Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-11-22

the time [ thought it d mlsfOrtune) to
visit one of the large munition plants,
which is located just on the border of
Siberia in the Ural Mountains. about
600 miles due north of Perm. The
journey from Pttrograd required TIN &c
and one half days by rail. AS the ex-
press train ran but once a week and it
was very difficult to secure ticket on
it, was obliged to travel by local
train and share compartment with
three Russians, one a young army
officer, another an elderly gentleman
whom found had been captain Oh
one of the river boats which ran on the
Volga, and the other mining engineer
whose destination was i'll the interior of
Siberia.
When a Russian travels he carries
his bed as we'll as ali provisions which
he may need on the journey; so you
can imagine how much room we had
to spare in an eiGhtfo square com
partment by the time they all got
moved in. [ could have tolerated the
close quarters, however, if we could
have had some fresh air, but as this is
something which the Russian fears
more than the German bullets I was
obliged to abide by their decision, as
they were in the majority, and leave
ho do
an occasional walk in the corridor to
recuperate at times when the air he
came too thick in the compartment
Our train ran at an average speed Of
twenty five miles an hour, making
stops at places along the line, where it
was possible to secure food and hot
water for tea, or chiu as the Russian
Calls it. Near the entrance to the
Buffet is { large boiler, and as soon as
the train stops the passengers come
pouring out, each with teapot, form
ing in line and awaiting their turn to
get it filled, for which they usually
hand the man in charge one or two
Kopecks.
AT this time Russia was quite actively
engaged in the war and as a result we
passed train loads Of troops going to
and from the front, also large numbers
OF prisoners being sent to the interior of
Siberia Soldiers in this country are
transported in box Cars. These cars are
fitted up with rough benches on which
the men are obliged to sleep There is
small stove in the center Of the Car
and as the soldiers must secure the
wood themselves as they go along they,
of course, take that which is closest at
, hand, which accounts for freight cars
seen along the line with all the siding
pulled Off leaving only the roof intact.
i La spite of all the apparent discom-
forts the troops seemed to be in good
spirits. 1t was a common sight to4see
them dancing, small space in the cen
ter OF the car being reserved for that
purpose. One Of them, with an accor-
dion, would furnish the music, and the
balance took their turn at the dance;
as soon as one became exhausted he re-
tired and after being roundly applaud
ed by his comrades another would take
his place.
After two and one half days of travel
we reached Perm, city of about Co.,
900 inhabitants in the foothills of the
, Urals. This city was somewhat differ
ent than any | had previously seen.
The houses were all one story, built of
logs; no pavement on the streets and
when it rained very heavily they be
came a sea of mud. I was obliged to
change at this station and as | was
unable to speak the language, had ar
ranged with a gentleman I had met on
! the trip to assist me in transferring to
the north bound train. Here | discov-
cred why the Russian carries his bed
when travelling. This train furnished
no bed clothes whatever and when the
, conductor showed me my compartment,
which already had four in it, objected
very strenously. Although he could
not understand word I said my ac-
tons left no doubt in his mind as to
how [ felt. Therefore he shared his
own compartment with me and I trav-
eled very comfortably.
At the next place where. changed
there was only very small station
(Gorod Blogodagsky) even though the
names does not bear me out in that
statement. My final destination was
about three hundred miles further
north at a place called Nadejensky
Saved. the terminal station of the
standard gauge railroad, and the most
northern point it is possible to reach by
rail.
(To BE coNTINUED).
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