davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1897-02-06

partments on the other. The second class
differs from the third in having cushion
coverings for it's seats and berths instead
of plain bare boards. and has therein the
disadvantage of harbering certain dead
head occupants of very obnoxious order.
The first class differs from both in having
inclosed compartments with superior up
holstery and the attendance of special
car porter. It's lavatories, however, are
just as filthy ard ill-contrived. and there
Is the same dearth of washing water in all.
Drinking water along the Trans-S!berian
route is almost unobtainabie. In the first
place. the ordinary Russian never uses 1t,
and the supply has been largely governed
by the demand. If you happen to ask for
a glass of water at any of the railway sta
tions the waiter stops and gazes at you as
much as to say: We'll, I wonder what
you're going to do with that
When the glass is finally brought it is
never full and seldom contains enough to
slake your thirst. but fearing the suspicion
of at least eccentricity you refrain from
asking for another glass, and as you have
often done before in Russia. sacrifice your
personal feelings on the altar of inexor
able Russian custom" The difficulty Of
obtaining drinking water along this route
is further Increased by the fact that over
a great portion of the way. from Petro-
payloosk to the OBJ valley. where the rail-
way skirts the northern edge of the central
Asiatic steppe region. the station wells are
strongly impregnated with saline matter,
even after boring to a depth of 800 feet.
The truth of the matter Is that the building
OF the line through the saline and quag
mire district Is one of those evident. but
inexplicable. blunders so peculiarly Rus
sian. I am told good authority that
other surveys revealed a more feasible and
practical route farther to the north. but
"it just wasn't adopted and that's all there
Is to it.
Besides the scarcity of good water and
the difficulty of establishing Arm roadbed
in the saline spongy soil these Quagmire
fea ture of swarms of gigantic flies. which
act as the day relief corps to the blood
thirsty mosquitoes in their sanguinAry at
tacks upon the cooped-up railway passen-
ger. Even the thick-skinned Russian
baby. whom / have seen sleeping in peace
full serenity with perfect mass of ordi-
Evening star., 1897-02-06
A STOP on THE PLAINS.

different experience. Although vivid then,
they had now faded away into the half
remembered imagery of dream. and moth
ing was real but the Variegated steppe.
sparkling with the sunlit dew. the vandal
railway that was marring its loyeliness.
and the far-away purple mountains.
was reused from my reverie by the alb
rupt entrance of the conductor announcing
a change of cars at the next station Che
liablnsk. The through trains from Moscow
after traversing distance of $50 miles,
at an average rate of sixteen miles per
nour, stop at this point as the terminus of
the European railway system, in order to
connect with the present operating portion
of tine Trans-Siberian railway.
The Trans-Siberian railway at the time
oil MY visit was open to general traffic only
as far as the Oh river. a distance of So
miles, SS5 miles beyond the city OF Omsk
but with the special favor of Prince Hill
koff. the Russian ministers OF ways and
communications, was able to continue my
railway journey beyond the OBJ river as far
as the city Of Achinak. The formal opening
of this last division to krasnoyarsk during
the present month will at last establish a
complete railway communication between
St Petersburg and the greatest of the 81
berian waterways-the Yenisei river.
As the intermediate point between the
two great railway systems of Europe and
Asia. Ne naturally expected to find at Che
liab!nsk a spacious and commodious sta
tion house. In this. however, We were more
than disappointed A small room 30xAl
feet. served as buffet. dining room. luggage
room, toilet room and ticket office all in
one.
DiscOmfOrts of Travel.
Lackeys. laden with bundles and huge
pillows, were stumbling over the piles Of
luggage on the floor or scraping elbows
with tea-bearfng walters. and upsetting the
hot beverage down the necks Of some pa
tiently waiting guests at the breakfast ia
BILE Babies in arms were making the air
n ifh
This unreasonable disturbance of their
morning slumbers. and this. with the noise
OF rafting Of dishes. despairing calls for
walters and scufiins feet. added din to
hopeless confusion
Although the Cheliabinsk station house
was exceptionally small and Ill equipped for
Evening star., 1897-02-06
FROM A CAR WINDOW
Notes Of an American Traveller in
Siberia.
TRAINS THAT TAKE THEIR OWN time
Where Food and Water Are Not
Easy to Obtain.
MANY NOVEL EXPERIENCES

Written frr The Evening Star.
Allen Oh. Allen, Get up, It's day
Hight" A sleepy grunt. and still more
drowsy 'Is it, from pile of coverlets On
the divan-like seat of Russian railway
carriage betrayed no very lively interest
on the part of the PROSTATE figure in the
fact announced. while the heavy, long
drawn breathing which soon succeeded this
momentary interruption proved that more
recall him from the land of dreams. Il
say. Allen! Wake up, We're in Siberia,'
The magic name Siberia appealed to a
stronger feeling than drowsiness and,
raising my head from my air-cusilion pill
low. | took sleepy. blinking view of the
situation, endeavoring in feeble way to
reco,lect just where 1 was and how l came
there
1t was a beautiful. clear morning. AL
though only B o'clock. the sun was already
above the horizon. ilumining the eastern
slopes of the Ural mountains which we
had just crossed during the night. and
shedding flood of golden light over the
boundless steppe before us. whose fiowery
surface. like an interminable sea of red
and yellow petals, was waving in graceful
undulations with the morning breeze.
1 thought of the vague conceptions which
/ had formed in my boyhood days of this
unknown. mysterious land of icy noun
tains and snowy plains. lonely and forbid
ding in its uninhabtable wilderness and
tired TO compare them with the impress
sions created by the scene before me: but
the effort was vain. i could not reconcile
those absurd fancies with this strangely
Evening star., 1897-02-06

such an important relay center, yet 1t is
quite in keeping with the policy of station
building all along the Trans Siberian line.
Nearly all the stations inadequately
small for the accommodation of even the
present traffic In comparison with the
magnificent, commodious structures of even
the branch lines in European Russia, and
In view of the greatly increased traffic
which is certain 10 develop on the COM
pletion of this transcontinental highway
they appear positively ridiculous am
aware that a lack of funds has been ad-
yancei as an excuse for this seeming lack
OF foresight. but this plea ii seems to me-
Is unbehtting so gigantic a government ua-
dertaking. and would in itself appear rather
dubious in view of the peculiarities notoS
riously rife in other departments of the en-
terprise. j am inclined to believe that there
Is more truth than humor in the jocular re-
ply OF an engineer acquaintance whom
questioned as to this singular parsimonious
policy. Oh. said he. I'VE must have an
opportunity for building larger stations
when the traffic increases: we don't want 10
XIII the goose that laid the golden egg"
Pending certain alterations in the Chelia-
binsk ticket Office all tickets were being
sold from plain. fiat table In one corner
OF the dining room. The general rush for
first place which ensued on the opening an
nouncement came near demolishing this i'm
provised ticket office and spilling the con-
tents Of the company's excheQuer on the
floor. The present rate Of first-class fare
Evening star., 1897-02-06
IMPROVING COAST DEEEysEs

Favorable Action Taken nm S.,, 80
zen. Miles Recon- men tlnt tion..
Favorable action has been taken bv tho
military authorities on some of c.ar.r.I
miles recent recommendations relating 70
'he construction Of quarters for officers
ana troops at points where modern fortifi-
catiohs are being erected. Last summer
HeheFai Miles visited number of cosst
deIenses IN the east. On returning to Wash
histon ne recommended to the Secretary
VI '" ar that. as the progress of improve
iheh's WAS such that guns and carriages at
d lie" places would soon be in position If
was important that quarters be built for
the troops which it would be necesssrv RI
station at these points to man the fortifi
cations Not only was it advisable the
s,'arIl a. saii, that the guns. carriages and
WORKS should be looked out for. but 1t was
important that at the earliest date prac-
ticaoie enlcers and troops Of the artillery
shouid nave an opportunity to become fa-
Hi.aT *itn tne siege guns mortars, etc.
wh1ch they would be called upon to handle
in time of war
roiloWins out these recommendations
orders have been issued to repair certain
olo oullolhgs at some OF the Atlantic de-
Iehses. ara to erect new ones at others
work mas begun On quarters at Fort MouI-
trie, on Sullivan's Island. Charleston. s. C.
At this place there are some old buildings
able and some new work DONE New build
tngs are to be put up at Fort Washington
on the Potomac river, one Of the new fortt-
fications constructed with a view to the
protection of the capital In case of war. At
Fort Delaware. on the river Of that name,
improvements are also to be made The
presence Of troops at these defenses will
be necessary within the next three or four
months
Ii Congress passes the pending army re-
organization bill. which increases the artiI-
lery by two regiments, a SUFFICIENT number
Of troops will he available to send to these
new points of defense. as well AZ to others
which are being modernixed. If Congress
fails in the matter the Secretary will be
compelled to decrease the strength of some
of the existing posts in order to obtain a
force for the new places. II Congress is
neglectful In the case the probabilities
point to the abandonment of the artillery
post in this city. There are now here four
batteries. but no fortifications There is a
disnclination on the part Of the authorities
to abandon the Washington post until pro-
vision is made at Fort Myer, across the
Potomac river. for infantry troops, but un-
less an increase of the artillery force Is
provided for by Congress 1t will probably
be found necessary to take at least tinrea
batteries from here and send one each I'd
Fort MOultrie, Fort Washington and Fort
Delaware.
Evening star., 1897-02-06

nary flies swarming upon Its face. is not
caiious to the voraciousness OF this local
species.
Many DiscOmfOrts.
Very few of the station houses beyond
Omsk were ready for occupancy, and the
chances for obtaining even irregular food
became more and more precarious as We
advanced eastward. On the stoppage of
the train at some of the more populous-
looking stations-i. e., where there was a
least one other house besides the unfinished
station building-there would be general
RI sh or passengers with small buckets and
teapots to secure. IL possible, pittance of
not water for making tea on board the
train. Those Of US who had not beea proyf-
dent enough to lay in a supply OF food at
starting had to be constantly on the slert
to catch Dame Fortune on the wing. so to
speak. whenever she happened to hit our
way. Our principal supply Of food came
from the Russian and Tartar peasants,
VINO would frequently be on hand when the
train stopped. with rings OF peasant bread.
cucumbers. baskets Of wild blueberrias and
respberrfes. In which the country abounds.
ana Jars OF cold, fresh milk. We welcomed
tLeir coming as the visitation Of minister.
ing angels In the hour Of need and would
have gladly paid for their Commodities
four times the modest price they asked m.
To add to our discomfort, the train was
constantly stacking IT'S speed-or rather IN
Evening star., 1897-02-06
A Watch That Winds Itself,

Tue tntcago lribuHe.
The latest novelty in the line of time
keepers will appeal to lazy and forgetfal
people. 1t consists of a watch which does
not require any winding. All that is neces-
sary for its owner to do in order to have
the time with him always is to walk half a
mile day. The watch does the rest
These novel watches are got out i'm sew
eral varieties of cases, some of them ex-
trsmely ornamental, but the kind most
commonly seen in Chicago is made with a
plain black case and an open face. The
winding mechanism consists of an in
genious contrivance by which small
weight is raised and lowered from the jar
of walking. The motion of the weight
works a small ratchet arrangement which
winds the spring to its full tension and
then is automatically held until mcrc wind
ing is needed A course of shaking up and
down for few minutes will answer the
same purpose as stroll afoot. while all
the jolts and jars of ordinary existence are
likewise made useful as a means of wind
ing.
The possibilities which this new watch
opens up for forgetful and lazy people are
enormous. The man who comes home late
at night by an irregular course of progress
sion down the street will no longer need to
have his wife wind his watch in order to
keep it going, and the more tempestuous
and full of ups and downs his evening has
been the better the watch VIII be wound
The student. college professor and the
young woman in love will all be blessed
with a perfect-running timepiece. no mat
ter how often they forget to wind il before
going to bed at night. Above all. society
will be delivered from the necessity of hear
ing the remarks of the fool man who says
he doesn't carry a watch simply because he
is too lazy to wind it.
Evening star., 1897-02-06

native wives, settled in Pitcairn's Island.
and for nearly two generations were lost to
the world. Then came this unexpected
discovery, when all but one OF the original
crew were dead. The world learned Of their
woes. their troubles, their sufferings. their
meanness and withal of their triumph. out
on that desolate little island, and condoned
their crime. When discovered, they had
ontgrown the land. Adams from an old
Bible, had taught the swarming half-breeds
to read and write. so that when found.
community under the sun than these de-
Scendants of outlaw whites and savage
native women. The English government
has transported most of these people to a
larger island. where, let us hope, in the
language Of your own Rip Van Wrinkle.
they and their families may live long and
prosper"
Many incidents about the beach-comber,
learned from the narrative of mis- Apan
associates. but, still more valuable, CLEANED
from his own sympathetic and unsurpassed
powers OF observation. my hest repeated
to ME that night, rs We sat on the wide
veranda, the waterfalls music filling the
unfrequent pauses in our talk, and the sill
very fash of the moon on the bay feasting
our eyes, whenever We turned them in
that direction.
Kit Carson said to me one night as We
lay in that glorious gorge through which
the Rio Grande tears its way from the
heart of La Sierra Madre to the prairie
like expanse of ST. Luis Park:
Yes; the old hunters and frontiersmen
know a mighty sight about this country,
from the frozen ocean plumb down to Pan
anna, but it's nothing compared with the
knowledge of the prospectors. Gold leads
men where there's neither meat nor fish.
If the United States could get The informa-
ton of these gold hunters and write 1t into
shape the world would know more about
this great American continent than thou
sand surveys like the one you are on now
could give 1t in a hundred years"
Old Sam Brant.
I recalled this remark of the famous
scout and guide, when. years afterward. l
spoke with Sam Brant in the Island of
Hawaii, both of us sitting at the time
the glistening igneous rocks that form the
shore line of Kilalea's r-burning lake.
Evening star., 1897-02-06

upon the use of an unsettled roadbed, the
tardy fulfiliment of orders for rolling stock
has occasioned a scarcity of means OF
TRANSPORTATION for even construction ma
teral. Three regular passenger trains a
week each way now running full, be-
sides the many specials loaded with ST.
berian immigrants.
Classes ON the Train.
The train which carried us out of Chelia-
binsk comprised. besides the regular first.
second and third-class carriages used in
European Russia. an additional fourth
class. which is nothing more than ordinary
freight cars fitted up with rough plank
benches. For this accommodation the peas
ants pay something more than the ordinary
immigrant rate of one mill per mile. but
they are thus secured from being crowded
into benchless freight cars. like herds Of
cattle.
The higher class carriage is built ir. the
regular Russian style. with a full-length
aisle on one side and series of open COM
Evening star., 1897-02-06
Powerful Fond o Cla mas.

From the Providence Journal.
There is resident of Kents Corners in
the town of Scituate who Is exceedingly
fond of the succulent hivalve which has
made Rhode Island so famous Last Sun
day morning he placed a bag and clam
rake in wheelbarrow, which he trundled
down through the mud of Hope and the
Valley villages to Riyerpoint and thence
via Apponaug to the frozen shores OF
Cowesett bay.
!. The ice covered the bay and the Scituate
man was compelled to wheel his barrow
along the beach almost to Warwick light
before he found a place where he could
dig. His quest was successful, however,
for when he reached phenix on his return
Journey the barrow contained a bag filled
with bushel of nice; big, Juicy clans
as the. digger averred he'd lever sot eyes
on
He said he didn't mind the tramp, the
day was fine" He wanted a mess o.
clans and went and dug 'em; that wuz ALL
Kent's Corners are some sixteen or seven
teen miles from where the CLAIMS were dug,
and the distance covered suggests that
some folks in Scituate- are powerful fond
o. clans
Evening star., 1897-02-06

creasing its slowness-as we advanced upon
the more recently constructed rcadbed.
and indeed, beyond the point open to gen.
eral traffic this precaution was by no
means unnecessary. The ties were but ,.alf
ballasted. and IN several places the spongy
nature of the soil seemed to defy all eff
forts to establish firm foundation. The
train lurched to and ire like ship in a
swelling sea. much so. in fact. that all
occupants of the train were at one time re-
quested TO get out and walk.
SO far as could distinguish. we lost but
very little in our rate of speed by this
change in method of locomoton. From
Omsk to the OBJ river our schedule rate
including stops. was fourteen miles per
hour. although we actually made but ten
and before we reached the end of the par
Evening star., 1897-02-06

on the Trans-Siberian railway averages a
little less than cents per mile: for third
class a little more than cent. Considering
the acc commodations afforded / should say
that this rate was somewhat higher than
that in America but. as am told. it is only
temporary. When the line is completed and
fully equipped 1t Is the intention to incor-
porate it with the European railway sys-
rates there In force. This system. which.
in European Russia has made long distance
travelling very cheap indeed. would in Si-
IBERIA ftself-the Land of DiStances'-re-
duce 1t almost to a bagatelle.
Very little, ii any. effort has as yet been
made to encourage traffic over the present
completed portion of the Trans-Siberian
railway. In addition to the risk attendant
Evening star., 1897-02-06

helped to produce them. Their harvest
was in the cargoess east xupon the sands,
when the ship had gone to pieces. and in
the lotsam taken from the sea when the
waves had subsidized
Light houses, buoys and weH-organized
life-saving stations have banished the
beach-comber from civilized shores, Al
Evening star., 1897-02-06
MnnifcstIy Unfair.

From the Chicago Record.
Don't you want to get into this National
Encyclopaedia of Prominent People? Cost
your only SIS
NO sir: don't like the way ii is run
Look at George Washington and John
Quincy Adams getting in for nothing.
Evening star., 1897-02-06

iiI"bea acil-combers" Is
:! of doubtful origin. 1t
is known that it was
applied more than a
t1cantury ago to those
8 swpse than pirates.
he "wreckers."
along the shores of
Hthe ! British islands
i andaof our own coun-
$ try These wretches
hailed wrecks as a
godsend, and by false
Evening star., 1897-02-06
- -. =
A Feature Of Life on the Pacific
Islands.
THEIR GR0VlNGP0WER IN POLYNESIA
An Obstacle in the Way of
Civilization.
DRIFTING WITH THE TIDE

wrirten for The Evening Star.
Evening star., 1897-02-06

Twenty-Five cents a
copy. For sale by all
newsdealerS and at The
Evening Star Office.
Evening star., 1897-02-06

Ihere have been a number Of important
Evening star., 1897-02-06
THE EVENING STAR
ALnANAC
& HANDBOOK.

Every well-informed person in
the District of Columbia should
possess copy OF THE EVEN
ING STAR ALMANAC and
HANDBOOK.
Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-06
GREECE's COURSE DOUBTFUL.
RumOrs as to the Wars Further COntinu-
ance Directly at Variance.

RumOrs as to the Wars Further COntinu-
ance Directly at Variance.
LONDON, May 5.-The most confusing
reports come from Greece as TO the
war prospects, and no one in high Off
cial cileles here pretends now TO say
what the next few days may bring
forth. According to one report the
new Greek ministers who have been
to the front have brought back encour-
aging reports, but, according to an
other these same ministers have de-
clared that the army is in no shape to
continue the war, and peace on the
best terms possible is desired. Gen.
Smolenshi, Crown Prince Constantine
and other Greek leaders are anxious to
retrieve the defeat of Matt and recap
ture Larissa and the soldiers of the
army are said to be inspired with re-
newed enthusiasm.
Edhem Pasha, who has been quiet
since the battle of Velestino last Fri
day, has begun forward movement
again by sending two Turkish regi-
ments to attack Karditza and the
Greek commander there has asked for
reinforcements 1t is believed that
this is the first move before a general
attack on the Greek forces at Pharsala.
A dispatch from Athens says: Accord
ing to advices from the seat Of war,
Edhem Pasha, the Turkish COM
mander, has resumed the often
sive, with the evident determine
ton to crush the Greek army at a
blow if possible. The Greeks are, how
ever, fighting with rare bravery, and
the Turks have been repulsed once
more at Yelestino and held in check at
other points
Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-06
SOUTHWEST MIsyOURT CATTLE.
Kansas Live Stock Commission Adheres {
It's Quarantine Order.


Kansas Live Stock Commission Adheres to
Its Quarantine Order.
TOPEKA, Kan, May 5.-The state
live stock sanitary commission has de-
clined to permit cattle from south
western Missouri to enter Kansas for
grazing purposes this season and will
only permit them to be shipped to the
stock yards in Kansas City for imme-
date slaughter. In April the commits
sion made an order quarantining
against eight counties in Missouri, ow.
ing to fear of alleged infections in that
territory. Owners Of native cattle who
had engaged pasture in Kansas for the
season Immediately fled petition with
the board asking that their cattle be
permitted to enter Kansas after in
spection by the government inspector
or the state inspectors representing
the board The petitioners recited the
fact that they could not now secure
pasture lands and If the order was en-
forced they would be subjected to
much loss and great inconvenience.
After considering the petition careful
ly the board declined TO make any
modification of the original order.