The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-31

of sleigh, the traveller Is apt to get his
legs wet Should he then be, as may
easily happen, some miles from the
nearest post station, he win he fortunate
indeed If he does not at least lose limb
from frost bite, and perhaps his ire
Under any circumstances. IL is sure TO
be difficult task for the horses, or
rather ponies. to pull out the load. Some
times the driver has TO unharness one
OF them, so back to his station. and
bring assistance, at other times. III the
fare can reach the river bank without
getting wet; and II some OF the load oe
lightened, the animals may succeed ~
dragging the vehicle through TO sound
ice.
A common occurrence Is for the whole
turnout 10 be hauled to terra firma and
sent some miles along the bank, when
is always hilly, the driver and pasSen-
gers, clad in their thickest driving gar
ments, proceeding meanwhile on foot, q
somewhat firing experience. When
''nalyedy' has been encountered notice
is always given as soon as possible 10
the nearest stations. but they sometimes
form SO rapidly that nothing may be
known there of them. The Ainur Is
very broad river averaging some hum
dreds of yards in width. and my driver.
seeing one of these obstacles. crossed
over to the opposite side of the stream
as Offering the best means of progress
After going some little distance his fore
sight was rewarded, for the mail was
discovered near the Left bank. complete
~ brought To Il standstilf. our assist
ance was offered, and declined as being
unnecessary, but we. in our turn, We're
Informed that If We proceeded a fcN
hundred yards farther along the right
bank we should come to a new naly-
edy.' from which extrication would be
impossible. | may add parcntheticaliy
Z hf IA
from bank to bank. After some foun-
dering in slush and snow and d walk OF
few miles. which involved some climb
ing. the difficulty was circumvented.
Were the frost less severe the ice would
not be 50 thick, and therefore these OBJ
/ stacleS would not exist.
4 But II the traveller escapes falling into
4 n "nalyedy" he may do worse and get
/ into "polinya." This is a large rift in
/ the ice and Is often met with on the
/ Issuri, especially Il the beginning Of
+ March. AS this river Is comparatively
/ close to the sea. the temperature is mild
er than in the interior of Siberia and
i the stream il sooner free from Ice. 1t
may be frozen to depth Of several feet
enc day and may be quite dangerous
i the next. IL vehicle comes suddenly
upon one Of these assures the whole
! load falls in the water and will probably
/ never be heard of again. They are also
to be encountered on the Selenea, III
/ Transatlantic, and only short time age
/ a driver, returning with. an empty sleigh
| To the station, was drowned in one. to-
/ gether with the horses nor was his body
recovered. As the winter draws to a
! close IL is impossible TO travel at night
while the risk in daytime is consider
/ able. Nor is it pleasant to have 10 he
prepared at any moment. with colo
! wind blowing, to cast OFF ones furs anC
scramble for dear life People In 81
/ IBERIA. however. are 50 accustomed Il
these little incidents of travel as TO thini
| nothing of them. For the stranger they
afford variety during "A drive Of som,
1 thousands of miles.