Railway Travelling in Manchuria.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 179, 18 March 1902, Page 4

Railway Travelling in Manchuria.

Short Story.

The graphic descriptions of the incidents of railway travelling in Siberia and Manchuria, lately given by the special correspondent of the Daily News, journeying through those regions, is curiously emphasised by a member of the editorial staff of the Odessa Yladivostock. As the train pulled up at the station of Tsitsikar, says the narrator, a Mauchu noble, who had bullied and browbeaten his fellowtravellers since boarding the train, alighted to refresh himself at the j station buffet, at the same time! warning his companions that he would decapitate any of them presuming to appropriate his seat. During his temporary absence, a smartly-dressed and good-looking young Russian lady entered the coupe, and took the unoccupied seat, despite the friendly advice of the other passengers. The Manchu noble returned, flew into a rage on seeing his seat occupied, and, to the terror of his fellow-travellers, drew his curved sabre. The young lady coolly covering him with a shining revolver, said, ‘ You have threatened to decapitate anyone taking your seat. Do you take us for a pack of cowardly Mandarins,’ and pointing to the space at her feet, she observed, “ There is your place, my hero.” The Manchu gracefully surrendered, took the 'i,jwly position indicated; and throughout the next section kept a close eye upon the lady’s revolver. Before reaching the next station the conductor entered the coupe, and demanded from the same Russian lady an extra payment to which he was not entitled. His request was met by a stinging application of the girl’s clenched fist to his nose, and ather imperious repuest the conductor was bundled out of the compartment by the Manchu Noble. Among the other diverting (?) incidents related by the writer is the following: On the way to Harbin the driver pulled up the train at a spot where there was a workmen’s barrack, padlocked the driving-lever, and proceeded to play a few rubbers of whist with the barrack foremen. The halt lasted seven hours, and it was not the protests of the passengers and guards which prevailed upon the driver to proceed, but the fact that he had lost every rubber.