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

tsnrt0n has been attracted q late - the
subject q Siberia AID the Russian exile
system oy the ~rltlngs and lectures u
Mr.. George Ks1nAa. aud tAsTs being .
movement on toos Ia America 70 amslio-
rate II possible tho condition Of the
unfortunats victims Of Russian rule.
that ls seemed 10 me recently an Inter
yisw with the nov famous traveller
mixhs znearth some bits Of his personal
experiences THAI are n0E known % Tia
general public
Mr.. KsanAn Is apparently between
forty and f0rty -dys wears Of age, but pos
sesses that peculiar elasticity OF move
ment. not % say temperament, which
makes him appear much younger. his
fglIre IL slight but sinswy. indicating q
good deal Of reserve power mingled with
thas peculiar nervous force that IL often
found ia journalists and telegraphers (hs
belongs, by the way, 10 the latter sehool),
and bis face Is strongly marked with the
resolution that has carried him through
so many difficulties. Withal, he Is ev.-
dentiy keen observer, rstsntive in his
memory. exact IN his facts and admira-
bly descriptive in his style Of narrative.
l asked him 10 give me of hand a
brief story OF his hfs ard how as young
American be became 50 much interested
IN Russian travel Piunging into the
subject, in medals res. "a the lawyers
say, be answered;
Ny father IS probably the Oldest Hv-
ing telegrapher Ia the United States, be-
ing low 81 years OF age. As the man
ager OF an Office on the Wade. Speed
and O'Reilly line in Norwalk, o., where
l was born-ths first line built in the
west-he taught me the Morse alphabet,
and on my sixth birthday. before / was
abls 20 read manuscript. sent my first
dispatch. At the age OF IL | was reg
ularly employed in a telegraph Office.
At the outbreak Of the war, though but
a mere boy. went 10 Wheeling. Coium-
BUS, and finally 20 Cincinnati, being all
the time anxious 10 get into the tele-
graph corps at the front. then under the
control of Gen. Staeger. an old acquaint-
snce OF my father. In this, however,
failed.
Mr.. Perry Macdonald Collins mean
while had projected an overland line
from America 10 Europe by way Of
British Columbia, Behring straits and
Alaska to Siberia, the object being TO
obtain communication with Europe
without employing the ocean cable,
which at that time was no. working
with regularity. After surveying the
route he came back, interested the West
ern Union company, and an agreement
was made with the Russian authorities
20 construct line 10 California, thence
to Behring straits. up through Alaska
and on TO the mouth OF the AMOR river.
Here the Russian government was to
meet us with its lines from St. Peters
burg. This enterprise attracting my at
tentson, l wrote 70 Gen. Staeger. asking
for q position in one OF the exploring
parties TO be sent out. He did not reply
% the letter, bat one night came TO the
instrument In his Office and. being a
practical operator. inquired for me.
answered over the wires. He asked:
Can you get ready TO start for Alaska
Ia two weeks YES" replied. II can
get ready in two hours" "You may
goI" was the message that came back.
was then IS years OF age. Proceed
ing to California with one of the parties
OF the expedition, remained there IN
I'll July, 1855, when with three others
started on a small trading vessel for
Ksmchatka. landing on its peninsula
after q tedious voyage OF forty-sever
days Then began life Of adventure
and hardship which lasted two years
and took me over Siberia from Behring
straits down TO the Okhotsk sea. our OBJ
ject being to locate the most desirable
route TO the mouth Of the Amoor river
During this period travelled six or eigh:
thousand miles 90 dog and reindeer
sledges, horseback and in canoes. fire.
quently camping out Of doors six week;
az time IN winter.
After the successful laying Of the sec
ond Atlantic cable. received notice in
the autumn o. 1857 that our enterprise
had been abandoned. As the circurn
stances have not been published. they
may be Of interest. We had large force
Of men at work. and were cut Oft from
congratulations from the civilized world
Occasionally. however. vessel would
come into the Okhotsk sea. and every
spring We would 90 down To the coast
% watch the horizon for the smoke that
rose while the crew were trying out their
whale oil. hoping 70 get news from the
civilized world. We bad a whale boat in
Which We could 20 out a short distance
20 sea. and. in the summer Of 1867. OBJ
serving IN the far distance = welcome
cloud that indicated the presence Of q
whale ship. NE manned our htsle craft
and started 70 board her.
swe approached the captain paid lit
Gle or no attention % Us. thin King vs.
we're only n party Il natives. Finally
however. We succeeded in climbing OF
deck. and walking ats said 20 the cap
tain. Coed day. sir What is the name
~ your vssselg" You never saw q mar
box more astonisired. for. being dressed
i'm the costume Of the country. he did no'
EXPECT 20 find in ne one q his own race
or hear his own tongue spoken "A sooE
- hs could catch his breath he exclaimed
Coed Lordi Has the universal Tanke'
Eot up hsre' Where did ycu conse frona
How aid Tou get hsre' What are yos
doing And then followed a weico0.
the warmth Of which Yoa must Imagine
His name vas Caps. Hamilton ard Ia
bark ne Sec Brsezs. from New Bedford
Go partiny ne captain gave rs hsndl
Of newspapers, some = them year old
and presented Is With LIBERAL supply o