARDER arrived he had
with him an interpreter, and 80 young
Grants hopes were dashed. He had been
fired with the ambition, however, of com
ing TO America, and so he made up his
mind 10 come alone and without assist
ance. He secured an appointment as pas
senger from the Governor 10 90 with gold
caravan from Irkutsk 10 st. Petersburg.
At Tumen he fell in with Mr.. Atchi-
son, OF Dublin, Ireland, who took him
as IN interpreter TO st. Petersburg.
The English Consul at st. Petersburg,
Mr.. Mitchell, found him work at wine
merchants after he had spent some time
working in a foundry. When he had saved
a little money he made his way to Kron-
stadt and shipped in the brig Nellie Muir
ply as cabin boy. the ship being bound for
New York. She went TO Cape Breton for
orders and was sent TO New Brunswick for
orders, and so Grant went back to Liver
pool in his ship. From Liverpool he came
mere on the CORVALLIS and found his way
to the Herald office.
Young Grant came to look for work and
he intends TO make his home in America.
He understands bookkeeping and is quick
ut figures. He is something of & mechanic
and knows considerable about iron cast
ing.