The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-29
TRAMPING CLEAR
ACROSS SIBERIA
Harry De Windt Tells of His Adven-
lures and Privations on
the Way.

SEATTLE, Wash, July %. = After
travelling for six months across the
bleak steppes and frozen mountains of
Siberia, Harry de Windt, of the London
Daily Express, is ready to report that
a railway pier connecting the Eastern
and. Western. hemispheres is a feasible
project.
Mr.. De Windt left Paris Dec. Is last
and arrived in Seattle by way of Ber-
ing straits, the Yukon, Dawson and
SkagWay, this afternoon on the steam
er city of Topeka. His party encoun-
tered great perils from hunger and
cold and attribute to the presence of
Americans in northern waters the fact
that they are again safe in a civilized
country The party consists of Mr. De
W1ndt, Viscount de Clinchamp, Belle
gard George Harding, who has been
with the leader of the expedition on
many journeys in the last sixteen
years, and Stephan Rastorugorff,
CoSSack
The expedition from which the party
is returning was undertaken at the in
stance of Alfred J. Pearson, owner of
the London Express, Pearson's Maya
zine and tWoscore of other publica-
lions, who wished to have a reporter
make the trip by land from Paris, a
feat which had not before been accom-
plished.
MI. lie Wlndt asserts that the over
land journey was much more hazard
Gus ana difficult than he expected and
that he would decline the trip again.
De Witt left the Trans Siberian
railway at Irkutsk. From there
a course almost directly north
was followed to the borders Of
the Arctic ocean. The trail was along
the Lena river, which is one of the
greatest rivers of Asia. On the Lena
a great find of gold has been made
but none but Russians are permitted
to mine it. Much of this part of the
trip was made behind reindeer. Near
the mouth of the river dogs were pro-
cured and they hauled the four men
the remainder of the way to Cape
East.
The country traversed was covered
to depth of several feet with snow,
the road was untraveled and rough
and dangers lurked at almost every
turn. The members of the expedition
were treated with kindness, but in
many places the natives were suffering
from famine and disease and could do
little for their visitors. Many pros
porous cities exist on the way along
the route, which the leader of the par
ty had selected. When these points
were reached a few scattered huts and
half dozen wretched natives were all
that remained of their greatness. The
people of all the northern part of the
continent have been attracted to the
coast nearest America, as there they
can trade with the American whalers
and SubSiSt more easily than in their
inland towns and villages.
For several hundred miles directly
east of Boring Straits Mr.. De Windt
found many settlements of the natives,
and here he found food and assistance.
Had he not met the Siberians he be-
Heves he never could have reached
Boring Straits, md so his rescue is
due to American traders. Discussing
their trip this evening he said regard
ing his personal experiences:
Because of the famine the reindeer
were thin and hardly able to travel,
but they were far superior in bodily
condition to the dogs which we pro-
cured later. We travelled by post sta
tons located usually at long intervals.
We passed penal colonies and little
villages of destitute natives whose
condition was indeed pitiable. I once
thought the treatment of the Siberians
by the Russian government was not
severe, but now that 1 have seen
change my opinion. Along the shores
of the Arctic we ate frozen fish and
walrus meat Our joy was great at.
getting a, little flour and molasses near
the end of our journey. The cold was
terrific. The viscount"s feet were
frozen.
Il should say that the railway prof.
ect is feasible, though no railway will
follow the route which we took. 1t
would go several hundred miles to the
southwark, and through rich mineral
country. Privately, received the IN
formation that the Russians are sur
veying such a line, but 1 am not at
liberty to say exactly what course it
will take, The only difficulty which is
in the way is in transferring at Bering
straits. The great distance makes a
tunnel impracticable, and the miles of
ice foes, constantly moving, render
navigation almost impossible. How
ever, this problem may be solved, and
then the project will be assailable and
undoubtedly such road will be built"