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AN ARCTIC INFERNO.

THE EXPEDIENCES OE Mil. DE WINDT. * Mr. Hairy de Windt, recently entertained and astonished a large audience by an account of his recent journey '-'From Paris to New York, Overland." It was a story of hardship, suffering, and persistency

crowned with success. The sympathies of his heaiers wore strongly excited by what he said of SrcdniKolymsk—the most remote political settlement in Siberia.

Only two of the exiles, lie certified are criminals : and others arc "absolutely innocent." So great are the sufferings of the little community from cold and hunger that 30 per cent, become insane, and a large proportion commit suicide. "This accursed spot, this Arctic Inferno," was the lecturer's comment, "should be wiped off the face of civilization." After they had passed through "the coldest place in the world, where the temperature was 78 degrees below zero," after many of the reindeer had died, and their provisions had run low, they were about as well equipped for continuing their journey as a man arrayed in silk pyjomas would be for duck-shooting at Christmas in the Old Country. But they pushed on over the 1,200 miles of desolation.

Often they could find no drift wood, which meant no fire, and no fire meant no food, for their frozen provisions were useless until thawed. When a blizzard orcurred the dogs lay down and howled. One dog went mad from cold, and bit others. When at last the travellers reached

a Tehuktchi settlement the natives were surly, gave ' hem a cold reception, and pointed to the decaying corpses of persons who had recently died of small-pox. *

In their habits the Tehuktchi "are probably the most disgusting people in the world." They have no religion, and lead lives of filthiness. When anyone dier (he body is reinoved a little way on; o lie settleui'Mi! iiii'ii lei* l t< ''-"iinred by doc ' V> Ken a man causi; every hmji.u -> .•> jji'ii : ''H- I \\. i :■■_■ '■';:!./; I h<: >' \ Oilers encountered a grea 1 lux.a;. of civilization—"pancakes fried in s«»a] oil." The dish was a joy unspeakable to them, unpleasant though it. sounds to us. This is the traveller's conclusion : There can be no question as 1 to the great wealth of Siberia and Alaska., and that Franco and America will one day be connected by -railway he has no doubt. But this generation will not see (he sleepers laid.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CROMARG19030616.2.40

Bibliographic details

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 1839, 16 June 1903, Page 7

Word Count
395

AN ARCTIC INFERNO. Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 1839, 16 June 1903, Page 7

AN ARCTIC INFERNO. Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 1839, 16 June 1903, Page 7

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