Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-01
THE SEARCH FOR ANDREE.
Journey of the Relief Expedition
Through Siberian wilds to Aid
the Daring Aeronaut.

From the London News.
ON THE UPPER LENA Between schi-
galova and Ust-Kup, June I've have
started on our long voyage down the Lena.
and have hopes of coming to the Polar
Sea in time to be able to make an at
tempt to reach the New Siberian Islands
while the sea is most likely to be free from
ice- AT the village, or town. of Tulun our
journey on the train, which had lasted
about two weeks from st. Petersburg, came
TO an end. and We had to intrust ourselves
and our things to a tarantass and two
telegas: Unhappiiy. the order from the
authorities to the different postal stations
to provide US with horses. ETC., had not
reached the parties concerned and for this
reason the journey from Tulun to Irkutck
somewhat annoying. In 1rkutsk We met
with the most cordial reception from the
governor general and other persons of au-
thority and influence, who helped us in
every way. On account of special orders
from the governor, We were enabled to
MAKE make very quick Journey from . Irkqtsk
to Schigalova. on the upper Lena, about 400
kiiometers. The steamers on the Lena are
twenty. They are rather shaky and some
what primitive in their construction. but
they are comparatively comfortable. They
make their tours on the Upper Lena mostly
to the gold fields at vitim and to the city
of Yakutsk: only the steamer Lena, which
Baron Nordenskjold brought with him on
HIS voyage EOuHst ASIA, Hdhes OHc
or two trips each summer from Yakutsk to
the Polar sea.
The scenery OF the Upper Lena is grand
and imposing in its extremely somber wild
ness. During thousands of centuries the
magnificent river has cut its channel
through the mountains. which. covered
are towering up on each side, while lovely
little islands. clad in the first verdure of
the spring. are rnirrored in the many cham
nels which seclude them from the steep
and wild looking shores. On these Islands
the natives-Buriates and Yakutes-have
| pitched their tents, while their cattle are
cate grass of the early spring. The con-
| trast between these idyliic scenes and the
dark virgin forests stretching away tor
hundreds and even thousands of miles.
| teeming with bears. elks. wolves. etc. pro-
| duces n sensation in your mind which you
will not experience in any other part of the
world. This feeling is rendered still more
unique when at night you see group or
dusky "brodyags" sitting around a log hre
| passing silently by or when 'bausk"
! loaded with exiles glides down the stream.
! while the unhappy passengers, on the way
| to their living graves beyond the Siberian
| Polar circles. sing their melancholy mel
| odies.
ant sound of the contact between the bot
| tom of the river and the keel of the steam
| err Happily. the steamer jumped the shall
lows. but the 'bausk" which she towed be-
came fast. and here we are now at noon
| anchored at a picturesque island. while the
captain and his men are working away to
| gel the "bausk'' off the shadows. 1t would
| cost comparatively little money to cleanse
| the river and make it navigable for steam
ers all the way up to Katchuga, but moth
ing of the kind has been attempted. II may
be interesting to travel in this manner, not
| knowing where and when you will stop or
move provided you have plenty of time.
but if you are in a hurry it is quite an
other thing. In going down or up the river
there are two men placed at the bow of
the steamer. measuring the depth of the
water. calling out in monotonous voice
alternately the number of "ochetvers' the
water holds.
Now. finally. June 4. we have arrived at
J-st-Kut and ] have only time to add a
! few words before the steamer Yakutsk
leaves. We have now good hopes Of reach
ing the steamer Lena at Yakutsk. with
which We intend to continue on our way to
Bulun near the delta of the Lena Our
further plans depend upon the information
we receive from the governor at fakutsk,
to whom have letter Of recommendation
from the governor general at Irkutsk-
IL hunters have gone to the New Siberian
| Islands. especially Kotjelnol. We shall
probably not try to get there but instead.
| by sea or land, go westward toward Olench
| Chatanga and Siamyr. But II no hunts
men have gone to the islands, we shall try
| to go there by sea. This is all / can say
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