Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-07-29
The Special Correspondent

quarters III tho car, and do not care to
alight.
Here am 1 on the platform. This is
ia Their an important station, and from
the engine house comes a more powerful
locomotive than those which have
brought the train along since we left
Uzun Ada. These early engines were all
very well as long as the line lay over
an almost horizontal plain, but now we
are among the gorges of the Pamir pla-
teau, there are gradients of such steep
ness as to require more engine power.
1 watch the proceedings, and when the
locomotive has been detached with its
tender, the baggage van-with hinko IN
it's at the head of the train.
The idea occurs to me that the young
Roumanian may perhaps venture out
on the platform. 1t would be an inn
prudence, for he runs the risk of being
seen by the police, who move about tax
| ing a good look at the passengers. what
my No. IL had better do is to remain
in his box, or, at least, in his van.
will go and get a few provisions, liquid
and solid, and take them to him. even
before the departure of the train, If it is
possible to do so without fear of being
noticed.
| The refreshment room at the station is
open, and Popof is not there. If he was
to see me making purchases he would
be astonished as the dining car contains
everything we might want.
At the bar 1 get little cold meat and
some bread. The station is not well
lighted. A few lamps give only feeble
| light. Popof is busy with one of the
railway men. The new engine has not
yet been attached to the train. The mo-
ment seems favorable. 1t is useless to
wait until we have left Kokhan. If l
can reach Kinko 1 shall be able to sleep
through the highland that will be well
come, l admit.
l step on to the train. and after as
surfing myself that no one is watching
me, 1 enter the baggage van, saying as
1 do so:
at is l."
In fact, it is as we'll to warn Kinko
in case he Is out of his box. But he had
not thought of getting out, and 1 advise
him to be very careful. He is very
pleased at the provisions, for they are
change to his usual diet.
81 do not know how to thank you,
Monsieur Bombarnac," he says to me-
"When shall we be at the frontierT
Tomorrow, about one in the after
noon"
"And at Gachgarw
Fifteen nours afterward, on the night
of the nineteenth"
''There the danger is, Monsieur Bonn
barnac."
''Yes, Kinko for if it is difficult tc
enter the Russian possessions, it is nc
less difficult to get out of them, wher
the Chinese are at the gates. Their Oh
Gals will give us a good look over before
they will let us pass. At the same time
they examine the passengers much more
closely than they do their baggage. AnC
as this van is reserved for the luggag,
; going through to Pekin, l do not thinl
you have much to fear. So, good night
AS a matter of precaution, would rath
er not prolong my visit"
L have come out; l have regained m.
couch, and l really did not hear thu
starting signal when the train began t.
move.
The only station of any importanc
, which the railway passed before sunris
, was that of Marghehan, where the stop
page was a short one.
Beyond this station the road reache
the frontier which divides Russian Tur
kestan from the Pamir plateau and tn
vast territory of the -Khirghizes.
ms part OF central ASIA is continual
I ly being troubled by plutonian disturb
o ances beneath its surface. Norther
Turkestan has frequently Suffered froI
earthquake-the terrible experience G
. 1887 will not have been forgotten-an
T. at Tashkend, as at Samarkand, l sa'
n the traces of these connections. In fac
: minor oscillations are continually bein
!. observed, and this volcanic action takt
a place all along the coast, where lay til
stores of petroleum and naphtha, froi
: the Caspian Sea to the Pamir plateau
e In short, this region is one of the mo-
interesting parts of Central Asia thai
r. tourist can visit.