The Prescott daily news., 1908-02-19
w ally" the
 Russian
By T. JENKINS HANS
(Copyright.)

rlnn. we signed him on as Vladimir Hjalmir, but we knew him as "Wally" and hailing from "Wallywadstok.
 The war had made us a bit careful about shipping either Russians or laps, but we were short-handed. and "Wallywadstok" was a good place to get away from before the warm weather set in
 We ran to the southward and man. aged to get well into the heat of the China sea before the wind failed us.
 "Wally" was In my watch, and as held the chief mates berth I had chance to see much of him.
 In the quiet moonlit nights al- lowed the watch to lie about the main deck and rest as they saw fit They had plenty of work in the daytime and the man on lookout was the only one that I saw kept awake.
 "Wally'' had way of climbing upon the rail at the fore-rigging and sitting looking at the moon, with his legs hanging over the side. It was manifestly an improper position for sailor on duty, but I never bothered him, save to try and find out some thing of his past. He had much of the anarchist about him, and his de- sire to leave Vladivostok at a time when most of his countrymen wished to remain and fight the Japs was a source of some speculation to us. I tried to win his confidence on several occasions and treated him as he had never been treated before aboard any ship, but my reward was only a great difference of manner coupled with an alacrity at obeying orders. "Wally" would not discuss his countrymen or their affairs. He could speak English very well and with only slight ac cent, which showed that he was above the average Finn in intelligence and that he had travelled much in for eign vessels.
 He was sitting in his favorite posi- ton one night when I happened for ward
 You don't mind. sir?" he asked quietly, meaning my discipline con- corning his seat.
 No, sit still" l answered. But you'll get overheard, and if you do I'll not stop for you"
 Tt Is no matter, sir; you would waste time. An, what does it mat ter?" He spoke in a low tone, hardly above a whisper, and I leaned on the rail and looked over the moonlit ocean. What does it matter when ic fc nothing. I've gone out and come back and I might as we'll have stayed"
 "There're easier ways than drown ing" I remarked. Then there are the sharks"
 'I doubt It. sir, doubt it." he an swered. I've seen hundreds go down, sir, hundreds and hundreds, In wriggling masses, yelling, screaming cursing and all trying to stay up for what?-yes, what? I was in the Petropavlovsk when she sank"
 Your" said, and looked at him. He was not joking. He was quiet for minute, and then began again:
 Yes. sir There were 600 of us in her when she sank, you remember. It took but few minutes and then the sea was just as smooth and quiet as before-a few minutes of struggling. crying, straining-iust a madness of fear as her bottom opened under her and she went down like the great mass of iron she was. Did they know what sunk her? Did they? Not less than 100 of them knew it"
 Do you knowY' I asked abruptly, somewhat sharply, for he seemed so unnaturally garrulous that I began to wonder if he had stolen any of the rum in our stores
 "I was aboard, sir" he said
 "Who were picked up?" I asked, hoping to start him again.
 About 70 of us, sir. I was in the crew of the forward torpedo-room, below the water line. There was a big dark man in that crew, Janski- a powerful man-and he went down in her He's down there now with the rest But what difference does it all make-what difference does it make ocean?"
 He spoke so low that could hardly hear him. The creaking of a block and the soft wash of the sea alongside sounded loud in the still night
 There's no blaming anyone for certain things. It's the social condi- tions existing that cause so much of our troubles. We are taught to look up to the wealthy and superior class as higher beings of greater knowledge and education. We are taught to look