Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1890-03-17


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About ths beginning Of winter ! re-
>siEed orders 30 return - tbs United
States through Siberia. and win another
American named Price made the Jour
nsy % y. Petersburg. distance u near
y az Thousand Iailss. using slsixhs and
rsindssrs. And travelling the last four
thousand niles nizhs sad day. Ia that
city We learned that tbs enterprise had
s~en snsrsly abandoned, and accord
inxly returned % the United States.
reaching home IN March. 1903
Duriax these two years and Q half
had learned the Russian language and
become interested ia Siberia and the
Russian people. Since then have made
. number Of trips % the Russian empire
On my own account. made q critical
study Of the country and its institutions,
taken IT'S periodicals, and remained Ia
close touch 90 10 speak, with the princi-
pal events that have occurred there.
Behring straits and disappeared in the
Arctic ocean La 1882, had an instructive
feeling that she would DO lost, and
strongly urged on Mr. Bennett the i'm
portance OF organizing a system Of relief
whereby natives along the coast would
be notified by the Russian government
% keep . sharp lookout for the survivors
Of tho expedition if any were found. Not
only that, but proposed % him direct
ly. also through the manager Of The
Herald, then Thomas b. Connery. and
through Chief Justice DAILY, OF the
American Geographical society, 20 make
a personal search along tho northern
coast and with the facilities which
knew / could command. do all that man
could do TO rescue those in peril The
proposition, however, did not meet with
approval and the matter was dropped.
Lieutenant Commander Gorringe, who
brought over the Egyptian obelisk, then
became so much interested in the sub
ject that he proposed. not having the
ready money. 10 sell his collection OF
Egyptian curiosities in order TO procure
fund Of say s.. 600 in order to provide
the means for making a trip TO the north
ern coast, but | declined TO take the
money from such p source and at such
sacrifice when more wealthy people
could easily stand in the breach.
After this Chief Justice Daily suggested
the matter 10 DIR. Charles A. Dana, of
The Sun, and ior time there seemed to
be a prospect that he would bear the ex-
pense OF an expedition for the rescue Of
the survivors OF the Jeanette. but while
the negotiations were pending President
Garfield was shot, and attention thus be-
ing diverted the idea was abandoned. In
the meantime the living and dead were
found on the Siberian coast after the dis
aster, IS / predicted. and / shall always
believe that IL my plans could have been
carried out the worst consequences of the
catastrophe might have been averted.
The sad event, however, was not with
out its compensations. The letters TO
The New York Herald from Mr.. JohnP.
jackson, who was sent 10 Russia; his de-
scription OF Siberian scenes along the
route he travel, !, the narrative of En-
gineer Melville and the investigation be-
fore the congressional committee, all
served their purpose in making Amer
leans more or less acquainted with a re-
gion comparatively unknown. My own
public addresses showed in the popular
interest they elected that the people were
eager to know more concerning this won
derful country and its institutions, espe-
cially that part of its political system
connected with the history of the Siber-
ian exile, and the interest is by no means
abating.
While there has been much exaggera-
ton with regard to the treatment Of Rus
sian prisoners of state, it is not in many
cases as severe as it has been described.
In all of my trips have met political ex-
lies who were in comparatively comfort
able circumstances, and they are not by
any means exceptions TO the rule.
Therefore have defended the Russian
government when it has been misrepre-
sented, at the same time that have pre-
sented the shadows Of most hateful
picture. That these efforts are bearing
fruit is proved by the fact that concerted
measures are now being taken by a nuro-
Der OF philanthropic citizens of Philadel-
phia, who have begun the circulation Of
a petition throughout the United States
asking for an amelioration of the worst
evils of Siberian exile, and the document
will be presented some time next year
to the proper Russian authorities through
the International Prison association. at
its meeting in St. Petersburg. And in
my Judgment, concluded Mr.. KEENAN,,
the car, who is not so bad as he is
painted, will give heed to it.
r. q. DE FoSTAISR
The Calhoun Settlements.