The Indianapolis journal., 1902-09-16

New York Times.
Harry De Windt, the famous traveller.
who started from Paris on Dec. Is, 1901.
I1r Tar fD Long tS rOundsbout Journey to New .hs
possibility OF building a railroad between
the two points by way of Siberia and the
Bering strait, arrived IN this city yesterday
and registered at the Imperial Hotel. AL
though Mr.. De Windt related almost in
credible hardships which he had suffered
and declared emphatically that he had just
completed the worst journey of his life, the
explorer discovered on reaching New York
that he had t0st only ten pounds.
Mr. De Windt said that In 1900 Prince
Khilkoff had assured him half laughingly
that II he ever succeeded in making the
crossing. the prince would see TO IL that
the railroad followed Since the traveller
reached the United States he has received
a message of congratulation from Russia
Mr. De Windt made a graphic recital OF
the perils and trials which he has under
gone since he left Paris. 24S days ago. Sew
eral times, he declares. he felt that he had
but a few hours to live. and at times so
great were his sunerings that he had
scarcely desire for continued existence.
I'VE set out from Paris on Dec 49," he
said, "and went to Siberia by railway.
From lrkutsk our party secured sledges
and drove for 1000 miles further into the
cold, frozen north. The post houses Were
forty miles apart and all our nourishment
was black bread and water. But that was
only a 1.-THE of the troubles to come.
1T took five months TO reach Verkoyansk.
an exile settlement, where We spent two
months. From there we journeyed in a
northeasterly direction 1,400 miles TO Sredni-
polymsk, and OF this place / can give no
adequate description. The worst stories
which have ever been told or written or the
life led by the exies In the uttermost wiids
Of Siberia would form no exaggeration or
what exists in this place Suffice IL TO say
that no convict, no matter how hardy,
ever lives more than four or five years.
Mail or news OF the civilized world arrives
once year. The man or woman who goes
TO this settlement as prisoner is as GER
tainly dead to the world as though ascend
I'VE ran out Of food here and suffered
horribly. Finally, at the end OF the two
months. we secured dog teams and started
through the Tchukchi country for Bering
strait. We were expecting to come upon
settlement at every hundred miles, but we
drove on and on through the binding snow
for 500 miles. And then we came upon
wretched hut, where the mercury appalled,
US at 20 degrees below zero.
"At the end of seven weeks we reached
Bering strait. and thought that the future
could bring us nothing worse than the
hardships we had already encountered
At this point we lived for several weeks
with the althiest people in the world. Our
food was seal and walrus meat, and we
were glad to get that.
Finally the government cutter Thetis
called by order OF the government and took
us off. About five miles from Cape Prince
of Wales we left the ship and started for
land on ice which was moving at the rate
of four miles an hour. Ii took US six long
We stayed some time at Cape Prince OF
Wales and then left for Cape Nome, where
we stayed four days and which / want to
| say is civilized in it's customs and laws
as the city Of New York. We then trav-
elled to Seattle and came directly as
possible on to New York
"As to the possibilities Of the passage for
railroad travel, / am much more firmly
convinced than / hoped to be. I fully be-
| lieve that the road will be completed and in
operation within twelve years. Bering
| strait can be tunneled. II Is forty miles
across and twenty-three fathoms deep and
the soil Is most favorable.
Regarding ventilation. the three Dio-
mede islands, In close proximity, are in
| such position that they can be tunneled
! to provide perfect ventilation"
During NJ. De Wfndts narration a drink
was placed before him in which a piece Of
| Ice clinked pleasantly against the sides OF
| the glass.
Take II away. please" said NJ. De
Windt. Take IL and bring me something
| without any ice In It. I've had enough OF
! that substance to satisfy me all my life
| Included IN the travellers party was Vi
| comte De Bellegarde. who did not stand
| the hardships quite well as the rest OF
| the party. During the latter part OF the
| journey TO Seattle he suffered agonies with
! frozen feet and was compelled to leave the
others.
Three Russian servants who started out
with Nj. De Windt as soon as he reached ST.
| IBERIA deserted him when only a portion OF
the distance had been accomplished infiu-
| enced by their fear OF some OF the wild na-
4 tiveS they expected TO meet further on