New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-12

iistrations from sketches by the author. 5vo
PIP. $50. Imported by Charles scribners Sons
The initiative Of the long journey described in
these pages was suggestion that thu author
should accompany, rs special artist OF Tie Illus
trated London News" an expedition arranged by
n mercantile syndicate for the purpose OF testing
the practicablity of a new trade Tonte 10 oren
Siberia and the adjoining regions 10 English COM
incrce. Several efforts in the same direction had
been made but unsuccessfuy IL was now re-
solved to send out n miscellaneous cargo in a
chartered steamer, across the Kara Sea, to. and
as far up as possible, the river Ycnse and trans-
fer the shipment to lighter draught river
steamer, which would carry it on 10
it's destination, the large Siberian towns OF
Yoneseisk. Mr.. Price went with the expedition
as special artist bnt his purpose was, on reaching
Ycnise!sk TO proceed across Siberia and Mongolia
and get back to civilization by passing through
the great Cobb Desert AMI entering China
This programme successfully carried out. and
considering the distance and the chances taken
the journey was remarkably prosperous.
The chief difficulties clustered about the Oft
set When the Kara Sea was entered it was
found to contain great deal of ice The steamer
the Biscaya, was for several days blocked in
the pack. and at time it seemed questionable
whether she would I've able TO accomplish her mis-
sion. After some delay, however, she got clear
of the ice, and reached the mouth Of the Ycnisei
This river is of the longest and largest in
the world. Its course covers over 5000 miles,
its source being in China, and far above its mouth
IL has a width of sixty miles. while it is from
six to ten miles across more than $50 miles from
the Sea- Its navigation lie difficult owing to the
many AMI shifting banks which obstruct its course
but the native pilots well instructed,
and can take up and down to and from icniseisk
vessels Of considerable burden.
Nothing can be drearier or less picturesque
than the view from the river for more than 100
miles. The country is perfectly level, and the
eypansc is unrelieved by q tree Hardly any veg
citation fourishes, for the climate is Arctic, and
the snow is off the ground no more than three
months In the year. The Biscaya had been able
to go up the river to KasanslIoi and there trans
shipped her cargo to the river steamer Phoenix,
which proceeded to Yeniseisk. The immensely Of
the Yenisei may he gathered from the following
remarks Of the author: Although We were now
at Rasanskoi nearly 800 miles from the mouth
of the river, there was no perccptba difference III
its enormous width, which must average nearly
ten miles for at least 400 miles from the sea. while
in many places il widcns out to such enormous ex-
panses of water that it can only be likened to a
continuous series Of huge lakes. As a matter Of
fact, between Gelchika and Karaoul, at distance
of 200 miles from the sea, there is one part
where, for nearly 100 miles, it is over sixty miles
In width. and when there is gale blowing, as
was the case when we passed up it, the sea is
quite as heavy as it is during a souwcstcr' in
the English Channel" The Importance Of the
Yenisei, however, far as commerce is concerned,
is all in the future, for at the present time there
are only ten steamers on it. and these do little
trade.
Before the Phoenix reached Yeniseisk a seri-
Gus casualty occurred, the chief agent of the
Ango-Siberian Syndicate, who in charge of
the expedition, being drowned by falling over
board on q dark night. At YcniseislS Mr. Price
said good-by to his late comrades, and prepared
to set out his travels. 1t should be said
that come time before arriving at the place OF
Decentralization the river had been flowing through
an immense virgin forest forest five thousand
miles in extent, and believed 10 be one pf the
greatest, IL not tho greatest, bodies Of timber
still extant. At Yenisesk the author made his
first acquaintance with the prison irstem Of
Siberia. Here, as wherever else lie passed in
crossing the province, lie was permitted to visit
and examine the prisons without the least hesita-
ton or restriction. His impressions differ rai-
cally from those Of Mr.. George KEENAN, and many
other travellers, and are generally rather in &C
cord with those Of Mr.. Lansdell. lie had indeed
but little Intercourse with the "politiCale' and
docs not pretend 10 know much about them; bat
he seems to have had tolcrably ample opportuni-
ties for forming intelligent judgments as 10 the
general conduct Of the criminal prisons and the
treatment of the criminal prisoners
AS to these latter, he impressed by their
desperate and rufianiy looks. Such crowds of evil
faces he had never seen, and this he repeats fire.
quently. Among the class mentioned he met a
certain Baroness convicted of poisoning two hus-
bands, and he was greatly impreeed at the man
ner in which this woman was treated. Instead OF
being confined in CELL she well and com
fortably lodged in a neatly furnished and roomy
apartment, where we-cooked meals srrved
to her. Pictures, books, music, were allowed
her. The officials were respectful, even defcren-
tial In their behavior 10 her, and save for the
fact that she could not go ont, she was like
. guest than prisoner. Mr.. Price had several
interviews with this Baroness, and she honorcd
him with letter in English, which I'VE think
with more than doubtful taste he publishes in
fac-simile. The political prisoners whom he met
did not appear TO him TO Ike very wretched, nor
were they subjected TO many dcprivations. In
several respects his statements agree with tho c
of Mr.. KEENAN,, but he failed to discover the
cruelties described by the latter In fact, he
was particularly struck by the comparative free
dom allowed the inmates of the criminal prisons.
and thinks that English convicts woull probably
be glad to change places with them.
For one thing, he notes general absence Of
locking up within the prisons True he is
accompanied on an inspection by an officer who
carries huge bunch of keys, but these keys arc
not used, for once inside the building, every
door is open, and the convicts appear to wander
At will all over the place. lie admits that the
insanitary state OF the prisons is conspicuous. Cf
the food he says nothing, and does not appear 10
have had any curiosity on that subject. OF the
marches made by the cOnvicts he observcs that
the soldier conveys have worse time than their
charges, for they have TO carry heavy guns. am
muntion, etc, whereas the prisoners march
light Apparently he overlooked the crcum-
IL Al