The San Francisco call., 1904-03-08
BY G. FREDERICK WRIGHT. AN. LID.

In the spring Of 1900, in company with
Frederick 3. Wright. I set out for a
trip across Siberia in the interest Of
certain scientific Investigations. In the
course Of the season we were brought in
very pleasant contact with a consid-
era ble number Of the Russian leaders
who are now prominent in the affairs
connected with the war between Russia
and japan. A brief description Of our
Impressions may add something TO the
interest with which all are following
The progress Of events in the Far East
While spending few weeks on our
way in Japan Baron ROsen. the Rus
sian Embassador at Toxic. learning Of
my plans. sent word through Minister
Buck that he would be happy TO have
an Interview with US. Upon the follow
ing day, through the good Offices of our
Minister. We were taken over to the
DsrOn's residence. and were most cor
daily received by q WeI-preserved man
somewhat past middle life, who spoke
English fiuenty and expressed great
interest in America and wide knowl-
edge Of the affairs upon this cOnti-
nent. His interest in scientific investi-
cations was also shown by his plaus-
ible explanation Of various phenomena
which he had witnessed in America
and further by his desire and willing
ness 70 further our plans. and ii was
FOR this that he had requested an audi
ence. He advised US by all means not
TO follow the mere beaten track of
tourists. but 10 begin our explorations
By making a trip through Manchuria
3lOng the line OF the railroad which
his Government was constructing. To
facilitate this he offered to write
personal letter Of Introduction TO Ad
miral AleXieff at Port Arthur and
Colonel Samoytoff at Khabarovsk. This
he did in the characteristic cordial and
perfect style Of Russian officials. and
expressed most hearty wishes for our
success.
Armed with Baron Rosen's letter
OF Introduction we appeared at Port
Arthur in the early part Of June
1890, about ten days after the break
ing out Of the Boxer revolution at
Peking. and sought an interview with
Admiral AleXieff He was then the
ranking commander of all the foreign
forces in the East and was giving gen
eral direction 10 the armies which
were gathering about Peking. Our
first glimpse Of the admiral was OBJ
fained al the little Russian church at
Port Arthur. where l attended ser
vice with a crowd Of Cossacks. On
the following day he was to have his
weekly public reception. To this we
repaired hoping for an opportunity
Ito present our letter But the pres
sure Of responsibilities was such that
he did not appear. Nothing daunted
we proceeded 10 the official headquar-
ters the next day and presented the
letter. But the subordinate officials
were slow Of movement and we seem
ed likely TO fail Of our object, when
We learned that Colonel Samoytoff of
the general staff had just been trans
ferred TO Port Arthur and on the
presentation Of our letter TO him we
were put under charge Of a Cossack
and taken over to the cOlonefs quar-
tiers.
Baron Rosen had commended him
TO US as a man who was deeply inter-
ested in the work Of the Imperial
Geographical Society and so we found
him TO be He also spoke English
readily and entered into our plans
with great zest and offered TO bring
our letters TO the notice Of the ad-
miral. assuring US that if we would
go over 10 our hotel we should in due
time receive an invitation for an in
terview. In the course of few hours
a Cossack appeared with a polite note
from Admiral Alexieff asking us to
have a private interview with him at
1O O'Clock the next day. With as lit
tie formality as possible he received
us and chatted about affairs in
/ A ~ oe
Investigations, in which he appeared
10 have much interest. It is a strik-
ing commentary upon the failure of
the European powers to understand
the extent OF the Boxer movement at
that time that though the revolution
had then been going on for two weeks
admiral Alexieh had no hesitation in
sending US through Manchuria along
the line of the partially constructed
railroad, where apparently he appre-
hended that there would be no danger
besetting US.
Admiral Alexien is Of a little more
than medium height, somewhat thick
set but not portly. with a winning
Russian face He dispatches business
with great rapidity and displays a
very wide knowledge Of the world as
well as OF his own country. He has
come up from humble position and
now so commands the confidence of
the Russian people and of the Car
that he is given unlimited authority
in the conduct Of negotiations with
Japan and of the war and Of the gov
ernment Of the provinces Of Eastern
Siberia
In due time COssack armed with a
letter from Admiral Alexief took US
in charge and conducted US to the
general superintendent of the railroad,
whom we had found il impossible to
approach the day before. But he now
received US with great cordiality and
many expressions Of interest in our
success, and put US on board a con-
struction train, where. crowded into a
caboose car, with numerous subordi-
nate officials and wOrkmen, we spent
four days in going over the line from
Port Arthur 90 Telling, near Mukden,