HOW THE CZAR TRAVELS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1509, 17 March 1887, Page 2

HOW THE CZAR TRAVELS

The following ia clipped from an Engl eh paptr:— My friend the measerger was on his way to Si Peteraburg m the autumn of la-it year, whun his train et pped at a sraill Kuaftian railway station, and wab shatited off upon a side track. The atat'on yard waa filled with soldiers, filing uff into lineß along the main track.

The mejßtinfiier let down tbe wiadow nud put < u v , hie head to discover the oaosv of the deUy. A soldier gaid s Jinething to him m Russian, then pointed his gun afc hia head. A travelling companion pulled the messenger back, s-iyin?, " You don't understand Russian, eh? That man told you that if you didn't shut the wiu(?ow and pull down the certain he would blow yonr braina out." Naturally the window came up aud tho curtain c.oici down. They aat thus m the darkened compartment for a quarter of an hour. Then, with a prodigious rattle and roir, there flashed by them on the man track a short « xp-e?s train. Twenty mtrnrea after another rushed past m tho earao direotion. Then, after coma minutes, tho soldier shouted to lham th<»t they nalyht lifi the blind, and they resumed their journey. Inquiry rp,vealed vhat tho Czvr ha i. passed them on his wiy to the Ski«rniwico meeting, .md th it those -precautions were ordered all along the lin^. No one knew which of tho trains b:>r<a him,