Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-11-29

which we passed that | was going to
the end of all civilization. There was
no scenery to speak Of, just dense
forests Of pine on both sides of the
track with but a narrow strip cleared
away for the railroad to pass through.
The stations were nothing more than a
cluster of log cottages, IL being difficult
to distinguish between those in which
the people lived and those in which the
horses were stabbed.
Here and there along the road could
be seen an old shack which marked the
entrance to a mine. [ learned later
that some of the richest copper, iron
and coal mines in the world are located
in this section. These mines were at
this time being operated almost ex-
clusively by Austrian prisoners of war,
of which there were something over
- 900 employed at various kinds of
work.
At about 500 a. M, we reached the
| terminal station on this line. The con :
ductor sent two boys into the car to get
my baggage and he pointed to a hotel
which was about five minutes walk
from the station. It was some hotel.
AS [ walked in the landlady met me at
the door. Of course she started talk
ing to ne in perfectly good Russian
and [ talked to her in just as good
English but for some reason or other
we failed to come to any understanding.
She said something to the boys and
they started upstairs with my baggage.
The only thing for me to do was to
follow. They took me into large
room in which there were three beds.
The three occupants were busy shaving
themselves. When [ appeared on the
scene they gathered around to get
acquainted with the new arrival but
we did not get very far. However,
they were soon ready for breakfast and
took me along with them. The break
fast consisted of bread, butter, and tea.
This hotel was built to accommodate the
mining engineers who were employed
in a big copper mine which was near
this place.
By this time I was fully convinced
that I was lost in the Wilds of the Ural
Mountains, but luck was with me and
in few minutes after we had finished
breakfast in came a student who was
employed in some part Of the mine and
who could speak about twenty five
words of English and could understand
considerable. This boy fixed me up in
to go and what | was going there for.
He took out his watch and pointed to
the hands as a means of making me
understand what time the train left
which would take me to my destna-
ton; and as | had about five hours to
wait he showed me into the best room
in the house, & think this must have
been the Bridal Chamber,) and pro
missed to call me in time to catch the
train, which he did. [ also had dinner
before leaving and when I offered to
pay, the landlady would not take a
cent.
My return trip was for the greater
part over the same road which [ had
come the previous night, and in about
four hours | arrived at my destination.
Although | cannot say that [ was very
much pleased with the place, I at least
had the satisfaction Of knowing | had
succeeded in finding the spot I had
started for when [ left PetrogTad four
days before.
One Of the engineers from the factory
in whose interest had made the trip
met me at the station. The station was
only little log hut just like all the
rest I had passed on the way This en-
gineer proved to be a very nice man and
later became very we'll acquainted
with him. Being Caucasian he was
different in appearance from any of the
Russians [ had met up to this time.
The Caucasians are very tall, dark skin
ned, and have thick lips and black curly
hair, They hate the Russians from the
North worse than poison. The reason
for this is that they, the Caucasians,
represent more highly educated and
thrifty class Of people.
Around the corner vehicle was
was waiting to take me to the quarters
which [ was to occupy during my stay
at this place. This rig was a different
design from any | had ever seen, hav-
! ing rather low wheels which were
coupled up very closely, and a broad
leather covered fat top which provid
ed place to sit. The designer had
evidently forgotten to put any springs
on it, or else he thought that the mud
| they have here at all seasons except
winter would be springy enough