Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-11-13

as it was one of the larger towns il
Siberia, but waiting around here fol
three weeks got nothing. So the At
of July was spent at Omsk, taking
a little boat ride on the Irtuish river
Eventually got to Irkutsk, and spent
another week around lake Baikal
The Bolsheviks in their fleeing had
destroyed number of large bridges
and Of the 4 1 tunnels around lake
Baikal, they were only able to dane
age one. At one station where they
had many loads of dynamite ready to
blow up the whole line, the Russians
marched around the mountains and
in firing on the train, all was blown
| up which completely. wrecked the
town and killing nearly everyone.
Might say that l have gone through
| the fears of regular warfare, as have
been in some rather ticklish posi-
lions, but now that all is over have
nothing more to worry about. This
civil war business is lot worse than
anything on the Western Front, so
the officers say, and as neither side
took prisoners, all knew when they
were captured, what the result would
be. The Bolsheviks had number OF
prisoners fighting with them, and If
captured would be taken out and
shot. Saw all kinds of dead along
the track and through battle fields
| that we crossed, and as we cam
nearly all the way right behind
armored trains, We had an oppor-
tunity to see all we cared to. Col.
Gaida, Bohemian Czech is the man
that conquered Siberia, and he is
only q years old
We arrived at this point, Oloviana,
Saturday afternoon, and were then
advised for sure that the allies were
in Siberia, and as we expected to
get out of here today Tor Hardin, no
doubt will get so much news that we
will be unable to digest it all for
some time. Dreamed the other night
that had only one letter from
Mabel, and that all the papers that
had been sent me had been thrown
away. Have read the old letters
had with me many times, they are
all dated way back in March and the
first of April. Got Gusts letter
stating he had been home to see
Robert, but not any of the others,
wonder where he is now. There is
90 much l could say, but it will keep
till l get there and do not suppose it
would go through anyway.
Say, will one of you when you get
chance to, send me another of the
Soldiers Song Books. l got one from
Mrs. Kelly, but gave it to one of the
Czech bands as they were anxious for
American music. Also send me a
small calendar for next year, as il
is hard to say if can find any here.
Have picked some seeds from some of
the wild flowers of Siberia, and will
send them when they are dried out
little Surely there is any number
of varieties of flowers growing wild,
and very nice ones too.
While at, lake Baikal saw some
of the Monaghan Yaks. They are a
black beast about the size of COW,
horns, but name and tail like a
horse. Also saw number of camols
grazing this last week, understand
there are a number of them in Man
churia Only souvenir l have of the
Bolsheviks is Towering maple that
L found on a fat car that they had
left behind Hope you are feeling
as fine as I am, but getting kind OF
tired of this car grub, and as the
country has been secured OF most
everything there is not much variety
to be gotten, outside OF meat and
potatoes, and not always meat, but
in all, we have Jared well and have