Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-25

and with all the wraps I possessed
out on the lake, however, there came
upon me a steady, piercing blast that
seemed to penetrate my furs as II
they were so much paper.
I had never suffered so intensely
from cold in my life before; indeed for
five minutes I was almost insensible.
And yet the cruel gale was at my
back, and the long lines Of troops
packed in their sledges met 1t face to
lface
It was a curious spectacle, this end
less advance Of the Russian reinforce
ments across this arctic sea. The route
was staked out by telegraph posts
placed about two hundred yards apart.
AS we swung along at a good eight
miles an hour, our driver grooming to
the horses an odd chant, the advanc-
ing sleighs seemed to mount into hum
dreds and even thousands.
In those carrying troops, six men
were crowded into a sleigh built for
three. How they were able to endure
that terrible weather passed my un-
derstanding. They wore their great
coats, 1t Is true. but other wraps were
few among them.
Sometimes I met an empty sleigh
with its soldier passengers tramping
along by it's side striving to warm
their frozen limbs. Blue with cold and
utterly miserable they seemed, and
when a Russian with whom tray-
eled assured me that many Of them
must be badly frostbitten or even die
from exposure before they reached
the other side I could not but believe
him.
On the outside tracks moved the
lprovision and store sleighs, the major
ity with five horses apiece, dragging
several sledges with rails sticking out
behind them. but at that time (Feb.
l15). there was no sign Of any railway
track being laid across the Ice. II
such a feat has been accomplished, 1t
must have been at a later date than
was announced in the Russian press.
The surface of the ice was very ir-
regular and uneven. In places there
were foot wide crevasses and assures,
while here and there the ice had risen
into hummocks, which nearly Jared
me out of my sleigh. Despite the
wind, there was around us curious
driving mist that hid the distances.
After two and half hours we sight
ed the great rest-house, Of wood and
felt and brick. that is built yearly In
the middle Of the lake. A very palace
it seemed to US weary travellers. Not
until after two plates Of soup and some
steaming coffee could I find my legs
and feet again. Yet the poor soldiers
passed it by, making no break in their
Journey from shore to shore.
1t was with lingering regret that
left the hospitable--rest-h and
lagain disappeared beneath my wraps
But even the crossing Of Lake Baikal
comes to an end some time, and about
six hours after had started / arrived
at the little town where my journey
was to recommence.
More troop trains and ever more met
us as we passed westward. After my
lsecond day the soldiers that they car
ried changed in type. They were no
Longer young recruits. but the reserves
l-well-built, middle -aged men, who
behaved themselves as veterans should.
For the first time I noticed cannon,
each train having two trucks contain
ing one gun apiece fastened behind 1t.
In the whole course Of my journey
I saw no horses being hurried forward,
though I understood that there were
several thousand expected.
War prices were beginning to be felt
at the buffets where we halted for our
meals. The peasants had long since
ceased to bring in fresh supplies, and the
cost of necessaries steadily rose. Bread
doubled, sugar and coffee trebled. AT
the same time I noticed in sidings the
ordinary trains of commerce lying
half hidden in snowdrifts.
Several Russians on the train VINO
came from the east Of Baikal were
talking very gravely about the situa-
ton. The native tribes grind their
own corn, but the Europeans IN the
towns send their grain to MOSCOW
from which it returns as flour.
II these flour trains are stopped
prices will soon be rising famine hish
in eastern Siberia. Peculation and the
bribery of officials will give the civil
ians supplies taken from the war
stores; but can we'll understand why
Russia has sent her convicts into the
army She wants no spare mouths to
feed.