The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-23
AN EXPLORERS PLANS
HARRY DE wINDT TO MAKE IN
OTHER HAZARDOUS JOURNEY.
VIII Attempt to Cross Northern ST.
IBERIA from Yakutsk to Bering
Straits This winter.
,-rro.popd.nce Of the Associated Press.

Correspondence OF the Associated Press.
LONDON, Sept. 15.-Mr. Harry De Windt,
the explorer, is about to make a third at
tempt to accomplish an overland journey
via Boring strait between Europe and
America. On the first occasion, starting
from New York, he managed to reach the
Asiatic coast of the straits, but owing to
his capture and subsequent i'll treatment
by Koari, the Tchuktchi chief, he mar
rawly escaped with his life and had to re-
turn. Last year he again attempted the
journey in the reverse direction, but ow-
ing to the political situation in China and
on the Amur, Count Lamsdorff refused to
allow him to cross Siberia, and again Mr..
De Windt had to relinquish the idea. Now,
however, Mr.. De Windt is receiving assist
ance from the Russian and American au-
thorities. including Commodore Melville in
Washington, as a result of which he in
tends to start on the journey %orthwit
Early in November George Harding, who
has accompanied Mr.. De Windt on all his
previous travels. will proceed from Paris
to Yakutsk, where he will get together
dog and reindeer teams and will await Mr..
windt will leave Paris and travel by the
AoAA 1NCAA O. aAASSN - NA0 Z AAI
nus of Irkutsk. which place will be reached
on Dec. 20. Thence the traveller will pro-
coed to Yakutsk. a distance of 1900 miles,
involving a three weeks sleigh journey.
Arriving at Yakutsk early in January Mr..
De Windt will join Mr.. Harding, who will
then have in readiness the impedimenta
for the long journey to Boring straits. A
fortnight will be spent at Yakutsk. and
A. L. Il .F $50 A. -
will proceed northeast over an %uninhabited
and practically unknown country to Mini
Kolymsk, the most remote northeastern
settlement of Russia on the Arctic ocean.
This region is never visited except by an
occasional Siberian trader, although one
portion of il was traversed by an Amer
lean traveller when searching for the sur
viVOrs of the Jeanette.
Between Yatkutsk and Mini Klimsk. a
distance of 1850 miles, transport will be
by means of reindeer teams. Beyond rough
government shantles, known as 'povarni,"
erected every hundred verts to enable a
stray traveller there TO light a fire, there
are no habitations, and the travellers will
have to sleep in the open. This portion of
the journey, and especially that over the
V~erkhoyamSk mountains, will be attended
with considerable difficulty. 1t is expected
the settlement of Mini Kolymsk, which
has a population of 1000 political exiles.
will be reached in February, and there
Mr.. De Windt hopes to fall in with a
enuhCn luI VI INOIN caravan returning
TO one of the small settlements on the
shores of Boring strait.
1t is, of course. Mr.. De Windt's intention
TO carefully avoid Oumvadjik, the settle
ment where he nearly lost his life. and to
make for East Cape, 120 miles to the north
and 1.500 miles from Mini KOlymsk, reach
ing there in the middle of April. Mr.. De
WING will then cross on the ice 10 Cane
Prince Of Wales. the most westerly point of
America, where Boring straits are only
about the same width as the English chan
mel at Dover. Should the ice conditions
not be favorable. the American revenue
cutter Bear will. by arrangement with the
Washington Navy Department, call for Mr..
De Windt and convey him across the strait.
whence he Will return either by way OF
the Yukon or Mckenzie rivers to San Fran
cisco. Winnipeg and New York, which citv
il is hoped will De reached in June next.
Mr.. De Windts chief object is to survey
the country northeast of Yakutsk. TO which
point the Russian government is projecting
a railway next year from Irkutsk Yalr1tsE
will then be the junction of the Manchurian
and Siberian sections. From Yakutsk Ia
Boring straits. which. with the exception
OF one mountain range, is all fiat. will be
surveyed in view OF a possible extension
of railways. On the American side sr,,-
Veyors are already working on the north
ern extension of the Kl0ndike Railway tn
the American shore OF BerinG straits. Al
though comparatively narrow the terri6c
currents and ice foes preclude the possi-
bility OF a bridge connecting the two CONT
nents. but Belgian and American engineers
have under consideration the construction
OF the tunnel. The straits are in no part
deeper than twenty-five fathoms.