Whilst our train was at rest at this station I was able to get firsthand knowledge as to how goods-cars are now being systematically robbed when on their way to Chita, The goods-cars attached to our train were uncoupled and parked im the goods yard, where special watchmen are in attendance, it being the rule of the railway that goods-cars shall not remain on the main-lines at night as they are liable to be robbed. A friend of mine who was travelling by the same train had two carloads of goods, of which he was taking special care, his cars being padlocked on one side and plumbed on the other. With the assistance of a little tea-money the railway watchmen and militia-man at the goods-shed agreed to watch carefully his two cars until] 7 o'clock next morning, when they were relieved guard.
My friend went to bed in a quiet frame of mind, but on getting up at six o'clock and finding the goods-ears already been attached to our train, with his two cars occupying a different. position than they had previously, he became suspicious and on going up to one of the cars he found that the padlock on the door as well as the plumb were aot those which had been on the night previously. He ascertained that the cars had been taken out of the yard at two in the morning, the order, it was said, having been given by the assistant station master on duty.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.