Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-08-10
SAFE IN HIS MOUNTAIN RETREAT.
noble Russian Refugee who Lives 10000
Feet Above sea Level.


The wilds of California are filled with
I'll sorts of strange habitations occupied
by strange people. Some of the people
have good reasons for living the lives Of
hCrmts, and some are, most likely, lit
tie insane. There is one man, though,
who is not insane, yet has about as strange
home in as lonesome "a locality as ever a
mai occupied. His name is Peter Stifcl,
and he lives far up toward the peak Of
Mount Whitney, where for six months of
the year it could not be reached by anoth
cr human being without the aid of wings,
and during the other six months it is a
halter of toll and hardship to reach his
abode just exactly what Stiffc's story
is cannot be asccrtaincd, but he is Rus
sian noblCman by birth who, in an I'M
fortunate moment several years ago, said
something that offended the car. Having
too much sense to stay at home and stand
trial, knowing that he would have no
show TO escape Siberia, he fled at once,
taking as much money with him as he
could carry. He had difficulty in getting
out of Russia, but after many adventures
reached this country. His escape was due
to the fact that he went across Siberia in
stead of going east. At Nladivostok he
took ship for Alaska, but did not feel
safe there, as he was too near the ennis
surics of bis Russian tyrant master. Stitfcl
tried many places to make his home, but
somehow did not feel safe until he found
his pr, sent abode. He did not want to live
in big cities, because in such locations
there was 10 moro pleasure in life for him
as long as his country is in its present con-
dition. He knows he is perfectly safe from
arrest in America, but the car has other
Gf
portant object to Stiffel was to conceal his
identity, and he went to work in the lum
Der mills in the mountains, but there was
recognized by man who had also escaped
from Russia. The man was a convict
however, and Stiffel would have nothing
to do with him After his identity was
known Stitfcl was surprised to find that
his fellow workmcn sympathizcd with
him and kindly offered to kill any one
from Russia who molcsted him. Never
thcless he concluded TO bury himself from
the world, and buying II couple of burros
started out
The spot he selected for his cabin is
about II, 600 feet above sea level and since
he has been living there only five people
have called on him. The house is built of
heavy logs and placed close up against
group Of enormous granite bowldcrs. The
roof slopes toward the front door, so that
the snow will slide off without endanger-
ing the structure The interior consists
of three rooms, the middle one containing
an enormous fireplace wood pile and Il
chair and table. The other rooms are,
with the exception of Il large number of
books, as bare of furniture as it is posi-
Bile to imagine human habitation. 1t is
here that Stitfcl spends his time. Twice
year he goes to Nisalia to mail letters
and get supplies and see that his money
is all right. In summer he wanders over
the mountains after game, but in winter
he is showed in most of the time. One
year snow covered his house to such a
depth that-he could not get out, and the
only way he got air was through the
chimney. BY looking up he could see
walls of snow on both sides, where the
heat from the fire had melted a passage
way. For II weeks he only saw patch
of sky over the chimney and the walls of
his rooms. Fortunately he had plenty of
frewood and provisions, or he would have
starved to death. But in this place Stitfel
seems contentcd to live and die in what he
calls freedom. That he belongs to the up
per class of Russians there can be no
doubt, as he is well educated and refined.
San Francisco Call.