The Weekly Corinthian

WILL NOT TRY AGAIN
De Windt Has Enough of Journeying in Icy Lands.
Arctic Traveler Talks About His Overland Trip from Paris to New York—Has No Desire to Repeat It.
After nearly perishing on his third attempt to travel from Paris to New York overland, Harry de Windt has arrived at his destination.
Mr. de Windt left Paris on December 19, 1901, with three companions, determined to demonstrate that the proposed Transsiberian and Alaskan railroad was practicable, and that it would 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 Capt. Cottle, of the whaler William Bayliss. This was early last June. They crossed Behring 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 they 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.
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 took 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 at shorter intervals. These are little houses of wood and water in the form of slabs of ice, but nothing else.
"The suspension difficulties of 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 Behring 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 Whadyluk by Capt. Cottle, who supplied them with provisions and offered to take them off in his boat. This offer De Windt declined.
After reaching Cape Nome De Windt and his companions went to Seattle, and from there to San Francisco.
Twice before 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.
HARRY DE WINDT.
(Has Just Completed Overland Journey from Paris to New York.)