The morning call., 1895-03-03

stone and brick building. 1t is we'll con-
structed, and it would be a respectable
depot in the United States.
l shall never forget my ride over the
eastern section of the Trans-Siberian Rail
road. | had my permit from the Chief of
Police. and through this | was able to buy
ticket to Nikolsk, which is about seventy
miles from Vladiyostock. Only third class
trains were running, and these had been
opened to passenger traffic only few days
before, ana so | practically took the first
trip over the new route. was accompanied
by bright young Japanese, Mr.. Koboto,
who spoke Russian and English, and who
acted as my interpreter. [ was living on
board the steamer in the harbor, about
three miles from the railroad. The train
started at II P. NJ, and great storm came
up bout 6. The harbor was full Of white
caps and the waves ran high. The wind
was blowing, and a cold, misty sleet ran
down into our bones like so many cork
screws as we left the vessel and started for
the shore. / can't describe the severity of
this wind. 1t almost split the scalp when
1t touched the back Of my head, and cow
cred down IN the sampan which ! had en-
gagged while the Chinaman in a water
proof coat sculled US through the darkness.
The night was Egyptian in its blackness.
wall OF light rose out Of the sea in the
distance, where the great barracks, with
their thousands OF Russian troops, COW
cred the sides of the hills. Here and there
out of a mist sparkled the lights of great,
black, monster steamer, and we rowed right
under the shadow of black hulks which
We're carrying Russian prisoners to the
Island Of Saghalin. We narrowly missed
getting the train. We left the steamer at
$50, jumping into the boat, which rose
and fell like bolt of paper upon the
waves, and we had worked our way almost
to the shore when | found | had forgotten
my passport. The possibilities of Rus
sian prison came over me, and l insisted
that we must go back to the ship after it.
Both my Japanese guide and the Chinaman
objected, but we finally turned back, and
in the end reached the land, with only
twenty minutes to make the train.
hiring droschky, with two horses, we
drove on gallop through the mud to the
station. This was filled with soldiers and
police. There were common soldiers in
uniform, army officers in heavy overcoats
| and guards by scores, who marched up and
ooWn with bayonets and guns. There
were police everywhere, and the station
looked more like a barracks than a railroad
depot At one end OF it was restaurant.
ana at the other end was the ticket Win
uoW- After showing my passport and my
ponce permit was able to buy ticket to
NIkolsk. Inc distance was, as | have said,
seventy miles, and it cost ME 81 90 in sill
yer. The ticket was about the size of a
small business envelope 1t was white
ana no thicker than note paper. Upon it
were printed the date and distance, and
the names OF the stations. Showing it |
passed. out OF the door to the train, going
by more guards and police as I did so'
The train comprised about twenty-five
cars, OF which half dozen were passenger
coaches and the others were freight and
baggage cars. | made rush for one Of
/ the cars and my heart sank as I looked at
/ the accommodation and at the place where
| had to sleep during the night. It was
merely a freightcar filed with wooden
| benches running clear across the car and
facing each other. Above the seats there
were shelves, and l found that these were
the upper berths. The lower seats were
all filed when we entered, and had 70
climb up OF one of these upper shelves to
sleep. There were no cushions and no
| bedding. | rolled my coat up for pillow
and wrapped myself in my blanket and