The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-08-31
WAITS
SOON WILL Be HOME
$50 REFUGEES, WARDS OF THE
RED CROSS, ARE CONFLICT
ING LONG SEA JOURNEY.
CHASED EAST BY WAR

Story of Wanderings Reads Like
Tale From Greek Mythology. At
One Time They, Barely Escaped
Being Captured.
WASHINGTON, d. C.-Voyaging
around the world to reach their
homes 780 Russian waits, all that
have been accounted for of proba-
bly, 5000 children sent out of Petro-
grad by their parents when revolu
ton gripped the old Russian CAPT
tai, are on their way from San Fran
cisco to New York by way of the
Panama canal.
They came from Vladivostok I'M
der the care of the American Red
Cross, of which they have been
wards for two years. They are GO
ing back to Petrograd after suffer
ing and wanderings that for some
of them have blotted out every rec
objection of their parents, the places
of their birth or even of their own
names.
Speaking of the experiences of
the children, who range in age from
3 to II years, a statement by the
Red Cross said:
"The long sea journey, writes the
last chapter in history of wander
ing and adventure in revolution
torn country that can hardly be
matched in the whole record of
world upheaval in the last six years.
Like Ancient Tales.
1T seems almost a tale out of the
Old Testament or Greek mythology
and a thousand years from now, it
is perhaps not too much to say, the
Russians with their dramatic instinct
and mysticism will have made it a
part of their rich folk lore"
Whoa the revolution broke out in
Russia, the report continues, many
parents in Petrograd decided to
send the youngsters into peaceful
Siberia until the trouble was over. !"
They were sent east in charge of
nurses and teachers.
Later, a barrier of fire marking
| the battle lines of the opposing Rus
sian and Czech armies had been
stretched between the youngsters
and their homes. Months passed.
Winter arrived, funds were exhaust
| ed and hunger and war horrors men,
aced the wanderers. The Omsk gov
eminent, appealed to for help, pass
ed it on to the Red Cross.
Barely Escape Capture.
Group after group was taken over
by the Red Cross, which established
colonies in western Siberia and had
apparently solved the problem of
caring for its charges when the bat
tie line swayed eastward and the
bolshevik captured town after town.
Groups of children barely escaped
capture. Finally it was decided to
take them to Vladivostok.
"Three trains of specially equipp-
ed box cars with a guard of Amer
lean doughboys transported the pre-
cious cargo on a journey lasting
several weeks through country
stripped bare of provisions" the re-
port continues. at may be said that
ingenuity was taxed to the utmost
in obtaining supplies, avoiding dis
ease epidemic areas and evadlng
other troubles"
Finally the children were settled
at Russian islands in Vladivostok
harbor in barracks, with German
and Austrian prisoners pressed into
service to do the heavy work. Schools
and hospitals were established, nat
ural talents were cultivated and
thirteen of the larger girls took
course of training which fitted them
to be nurses. Several youngsters
showed unusual abilities at music,
painting and dancing.
The children will visit at Panama
canal ports and in New York city on
their way home.