Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-07-21
RUSS POLICE SHOW NO RELAkA
TON OF THEIR OLD CAUTION.
(By William e. Curtis. Correspondent
of the Chicago Record Herald)

| - '.'s AeuooAos may oVs
Batoum is the Colchis OF the ancients
where Jason and the argonau,s cap.
tured the golden fleece. 1t is the only
sea port of the Russian province OF
the Caucasus and the only outlet for
the trade of that vast and productive
area. 1t is the terminus of nearly all
the lines of steamers on the Black
sea, and therefore a place of great i'm.
portance. There is a railroad across
the Caucasus between the Black and
the Caspian sea. pipe lines for convey.
ing OIL from Baku and special docks
Tor loading tank steamers with that
kind of freight.
batoum was part OF Turkey until
the year 1878, and was awarded to
Russia by the treaty of Berlin. in
which the European powers all partic.
ipated, as part of the price which Tur
Key was compelled to pay for peace
since the cession the place has been
strongly fortified by the Russians mot.
wlthstanding stipulation in that con.
vention against 1t.
There is population OF about 20.
900, very cosmopolitan. All the Turk
ish clans are represented and there
are about 5000 Greeks. There Is a
Old and new town The former ia n
duplication of 100 small Turkish cit.
les with bazaars. mosques, cafes and
khans, where travellers and caravans
iind accommodations for themselves
their animals and their merchandise
Most of the labor is lone by Arme.
mans Georgians, Greeks, Turks and
circassians and representatives of a
dozen other races, each of which ad.
heres tenaciously to its native cos.
tune as well as its native customs
Inc new town is distinctly Russian
with wide streets. good sidewalks and
shade trees everywhere. There are
two well kept parks, boulevard and
promenade along the sea shore which
Is very attractive and must be a great
comfort to the population during the
long hot summer months. There is
good deal of bathing ala natural, the
women undressing and going into the
water Tin the altogether" at one end
OF the promenade. and the men at the
other, without the formality of bath.
ing-houses. although they might be
built at very slight expense I'm the In.
terest of common decency as we'll as
convenience. No other necessity la
neglected.
1t Is decidedly pleasant to see the
unveiled faces of women again, after
several weeks In Mohammedan towns. .
and one never admires blonde hair
and blue eyes, particularly when worn
by an American girl as he does after
spending some time among orientaIs.
IL Is pleasant to escape the musty
smells which are attached to every
Turkish town and to see healthy. clean
contamination.
Batoum has a splendid cathedral of
the solid and ornate Russian sayle
OF architecture. with the five domes
required by Byzantine traditions. It
was erected as a memorial several
Years ago. Somebody, unfortunately,
furnished the cathedral with peal
OF heavy deep-toned bells, which are
suspension of business. because no.
body can talk or hear or even think
In the eruption OF sound they pro
duce.
| There are good shops, well filled
with modern merchandise, and hotel
that is quite comfortable. but Is kept
by man whose name must be Bara-
| bas, for he Is robber.
| The streets and cafes are full OF
Russian officers and soldiers, includ.
| ing many stately cossacks wearing
| tall chimney-pot hats of white Persian
lamb and the many other accouter-
mcnts that pertain to that race of
professional warriors. cossack, as
perhaps you know, comes from the
valley of the River Don, in eastern
Russia, where soldiers are bred, and
they go into the Russian army for
life, furnishing their own uniforms,
their own horses and their own arms,
as well as their own rations and sup.
plies, for which they receive lump
sum per month. They are doubtless
the finest cavalry in the world and
are absolutely loyal to their employ.
ers. 1t is a matter of principle and
not matter of partisanship. In all
the Russian revolutions, In all the
consDiracles against the car and the
government, no cossack has ever been
corrupted. On the other hand, they
are absolutely merciless. They seem
to be entirely without the ordinary
feelings Of humanity, knowing neither
sympathy nor sorrow, regret nor re-
morse. They will shoot an infant as
readily as an armed foe.
The Russian drosky, the little baby
victoria. so familiar to all the cars
possessions, which may be found in
every town between Riga and Via.
livestock, Is here at the convenience
OF the tourist as well as the residents.
We have seen a few of the splendid