The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-05-04
Subscription sa.oo Per Year.
BACK FROM RUSSIA.
Ben Nelson and Wife Go Through
Many Hardship, But Return Safely.

Ben Nelson and Wife Go Through
Many Hardship, But Return Safely.
Ben Nelson, son OF Rasmus Nelson,
Of this city, returned last week
Friday night from Russia where
he had been tie past five years en-
gagged in diamond drill work He
was accompanied by his wife whom
he married while in the European
country. Ben has some interesting
stories 20 tell OF his experiences in
getting out OF Russia.
Five years ago he accepted a posi-
tlon with the Sullivan Machinery Co.,
OF Chicago and was sent 10 Russia To
operate a diamond drill He went
from here direct 10 Petrograd. Rus
sia. 10 take up his work. remaining
at that place about year after which
he went up i'm tile ual mountains ana
| was stationed there the balance OF
the time, with the exception OF the
! last hair year, during which he was
I located in the south, close TO the
! Black Sea. lie spe his last days
/ I'm Russia I'm town called Doljans-
kla. at which place he was married
I'm June, 1916 and provided a home
for himself and wife. but was COM
pcllcd to leave IL shortly after on ac-
count of the intense fighting in that
vicinity
Realizing that Il was getting too
hot 90 stay around there they decided
TO leave About this time soldiers,
fighting against the Cossacks, station
ed themselves near his house and
made preparations 20 fight the enemy.
During their stay there they wit
messed two encounters and were
compelled 20 remain in the cellar the
greater part OF the time for safety.
After the fighting was over the upper
portion OF the house was completely
demolished from shell fire by the Co.'S
sacks.
In taking flight from the home they
were compelled 20 cover the first
seventy miles TO Debolski on horses.
From Debolsh they rode two days in
a box car, arriving at Martlin.
One Lunch In Three Days.
At Marthn they were given trans
portation on passenger train loaded
with soldiers coming from the front,
and were on the road three days be-
fore getting TO Moscow. This ride
was their most trying experience, as
the coach they occupied carried $50
soldiers, and was jammed 20 the
doors They were compelled TO re-
main in their seat in a cramped posi-
tion during the entire journey with
out leaving IL once. had only one small
lunch between them and no water un-.
til, when arriving az q small station
near Moscow q young soldier, seeing
their condition got a small pail OF
wator 10 thcm TAe ilth and dirt on
tho floor was aickcning and the two
were about all used up when they got
oA at M0c0W.
Arrested As Spy.
Mr. Nielsen was arrested several
times ON suspicion OF being a spy and
was marched 90 headquarters az the
point OF guns, hut after showing his
u. S. papers ana giving n good ac
cOunt of himself WAS lct 60
From Moscow they went 10 Petro-
grad and had better travelling They
remained In PetroFrad two DAYS and
while there met the American vice
consul who got them safely aboard
train destined for ilarbeen. Manchuria
II took "a days TO get to the latter
named place. From there they took
the tChang Chnng) Japanese railroad
through Manchuria and Korea TO
town called Fusan, thence on to Shin
onoscH and on 20 Yokohama After
resting few days az the latter place
they boarded a ship called the Siberia
Maru and sailed by way OF Honolulu
20 San Francisco and thence home
Mr. Nelson stated that the condi-
tions In Russia when he left. were
bad. Nearly all the coal mines have
been drowned out aud have been taxi
en- away from the owners by the
workingmen The food conditions
are also bad. I'm Petrograd they get
an allowance Of two ounces OF bread
day, and that Is hardly ft to eat.
Clothing Is another scarce article the
peasants suffering much for the want
of wearing apparel.