St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-05
HIGGINS IN RUSSIA.
The Painful Experiences of
Hcosier Among the Muscovite.

The Painful Experiences of a
Hcosier Among the MuscOvites.
Our attention has been called, as the
irate man says who writes a Scathing
letter to tine editor about all article in
the editors paper which he sat up all
night to see and read on his front door
steps by the uncertain light OF the early
dawn-Our attention has been called,
we repeat, says the New York Tribune,
to the experience of William l.. Hig
as told in a New York dispatch to the
indianapolis News. His adventures in
the land of the car were so note
worthy that we feel that we should
speak of them for the benefit of
other travellers who may be going there.
When Mr.. Higgins left this country.
according to his own account, he carried
the biggest United States passport
which he could get. 1t had an Ameri-
lean eagle. rampant, at the top. This
eagle was the delight of Mr.. Higgins
heart all the way across the ocean. 1t
had long, sharp claws. immense wings,
full set of tail feathers, and bill that
was truly frightening to look at. "Ah."
thought Mr.. Higgins, ''When the Off
GERS of that effete monarchy look at that
bird their teeth will chatter so that
they'll have to put pads on 'em:" But
Mr.. Higgins was mistaken. When his
ship landed at st. Petersburg all officer
asked to see his passport. Mr.. Higgins
drew it out with flourish. The official
looked at it, and told Mr.. Higgins that
it was worthless. and that he should
have to arrest him. Mr.. Higgins, 1t
seemed, should have stopped in Stock
holm, and had the Russian consul
sign his passport. Mr.. Higgins was
angry, ana offered to go Oh the pier
with the official and fight it out with
him. If Higgins whipped he was to stay.
if the official was victorious Higgins
was to go back in the same ship by
which he had arrived. The official de-
clined, though Mr.. Higgins took off his
coat and ''dared'' him. About this time
full regiment of soldiers marched up
and took charge of Mr.. Higgins. Half
of them fell in behind and half in front.
national airs, he was marched to jail.
Mr.. Higgins tied his passport on his
cane and waved it and hurrahed for lib
erty few times, but it didn't seem to
do any good. When they reached the
police headquarters some officials held
long consultation in the Russian Ian
guage, which Mr.. Higgins does not un-
derstand, and at last decided to let him
90, but told him not to stay at any hotel.
He asked for permit to leave the
country, but this was refused him. Mr.
Higgins now found himself in a pecu-
liar position; he could not leave the
country, he could not stay at any hotel,
and he had no friends anywhere with
whom he could stay.
Mr.. Higgins walked out from police
headquarters an American 'Wandering
jew" Clearly he must stay somewhere
the Russian climate is not favorable
to sleeping under tree-SO he decided
to disregard the instructions about no.
tells, and went to one and registered
with stub pen, in bold, black hand.
| But it did not work-the police looked
at his passport, shook their heads, and
| the proprietor told him that he must GO.
| So he took his trunk by one handle,
and, dragging it after him, went out.
| He subsequently Josh Whitcombed that
| trunk, it we may so express it, all over
| the broad empire of Russia. He would
usually manage to stay in a hotel about
| two hours. when he would have to drag
| his trunk down stairs and look for an
other stopping place. He had to get
new handles put on his trunk four times
| and new bottom twice. He became so
| accustomed 10 HdYillS Gilo trullk TdttllllS
along behind him that even when
he walked out in the country to look at
the scenery he took it with him. He
used to attract considerable attention,
and was frequently escorted out of
| town by regiment of soldiers. On such
occasions. as q delicate compliment to
him, the band would play our national
| airs. Finally, when he was at Moscow,
so Mr.. Higgins says, 1t occurred to him
| to see if the thing could not be fixed up
on financial basis, something he claims
that he succeeded in doing with a city
official, the consideration being $50.
Mr.. Higgins, with his amended passport
and his trunk, then took the first train
for the frontier. He arrived in this
Country safely few days ago, and is
now anxious to arrange six-day walk
ing match with some pedestrian. each
man to drag a 150-pouDd trunk behind
him. IT all that Mr.. Higgins says is
true, it would be we'll for any of our
readers who may be going to Russia to
be sure that their passports are what
they should be or to carry very light
| trunks with wheels on them