Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1902 — FROM FRIGID LANDS. [ARTICLE]

FROM FRIGID LANDS.

GLOBE GIRDLER DE WINDT ON HOME STRETCH* Passes Through Chicano on Hie Way from Faria to New York—He Telia of a Hard Journey, but Does Not Care to Repeat At. Harry de Windt went- through Chicago a few days ago on his way east. He is ' making his third attempt to travel from Paris to New York overland. Mr. de Windt left Parts on Dec. 19, 1901, with three companions, determined to demonstrate that, the proposed Transsiberian and Alaskan Railroad" was practicable, and that it wpuld be possible to make the journey from Paris to New .York by rail if such a line was ever constructed. “We have no doubt that the railroad will be constructed some time, And believe It will not be. many years before one may take the. trip by rail,” said Mr. de Windt. “Ten thousand dollars, however, would not induce me to take the same trip again as we made it.” De Windt and' his companions were found nearly dead from exposure in a cave on the Siberian coast by Oapt. Cottle of the whaler William Bayliss. This was early last June. They crossed Bering sea in the United States revenue cutter Thetis,-and after that their hardships were nearly over. The story of their trip is a continuous record of struggle against mighty obstacles. Undaunted by two previous failures they fought their way on, determined to succeed. The first stage of the journey was made over the Transsiberian Railway. This took them as far as Irkutsk. There tahey embarked on a trip of 2,000 miles to Yakutsk, traveling the entire distance in horse sleighs. Yakutsk has the reputation of being the coldest town on earth, and Mr. de Windt declares the reputation is well earned. De Windt Tells of Hardships. Speaking of that part of his journey, the traveler said: “The distance was covered by means of 122 drivers and 732 horses. The total cost for each sleigh was under $150.’.’

From Yakutsk the travelers’ Journey tqpk them 700 miles to Verkoyansk, thence northeast 1,300 miles to the town of Srednikolynisk. “The sleighs that brought us from Irkutsk were discarded at Yakutsk for small reindeer sleds about seven feet by three, covered in by canvas and reindeer skins,” said Mr. De Windt. “Bear skins formed the beds and there we lay at full length, day after day, night after night, for the next two months, while a Yakute driver urged on his deer train. Light furs were useless in that region. “The traveler bound for the Kolyma district must take all his provisions in a frozen state, for food is scarce' along that lonely tract of 1,800 miles. The reindeer stations are 150 to 200 miles apart, but shelter huts are located st shorter intervals. These are little houses of wood and water in the form of slabs of ice, but nothing else. “The stupendous difficulties so that overland journey from Paris to New York can be realized only by those who have encountered them. “From Srednikolynisk our next dash was 2,000 miles to the shore of Bering sea, dogs being our motive power. The cold was terrible. At times the thermometer registered 78 degrees below zero, and for 500 miles we did not see a hut.” At last the inhospitable seashore was reached, and there the entire party nearly perished from exposure and hunger. They were found at a place called Whadylnk by Capt. Cottle, who suplied them with provisions and offered to take them off in his boat. This offer De Windt declined. After reaching Cape Nome De Windt had failed in the effort, once being driven back by unfriendly savage tribes in northern Siberia, and once turned back by the war in China. The explorer was aided materially in bis present trip by the American and Russian governments, the Siberian officials being ordered to take every precaution to insure the safety of the explorers against unfriendly natives, and the United States revenue service in Alaska being ordered to keep a lookout for the party. -