The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites to Central Asia, 1880-1884, Fred Richard Belk, 1976

ate the next day. The boy immediately bolted and ran when he either understood the German or became fearful of the Mennonites. At daybreak the wagon train hurriedly left Zaritzyn. Though disturbed by the experience of the previous day, the group decided not to turn back even though they had no permit to travel, but pressed on toward Orenburg. Arriving at Orenburg, Peters suggested that they stop for a week to take on supplies and rest. From their campsite on the bank of the Ural River, they could easily make short trips into the heart of the city. During their stay, what most impressed the Molotschna people were the many church bells that rang periodically throughout the day. When they became better acquainted with Orenburg they asked merchants about this strange daily custom and were told that each time the bells rang it represented a funeral service for one of the inhabitants. No longer did the Mennonites enjoy the clanging of church bells. When the merchants learned they were the third group of Mennonites to come through their crossroad city en route to Turkestan, they were astounded that so many farmers would under- take such an enterprise. Leaving Orenburg behind, the wagon train took the same route as the second group through Orsk, Karabutak, Irgiz, and into the Kara Kum Desert. Like the previous caravans, they purchased extra supplies for the desert journey and hired camels and drivers to carry them. But the desert journey was surprisingly easy. Heavy rains had so packed the Kara Kum sand that the wagons passed through more quickly than the previous groups. Even better time was made by the rumbling wagons from Kasalinsk to Fort Perovsk, but one family in particular suffered a series of mishaps. While camped near the fort. Grandfather Johann Wedel, in his dotage at eighty, wandered away from the group. This had not been the first time. But earlier, after considerable incon- venience, he had been found."® This time, however, an entire day's intensive search by his family proved fruitless. The next day a full 102 The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites report was given to authorities at the fort, and the wagon train moved eastward. Two days later a telegram informed them that old Wedel had been found ten miles from the fort at a Kirghiz village and that his hands and feet were badly frostbitten. His sons went back to pick him up, but when they arrived he was already dead and buried. The grief-stricken search party returned to their wagons, and immediately a respectful memorial service was held in Wedel’s honor.'* But the family’s problems were not yet over. The following day, Tobias Wedel was thrown into the icy waters of a turbulent stream. Though he was able to swim to safety his wagon was so badly damaged that a new one had to be purchased. This placed a heavy financial burden on the poor family. The Night in a Graveyard Other families had similar hardships, and the group had by