Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-03-16


Massachusetts, the most despotic au-
tocratic government in all the world:
Russia the home of anarchy. the
breeding ground of nihilism: Russia
where human life wasn't worth
cracker; Russia the home of the
knout and all the horrors of dungeons
in dank and dark places; Russia with
its Siberia to the eastward where
thousands of poor, downtrodden hui
man beings were annually starved
and beaten TO death because they
dared, if only in thought, to oppose the
shriveled bit of intellectually called
the car. 1t was irony to address him
as the Little Father" Cheney knew
his work would not be of easy accom-
plishment in Russia; he knew all
about the celebrated third section"
or secret police. They had their
agents every place in the world
even the United States held many of
them. Every foreigner entering Rus
STA is under surveillance from the
time he enters until he leaves land
numbers of them do not leave)
Cheney knew this. He knew all his
cunning would be required to outwit
this dreaded third section but he felt
equal to it. He knew if he was de-
tected seeking military information
his life would pay the forfeit. Mails,
telegraphs, railroads, all means of
transportation were under govern
mental control. Before leaving Ven
ice, Cheney destroyed every scrap of
writing he had save his passport and
a small letter of credit. He would OBJ
serve and find out all he could in
Russia, but the making of notes and
transcribing his report would be done
in neutral territory later on. He was
just plain American citizen on
trip. Journalism was a chance pro-
fession, to be used as a pleasure more
than a livelihood. He was rich Chat
was true), and fully conscious of his
danger, Col Jack Cheney took the I'm
perial express, a de luxe train, and
shortly afterwards he was at the Dor
der The train stopped, the cars were
opened and inspected by horde of
customs officers. Across fence was
Russia; now they were in Austria.
Presently distinguished looking in
diyidual, respondent in a green and
gold uniform and hung with medals
and decorations announced:
Pardon, ladies and gentlemen; but
owing to some unavoidable circum-
stances which cannot be controlled,
we shall be compelled to detain you
a short while. We regret it, but it is
unavoidable"
Cheney looked the man over care
fully, and then carelessly lit a cigar.
No one was allowed to leave the cars,
but gazing out the window he saw
several men in plain clothes looking
over passports, baggage and individ-
uals. 1t was evident some one was be-
ing looked for.
Third section, murmured
Cheney to himself as he smoked and
read. An inspector came in and said:
Your passport, monsieur, please?'
Without raising his eyes from his
book he handed the inspector the lit
tie leather case containing his pass
port. 1t was carefully read and hand
ed back with a polite Thank you.
Cheney could feel he, too, was being
looked over, but never turned hair.
Two hours were consumed--and as
Cheney afterwards learned, two men
had been turned back. A few mo-
ments more and they were in Rus
STA. That night Cheney stopped In
Warsaw, but nothing untOward hap
pened there Poor down-trodden Po-
land contained no military secrets Of
note.
Moscow was Cheney's next stop,
and here the trouble began. He had
hardly been in the Anglo-Russ hotel
ten minutes before there was knock
on the door of his room.
Come in" he said.
In came M. Dobrowsky, as shown
by the card Dobrowsky looked like
a Partisan fashion plate.
"You are Mr.. Bradley"
eyes, sir" replied Cheney. Wont
you sit DOWN.
"Thank you," said M. Dobrowsky,
sitting on the edge of chair, holding
his silk hat over his knees. Mr.
Bradley" he continued, in perfect
English, Gen. Trepoff, whose office |
represent, has asked me to interview
you"
els Gen. Trepoff an editor?" smil-
ingly asked Cheney. He knew he
wasn't.
mo; ali! no, Mr.. Bradley Gen.
Trepoff is military governor here In
Moscow" Cheney knew he was a
project of police as well.
"On," said Cheney with the same
inscrutable smile on his face, "and
what does Gen. TrepOf want of me?"
MERELY wants to know, Mr.. Brad
lev. what you are doing here. That's
all"
"At present, Mr.-er-Monsieur
nohromskv I am doing nothing at all