Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-21
MR. RrCALToN's HONG TRAMP.
Through Russian Wilds,
carving His House With Him.

From the PhiIadeIDhi1 Times.
Erw YORK, Sept. 10 James Ricalton,
.be explorer, who started on a tramp
.cross desolate Russia with house on
Ixbeels. in May last, is not dead or lost.
10 was not eaten by the wolves or muir
Sared by the Russians, although the pub
fishers of the Outing, who started him on
che Journey from Archangel to Crlmea, in
dicated he might be, in touching notice
cont out TO the newspapers of the country
M later than Tuesday. Mr.. Ricalton Is
.,orv much alive, but he has had an eXper-
tonce which is remarkable. If the COM
nanv that sent him on this
parilous expedition believe their
pnvoy to be dead, this writing
,riII omen their eyes TO the place OF his
nrosent habitation, and will inform them
IF the principal incidents of mis- strange
journeyings.
TAKING HIS HOUSE WITH HIM.
Mr.. Rlcalton is a pedRgogue and was
found this afternoon in the midst Of his
nnpils in the little school house at South
Orange. n. j., pretty place eight miles
distant from New YORK. He is hardly
Ave- feet six inches in height and weighs
nj nresent 14O pounds. He is an Ameri-
san. OF Scottish descent, and in his APP
nparance there is nothing to suggest that
ko is one of the most remarkable travel
er. Poultney Bigeiow, OF Outing, sug-
Gested to Mr.. Ricalton last January that
q trip through the wild section country
living between Archapgel and st. Peters
hur9. Russia, would furnish material for
a serIesof winter articels and lllustrat-
ions for the magazine. He thought that
time trip could be accomplished at cost
Df 5000 or 500, it would be 80 much better.
The country school teacher at once de-
nded to make the TIP, and at cost not
tn exceed 5000. Realizing that hotel faclli-
lies were anything but good In the
country through which he was to pass,
Mr.. Ricalton proceeded to construct
portable lodging house. The latter con-
sisted of three wheels and apartments Tor
holding blankets, satchels, ETC., and for
sIeeninx. 1t was so arranged that In wet
weather the person using it could walk
along under cover of rubber awning.
The entire outfit weighed but twenty-five
mounds. The EEdOrmo wagon" as Mr..
RIcalton terms it. was propelled by being
pushed along, and not, as is generally sup
iosed. on the principle of the modern trl-
cycle. The wagon could be taken apart
and placed in small box.
IN THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.
Mr.. Ricalton left home June II, and set
sail on the Aurania, OF the Cunard line,
for Liverpool. On arriving on British
soil he proceeded to Hull aud 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 American Consul,
there, Russian passport and permit
10 carry weapons from the Governor of the
custom house. The American Consul
and the Governor attempted to dissuade
the intrepid traveller from his perilous un-
dertaking and warned him that person
not conversant with The native tongue
and a stranger to the customs of the
country would soon fall victim to the
wolves or the escaped convicts from ST.
IBERIA. who were on the watch for such
people.
The school teacher replied that he real
lied the disadvantage under which he
worked, but was the more anxious to &C
compish his mission on that account.
Through 800 miles of a wild and desolate
region he pushed his ''dOrmo wagon"
with no other weapon than a spear,
with which he expected to repulse the
wolves, and revolver to protect himself
against the perlls that beset travellers in
that section. During the Journey he stuff
cred much from the heat, which, during
the day. was excessive. At night it was
cool and pleasant. On approaching a
small town he would r. main on the out
skirts until the inhabitants had retired,
when he would push on to barn or shed
and go to bed in his cart. This was ad-
visible, owing to the danger of remaining
in the wildness with wolves so savage
and numerous. Frequently, on awaken
ing, Mr.. RlcaItOn would find his wagon
surrounded by hundreds OF natives, all
anxious to obtain view of the stranger.
When among the peasantry the traveller
suffered no Inconvenience, as the pleas.
ants were as a rule supplemented and
willing to do him a service. He would
order bread and milk, which they would
get for him as il they felt in duty bound to
do so. In the cities the people were of
suspicious turn of mind and would compel
him to produce his documents. At one
place the chief of the place did not seem
inclined to notice the passports, but did
not offer to follow the schoolmaster VIII en-
the latter undertook. to proceed on his
way. AT intervals along the route the
traveller was obliged to hire horses to carry
MS wagon across marshy tracts.
ATTACKED BY A GIANT RoBBER.
He was rather fortunate in escaping the
attention OF wild beasts and had but one
encounter with a robber. The latter was
a giant in size and attacked the traveller
In the wilderness. The latter invoked the
aid Of his spear to protect his person, but
his assailant, who was armed with huge
club, laughed al the idea of being repulsed
by such weapon. and would probably
have killed the pedagogue had not the lat
ter deemed it wise to draw his revolver
and send bullet toward the robber, who
at once made himself scarce.
Mr.. Ricalton was provided with food,
but would procure milk and bread from
the natives in small towns along the
route. He reached st. Petersburg Aug. IL,
after nearly months steady tramp, He
found several letters in waiting for him
at st. Peters burg. He afterwards paid
visit to Norway aud Cweden and other
points before starting for Liverpool. He
arrived in New York oil the Arizona, of
the Guion line. Sept. 6, on the very day
that school reopened. 1t was his inten-
ton to be on hand in the morning, to
impress his pupils with the need of being
punctual, but something unforeseen kept