Russian Robinson: the story of a lonely nobleman wintering on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk

This story, like two drops of water, is similar to the one described in Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe. For this reason, a number of researchers believe that what happened to Sergei Petrovich Lisitsyn is a figment of the imagination of the writer Nikolai Sibiryakov, who told the world this story. Nevertheless, the story about the life of the Russian Robinson seems quite believable, and therefore we offer you to get acquainted with an interesting case, which may have occurred in the middle of the XIX century.

As a retired hussar, Sergey Lisitsyn went on a trip to the shores of North America. He was only 24 years old, but representatives of the nobility at that age often resigned. The ship was heading to the Russian settlements on the American continent, and a fascinating journey awaited the former hussar. But before the ship had time to leave the Sea of Okhotsk, our hero found himself on the shore. As in the case of the real prototype of Defoe’s story, Sergey Lisitsyn angered the capital with his behavior: the nobleman abused alcohol and even tried to rebel on the ship. He was punished for such a nasty trick: he was not only deprived of the opportunity to see the shores of the neighboring continent, but was left alone, landed in the nearest convenient bay.

When the former hussar woke up on the shore, he found that he was left completely alone in an unfamiliar place. Fortunately for him, the captain made sure that he did not die of starvation at first, and also did not freeze. He was left with warm clothes and shoes, matches, some provisions, as well as some tools and a gun. Sergei Petrovich, although he grew up in a noble family, but quickly realized that now he would have to rely only on himself and in order to survive, he needed to forget about his lordly habits and take action as soon as possible.

The young man cut down a log hut, folded a home-made stove inside, so that he could cook and heat the dwelling in which he spent the winter. It took him two whole months. The nobleman ate caught fish, mushrooms and berries collected on the shore, as well as bear meat, which he shot near his home. In the spring, two more hermits joined the lonely Robinson. These were people from a ship that washed ashore. The main part of the crew, after the vessel had leaked, moved into boats and went for help, while Vasily and his son remained on board.

In addition to two associates, the settlement of Lisitsyna was enriched with farm animals and cereal seeds, which were transported by ship to Russian America. Soon the nobleman, accompanied by his comrades, decided to leave the hut and explore the coast. As a result of a short hike, they went to the Amur River, in the valley of which they stumbled upon Russian settlers. Thus ended the taiga adventures of a retired hussar, who lived about 9 months away from home and the benefits of civilization.