Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-04-17
CARS OWN COURIERS.
EVERY ONE ELSE MUST GIVE
WAY FOR THEM.
How Three United States Naval Omcers
Were Enabled to Make u Rapid
and Easy Passage Across
the Steppcs OF siberia.


. His name commands respect in hi
!, dominion. He is never mentioned bu
' in reverence by the faithful, or in
whisper by those who would oppos,
$ HIM There Is no open denunciatiol
g OF him. His acts are never criticised
or, If so, no one is aware OF il excep
: as it results in a Siberian excursion
' His most insignificant desire is never
! controverted by the officials OF hi.
, country"
, The speaker was one OF three lieu.
tenants of the United States navy who
few years ago returned to America
from the Japan station overland
through Siberia, and thence by regular
avenues OF travel TO New York, the
remark being addressed TO n reporter
Of the New York Herald.
1--WE had unusual facilities for max
ing the journey" continued the officer
Our government communicated with
the Russian minister at Washington.
he with his his home Office and even
tually Baron Struvi, then Russian min
lister TO Japan, was notified
Our passports were inspected and
countersigned by the baron, who in
addition gave us several personal and
open letters to be used along the route.
As we were leaving the barons office
he called us back. He seemed TO
deliberate for a moment, and then
said: Gentlemen. there is one more
document that | can give you. You
must treat it with respect Never use
1t but in case OF absolute necessity. If
possible don't use it at all. Never
/ present it but as Il last resort, and
then, If possible, to the highest official
OF the Russian government that is at
hand
The baron left the room Pres
emily he returned and handed us q
! sealed document. As he gave il 10 us
he said: i am not at liberty to dis
close the nature of this document. You
may never use it. So far as / am
aware no foreigner has ever posses sed
the like. You are Americans: our
governments have always been friend
~; you are granted an unusual priv
llege; respect my injunctions.
1--WE thanked the baron, promised TO
follow his instructions and retired
LAS we proceeded on our trip we
often discussed the nature of the
document Sometimes we jolled about
1t. We had no occasion TO use it
early in our trip, for our passports and
letters were everywhere treated with
the greatest respect
Our journey was about three-quar- /
tiers finished when one afternoon we I
arrived at post station, all OF which !
in Siberia,are under military control.
ION calling for change of horses /
we were informed that we could secure
none that evening; moreover we were
told that it might be several days or a
week before we could leave the post.
I'VE inquired the reason and re-
ceived an evasive answer. There was
a horse disease or something of that
sort they said. We knew it be false.
for the horses were all in good condi-
ton. We protested-the CONVERSATION
was in French--but we could gain no
The official smiled in a
provoking manner.
1--WE finally bethought ourselves Of
our mysterious document, and resolved
to present it to the military governor
OF the post. whose residence had been
pointed out to us.
I'VE called for our luggage and ar
rayed ourselves in the snowy full dress
Of United States naval oflicer-cocked
hat, dress coat. gold lace and epaulets
and sword. We took our credentials
and the mysterious document and filed
up 10 the governors house. We re-
solved to try the ordinary means first,
80 as TO learn the full efficacy of the
missive We carried. | confess / was
curious about the thing.
The governor treated US with the
marked courtesy OF Russian military
officer. He, too, conver5ed in French
He told us it was impossible for us to
leave the post, but he gave us no reason
Tor the detention.
1--WE had arranged before hand plan
Of procedure. So we put our heads to-
gether and talked and gesticulated in
English, of which the Russian was ig-
norant. Finally. in a dramatic man
ner l pulled out the unknown docu-
nent and handed it to him. He broke
.he seal and glanced at the contents.
The poor man turned pale, his legs
,rembled. He was SO agitated he could
hardly speak. Why did you not pre-
sent that before?' he said you would
nave experienced no difficulty then.
Now ! am liable 10 severe punishment
1--WE had seen many strange sights
md had passed through many strange
adventures on that Siberian trip con-
inued the speaker, "but the consterna-
ion Of that Russian, | must confess,
frightened me.
g" DO you know the nature Of this
locument?' he said to us. He had evil
lently noticed our wonderment at the
lenoumcnt.
I'VE confessed that we were ignor-
mt. Why gentlemen, he said, that
document is your appointment as special
,ouriers TO the car. Armed with such
| document the Russian who detains