Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-18
FOREIGN NEWS.
RICAI.TON'S LONG TRAMP.
Carrying a House Through Russian
"iids--The Wandering Pedasosue
Meets His Pupils at the Old stand.
ST. PETERSBURG, Sent. IL

ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. IL.
James Ricslton, the explorer. who started
on tramp across desolate Russia with a
house on wheels, in May last, is not dead or
lost as reported in yesterdays dispatches.
he was not eaten by the wolves or murdered
by the Russians. He is very much alive.
but he has had an experience which is re.
markable
Mr. Ricalton is a pedagogue and was
found Wednesday afternoon in the midst of
his pupils in the little school house at South
Orange, n. j, pretty place eight miles
distant from New York. He is hardly five
feet six inches in height and weighs at pres
ent l40 pounds. He is an American. of
Scottish descent. and in his appearance there
Is nothing to suggest that he is one of the
most remarkable travellers. Poultney Bige-
low, OF Outning, suggested TO Mr. Ricalton
last January that trip through the wild sec
ton OF The country lying between Archangel
and ST. Peters burg, Russia would furnish
| material for series of winter articles and IL
| lusrations for the magazine. He thought
that if the trip could be accomplished al a
cost OF 5000 or 500. il would be so much
better. The country school teacher at once
decided to make the trip, and at a cost not TO
exceed $500. Realizing that hotel facilities
were anything but good in the country
{
proceeded TO construct portable lodging
house. The latter consisted Of three wheels
and apartments for holding blankets, satch-
els, etc., and for sleeping. 1t was so ar
ranged that in wet weather the person using
II could walk alone under cover of a rubber
awning. The entire outfit weighed but
twenty-five pounds. The 'sdormo wagon
as Mr.. Ricalton termed it, was propelled by
being pushed along. and not, as is generally
supposed, on the principle of the modern
trycicle. The wagon could be taken apart
and placed in small box.
Mr.. Rcalton lef, home June ~. and set
sail on the Aurania Of the Cunard line. for
Liverpool. On arriving on British soil he
proceeded to Hull and embarked on a sailing
vessel for Archangel. He was two weeks in
the Arctic ocean, in the land of the midnight
sun. He procured passport from the Amer
lean consul there. Russian passport and a
permit to carry weapons from the governor
of the custom house. The American consul
and the governor attempted to dissaade the
intrepid traveller from his perilous undertake
ing and warned him that person not con-
versant with the native tongue and stranger
to the customs of the country would soon
fall victim to the wolves or the escaped
cOnvicts from Siberia who were on the watch
for such people.
The school teacher replied that he realized
the disadvantage under which he worked, but
was the more anxious to accomplish his mis-
sion on that account. Through 800 miles OF a
wild and desoate region he pushed his 'dormo
wagon with no other weapon than spear,
with which he expected to repulse the wolves,
and revolver to protect himself against the
perls that beset travellers in that section
During the journey he suffered much from
l . hoh haa% 49,. A..
sive. At night it was cool and pleasant. Ga
approaching small town he would remain
on the outskirts until the inhabitants had re-
tired, when he would push on to a barn or
shed and go to bed in his cart. This was ad-
visable, owing to the danger of remaining in
the wilderness with wolves so savage and
numerous. Frequently, on awakening, Mr..
Ricalton would find his wagon surrounded by
hundreds of natives, all anxious to obtain a
view of the stranger. When among the
peasantry the traveller suffered no inconve-
nience, as the peasants were a rule simple
minded and willing to do him a service. He
would order bread and milk which they
would get for him as if they felt in duty
bound to do. In the cities the people were
of g suspicious turn of mind and would COM
pei him to produce his documents. At one
place the chief of the place did not seem in
clined to notice the passports, but did not
offer to follow the schoolmaster when the lat
ter undertook to proceed on his way. AT
intervals along the route the traveller was
obliged to hire horses to carry his wagon
across msrshy tracts.
He was rather fortunate i'll escaping the at
tention of wild beasts and had but one en-
counter with a robber The latter was a giant
in size and attacked the traveller in the
wilderness. The latter invoked the aid of his