Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-05
FOREIGN NEWS
Petersburg The

St. Petersburg The ubiquitous
American trader appears to have dis
covered a part, at least of northern
Siberia and to have made IL his own
So strong hold in fact has he secur-
ed upon the natives of that little
known part of the world that while
the American silver dollar is taken
with avidity in trade, the Russian trad
or who offers two Russian roubIes for
the same amount OF goods Is looked
upon with suspicion.
Lieutenant ArbenieT OF the Russian
navy, who was a rember of the Rus
sian expedition which upon fits arrival
at ST. Michael, Alaska, a few weeks
ago, reported having found a large
body OF land forming the counterpart
Of Nova Zemlya, and enclosing the
Kara sea. in a book on the work OF
the expedition In 1912. just published
WAKES humorous about the American
traders met with during the voyage.
Wherever natives congregated, he
says, there stood the tell-tale log
cabin, whence silver dollars. American
rifles and canned goods We're dcled
out in return for the precious furs in
which the land abounds. The offer of
lar was In many cases treated with
suspicion.
Lieutenant Arbeniev argues that IL
IS about time the Russians took more
interest in their own lands and peo-
pie He records a visit paid to the
Taimyr and Waigatch, the two steam
ers Of the expedition, when on Tche-
Iiuskin at the end of August. 1912, by
Tunguz, chieftain styled Bobrovsky,
which means beaver, who proudly dis
played a medal conferred upon him
by the president of the United States
for succoring the survivors OF the
Jennette Arctic expedition.
The influence OF the alien traders,
says the lieutenant, does not seem to
have been physically harmful to the
natives. but quite the contrary. SO far
az the appearance of the younger gen.
Grafton is concerned. They have. how
ever. been unable to alter the indie
scribably filthy habits OF the Siberian
redskins.
The discovery OF the new land by
Captain Wilkitzky, the commander OF
the expedition which arrived at ST.
Michael. is the result Of the endeavors
OF the Russian government TO render
commercially practicable the northern
sea route TO the far east The captain
is a son OF General Wilkitzky. who
died in February last, and who as
chief of the Russian photographic ser
vice signed the instructions for the
survey OF the northern Siberian coast
for which the present expedition was
organized
The Taimyr and Waigatch are fee
breakers specially built 10 perform the
northern voyage from Vladivostock TO
St Petersburg, and are equipped with
wireless installation. Every year since
1910 a section of the coast has been
surveyed. and an attempt was made I
70 reach European waters without (
wintering Last year the expedition 4
was unable to reach Cape Tcheliu- :
skin. The leader. General Sergeieff, 4
who has subsequently invaded. de- /
clined TO proceed northward and turn
cd back TO Vladivostock
According to the opinion of hydro ,
graphers. Captain Wilktzky decided at /
any cost TO come westward, even if he /
had to winter in the Kara sea. In I
these circumstances he boldly moved /
northward and made the important .
discover of new land, which he has (
reported in a lacopic message to the i
admiralty. After recounti1g that he .
put into ST. Michael for coal and be-
cause OF slight damage received dur