Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-09-02
Hardships and Perils
Endured ~ Young Man
On Long Search; Once
Captured by Cossacks and
Condemned to Death;
Now Safe in America.

Last February when Herman Makoffi
pronounced his intentions of returning
to Russia to- rescue his family from.
the destruction which threatened his
dents believed that he would succeed
Hn his peEiIous mission. q
This morning, however, the young
man arrived in the city unannounced
and with him were his mother. two
sisters and two brothers. none Of
whom are able to speak English.
This evening Mr.. Makoff will take
his family to Spokane. Wash, where
the father is waiting for them after a
separation Of several years.
Encounters HRrdships.
Despite. efforts to discourage him
from risking his life for what friends
wild goose chase" young Makoff
landed in Poland. Immediately join
ing the Polish forces, hoping in this
way to get into Russia. Being unsuc-
cessful in this, his first attempt, he
stole across the border line between
Rumania and Bolshevik Russia. !
He was arrested by a band Of Cos
sacks and ordered to be shot for a
Bolshevik, but assistance from Ameri-
can officials, his passport and letters
of recommendation gained him his
liberty. Being robbed and beaten up
were small matters" according to the
young liberator who said encounters
20 fthis nature became insignificant
and "too numerous to mention"
Travels on Horseback.
When asked how travelling accom-
modations were, Mr.. Makof was
amused. There + none" he said.
II made my way on horseback and
was able to secure one for no smaa
amount After reaching Russia, the
distance travelled on horseback by
two and m hal fmonths, strengthen
ed with grim determination, the young
man baffled weather and hardships OF
that forsaken land in an effort to
reach his old home and loved one
Family Overjoyed.
Tears came into his eyes as he at
tempted to describe. the joy with
which his mother and brothers and
sisters greeted him upon his arrival
at the little town of Bratzlabein, Rus
STA. sHTheir, destitute condition spur
red me on" he continued. with a
firm determination to take them ii
possible away from the land where
grief and hunger regned."
The escape fromfRussia was not
without its Embarrassing episodes and
with q reliable command of the Rus
sian, Rumanian and Polish languages
supported at times with the accept.
ances of brides by officers in com.
mand, the little family succeeded In
reaching Galicia. 900 miles from
Bratzlabe, where the first supplies
and assistance were obtained. "One
may get anything with graft in those
countries today" Mr.. Makof sol. "A
clever tongue, money and the abilit,
to brtbe will take the ordinar,
traveller q long way"
Makof Is Honored.
In recognition Of Mr.. Makofr's de
votion and courage. the Bratzlib Relic.
society in New York city presentel
him with a monogrammed watch. Mr.
MakoH conveyed an endless number
of messages from Bratzlabe natives t.
the American society.
Attending College.
Asked what his future plans are
Mr.. Makoff ANNOUNCED his intention;
to return to Pullman, WASH, wher,
he will resume his studies in tn,
Washington state college as a JUNO,
medics student. Later he expects tt
enter Rush medical school.
Mr.. Makof came to Grand Fork