Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-07-15


Goes extending over fifteen hundred
yards. Running over a few embank-
ments necessitated by the inequalities
Of the sandy ground, the train again
reaches the horizontal steppe.
We are running at speed Of thirty
miles an hour in a southwesterly direc-
ton along the Persian frontier 1t is
only beyond Douchak that the line be-
gins to leave It. We reached that sta
ton at 9 o'clock In the morning.
We stop here two hours. | am off to
look at Douchak. with Major Noltitz as
my cicerOne | was led to question the
major regarding the safety Of the Grand
Transasiatic across the provinces OF Cen
trail Asia
In Turkestan. he told me, the safety
is well assured. During the years the
Transcaspian has been at work there has
been no attack to hinder the train ser
vice.
THAT is another matter" said the
major THE Grand Transasiatic is un-
der Chinese control, and l have not
much confidence In that"
Are there not lot of scoundrels
prowling about Mongolia and Northern
Gilman | asked. MY sole anxiety Is
that our journey may not be devoid of
incident"
Really, Mr.. Special Correspondent,
admire you. Well l am afraid you will
be disappointed, as | have heard that
the company has treated with several
chiefs of the robber bands. But there
is one of these highwaymen who has
retained his independence and liberty OF
action, certain Ki-Tsang."
who is hep
"a. bold bandit chief, half Chinaman,
half Mongol. Having for some time been
terror to Yunan, he was being too
closely pursued, and has now moved into
the northern provinces. His presence has
eN en- been reported in that part Of Mon
golia served by the Grand Transasiatic."
WELL he ought to furnish few
paragraphs"
We returned toward the station. The
stoppage at Douchak had another half
hour to last. As l walked on the quay,
observed something going on which
would change the makeup Of our train.
Another van had arrived from Teher-
an by the branch line Of Mesched, which
puts the Persian capital In communica-
ton with the Transcaspian.
This van was bolted and barred, and
accompanied by a squad of Persian POI
| ice, whose ORDERS betlutu 10 Do nOl "
lose sight of 1t.
don't know what made me think so,
but it seemed as though this van had
something about it, and as the major
had left me, went and spoke to Popof,
woh was watching over the proceedings
"Uopof, where Is that van goingT
ITO Pekin."
"And what has 1t got In it?'
IAN exalted parsonage"
; "Well, Popof, when this exalted per
sonage gets out perhaps you will lei
me known
. He will not get out"
"Why not?"
Because he is dead. 1t Is his body
J they are taking to Pekin, where he will
be inferred with all the honors due t
him"
:, While l was looking at this van
new passenger came up and examined
it with no less curiosity than l did. II,
. was a fine looking man of about 40
i. wearing gracefully the costume of thu
y, richer Mongols a tall fellow with rathe
a gloomy look, military mustache, taw
, ny complexion and eyes that never shut
Here is a splendid fellow" l said t.
myself. 81 don't know IL he will tur1
out the hero Of the drama | am il
search Of, but anyhow, l will humble
y him twelve in my travelling troupe"
" This leading star, l soon learned iron
- POpof, bore the name of Faruskiar. II
- was accompanied by another Mongol o
!, inferior rank, Of about the same age
whose name was Changer. As they look
ed at the van being attached to the tai
= Of the train in front of the luggage va
they exchanged a few words. As 500
y, as the arrangements were complete tn
- Persians took their places in the second
Is ! class car which preceded the mortuar
Is van. so as to have the precious corps
4 always under their surveillance.
81 The signal is given. The passenger
TX old and new, hurry to their places
IN Among the new ones l notice three MOI
gols OF forbidding appearance, who 90
Dt into the second-class car.
is As l put my foot on the platform
sr hear the young Chinese say something I
n his companion in French.
,e And so Pan Chao speaks Frencl
What do l say? Better than French II
b. speaks Partisan. Most extraordinary
IL must have a talk with him.