Our arrival at Yakutat came after a stormy delay, revealing a majestic coastal plateau crowned by snow-laden peaks—Mount Fairweather and her silent sisters. Among these wild shores lies Lituya Bay, a place of eerie beauty and tragic memory. Here, La Pérouse lost 21 men to the deadly tidal bore, memorialized them with quiet dignity, and left behind chronicles brimming with feeling. He found silence so deep, the cries of seabirds echoed across glaciers, and waters undisturbed but for the crash of ice. The native villages, with their pungent chaos and unfiltered ways of life, left him repulsed—yet fascinated. A later captain, Dixon, saw charm where La Pérouse saw horror. Beauty, tragedy, and culture collided on these cold northern coasts—where glassy waters conceal danger, and human history floats like mist above the bay.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter sixteen. Inspired by the important discoveries of this expedition
and by the hope of a profitable fur trade with China,
various Russian traders and adventurers known as Promishlniki made voyages
into the newly discovered regions, pressing eastward island by island,
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and year by year, beginning that long tale of cruelty
and bloodshed in the Aleutian Islands, which has not yet
reached an end. Men as harmless as the pleading, soft
eyed seals were butchered as heartlessly in as shamelessly that
their stocks of furs might be appropriated and their women ravished.
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In seventeen forty five, Alexe Beliath and ten men inveigled
fifteen allusions into a quarrel with the sole object of
killing them and carrying off their women. In seventeen sixty two,
the crew of the Gavel persuaded twenty five young Aleutian
girls to accompany them to pick berries and gather roots
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for the ship's company on the Kamchatkin Coast. Several of
the crew and sixteen of these girls were landed to
pick berries. Two of the girls made their escape into
the hills. One was killed by a sailor, and the
others cast themselves into the sea and were drowned. Gavrel Pushkariff,
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who was in command of the vessel, ordered that all
the remaining natives, with the exception of one boy and
an interpreter, should be thrown overboard and drowned. These are
only two instances of the atrocious outrages perpetrated upon these
innocent and childlike people by the brutal and licentious traders
who have frequented these far beautiful islands from seventeen forty
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five to the present time. From year to year now,
dark and horrible stories float down to us from the
far northwestward or vex our ears when we sail into
those pale blue water. Nor do they concern Promishlniki alone.
Charges of the gravest nature have been made against men
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of high position who spend much time in the illusion islands.
That these gentle people have suffered deeply, silently and shamefully
at the hands of white men of various nationalities has
never been denied nor questioned. It is well known to
be the simple truth. From seventeen sixty to about seventeen
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sixty sixte Natives rebelled that their treatment and active hostilities
were carried on. Many Russians were killed, some were tortured. Solaviv,
upon arriving at Unalaska and learning the fate of some
of his countrymen, resolved to avenge them. His designs were
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carried out with unrelenting cruelty by some writers, notably Berg.
His crimes have been palliated under the plea that nothing
less than extreme brutality could have so soon reduced the
natives to the state of fear and humility in which
they have ever since remained, failing to take into consideration
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the atrocities perpetrated upon the natives for years before there
open revolt. In seventeen seventy six we find the first
mention of Gregor Ivanovitch Shelikov, but it was not until
seventeen eighty four that he succeeded in making the first
permanent Russian settlement in America on Kodiak Island, forty three
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dark and strenuous years after Vitis bearing saw Mount Saint
Elias rising out of the sea. Shelikov was second only
to Barrenof in the early history of Russian America and
is known as the founder and father of Russian colonies
in America. His wife Natalie accompanied him upon all his voyages.
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She was a woman of very unusual character, energetic and ambitious,
and possessed of great business and executive ability. After her
husband's death, her management for many years of not only
her own affairs, but those of the Chlikov company as well,
reflected great credit upon herself. It was the far sighted
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Schlikov who suggested and carried out the idea of a
monopoly of the fur trade in Russian America under imperial charter.
As a result of his forceful presentation of this scheme
and the able and doubtless selfish assistance of General Jacobi,
the Governor General of Eastern Siberia, the Empress became interested.
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In seventeen eighty eight, an Imperial yu case was issued
granting to the Chlikov Company exclusive control of the territory
already occupied by them. Assistance from the public coffers was
at that time withheld, but the Empress graciously granted to
Shelikoff and his partner Golakhov, swords and medals containing her portrait.
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The medals were to be worn around their necks and
bore inscriptions explaining that they had been conferred for services
rendered to humanity by noble and bold deeds. Although Shelikov
greatly preferred the pecuniary assistance from the government, he nevertheless
accepted with a good grace the honor bestowed and bided
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his time patiently in accordance with commands issued by the
commander at Okotsk and by the Empress herself. Shelikof adopted
a policy of humanity in his relations with the natives,
although it is suspected that this was on account of
his desire to please the Empress and work out his
own designs, rather than the result of his own kindness
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of heart. Copyright by e. A heg Juno courtesy of
Webster and Stephen's Seattle Steamer Resolute, right by ye a
heg Juno courtesy of Webster and Stephen's Seattle Steamer Resolute.
With the clearness of vision which distinguished his whole career,
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Shelikov selected Alexander Baranoff as his agent in the territory
lying to the eastward of Kodiak in Voskresensky or Sunday
Harbor now Resurrection Bay, on which the town of Seward
is situated. Baronoff built in seventeen ninety four the first
vessel to glide into the waters of northwestern America, the Phoenix.
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At the request of Shelikoff, a colony of two hundred
convicts accompanied by twenty priests, were sent out by Imperial
Ukase and established at Yakatat Bay under Baronof. During the
years that followed, many complaints were entered by the clergy
against Baronoff for cruelty, licentiousness, and mismanagement of the company's affairs.
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But whatever his faults may have been, it is certain
that no man could have done so much for the
promotion of the company's interests at that time as Baronof,
nor could any other so efficiently have conducted its affairs.
It was during his governorship that the rows of success
bloomed brilliantly for the Russian American Company in the colonies.
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He was a shrewd, tireless practical business man. His successors
were men distinguished in army and navy circles, haughty and patrician,
but absolutely lacking in business ability and ignorant of the
unique conditions and needs of the country. After Baronoff's resignation
and death, the revenues of the company rapidly declined, and
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its vast operations were conducted at a loss. It was
in seventeen ninety one that Baronoff assumed command of all
the establishments on the island of the Schleikov Company, which
under Imperial page had already secured a partial monopoly of
the American fur trade. Owing to competition by independent traders,
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the large company, after the death of Schlikoff, united with
its most influential rival under the name of the Chelikoff
United Company. The following year, this company secured an Imperial
U case which granted to it, under the name of
the Russian American Company, full privileges for a period of
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twenty years on the coast of northwestern America, beginning from
latitude fifty five degrees north and including the chain of
islands extending from Kamchaka northward to America and southward to Japan.
The exclusive right to all enterprises weather hunting, trading or building,
and to new discoveries was strict prohibition from profiting by
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any of these pursuits, not only to all parties who
might engage in them on their own responsibility, but also
to those who formerly had ships and establishments there, except
those who have united with the new company. In the
same year, a fort was established by Baranoff on what
is now Sitka Sound. This was destroyed by natives, and
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in eighteen o for another fort was erected by Barnaff
near the site of the former one, which he named
Fort Archangel Michael. This fort is the present Sitka. Its
establishment enabled the Russian American Company to extend its operations
to the islands lying southward and along the continental shore.
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We now come to the most fascinating portion of the
history of Alaska. Not even the wild and romantic days
of gold excitement in the Klondike can equal Bearanuff's reign
at Sitka for picturesqueness and mysterious charm. The strength and
personality of the man were such that to day, one
who is familiar with his life and story, entering Sitka
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will unconsciously feel his presence and will turn with a
sigh to gaze upon the commanding height where once his
castle stood. There were many dark and hopeless days for
bear Enough during his first years with the company, and
it was while in a state of deep discouragement and
hopelessness that he received the news of his appointment as
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chief manager of the newly organized Russian American Company. Most
of his plans and undertakings had failed. Many Russians and
natives had been lost on hunting voyages. English and American
traders had superseded him at every point to the eastward
of Kodiak. Many of his illusion hunters had been killed
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in conflict with the Savage Linkets. He had lost a
sloop which had been constructed at Voskresensky Bay. And finally
he had returned to Kodiak and during the agonies of
inflammatory rheumatism, only to be reproached by the subordinates, who
were suffering of actual hunger. So long had they been
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without relief from supply ships. In this dark hour, the
ship arrived, which carried not only good tidings but plentiful
supplies as well. Bearnofs Star now shone brightly, leading him
on to hope and renewed effort. In the spring of
the following year seventeen ninety nine, Barenof, with two vessels
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manned by twenty two Russians and three hundred and fifty canoes,
set sail for the eastward. Many of the natives were
lost by foundering of the canoes, and many more by
slaughter at the hands of the Calash, But finally they
arrived at a point now known as Old Sitka, six
miles north of the present Sitica, and bartered with the
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chief of the natives for a site for a settlement.
Captain Cleveland, whose ship Caroline of Boston was then ying
in the harbor, describes the Indians of the Vicinity as follows,
A more hideous set of beings in the form of
men and women I had never before seen. The fantastic
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manner in which many of the faces were painted was
probably intended to give them a more ferocious appearance, and
some groups looked really as if they had escaped from
the dominions of Satan himself. One had a perpendicular line
dividing the two sides of the face, one side of
which was painted red, the other black, with the hair
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daubed with grease and red ochre and filled with the
down of birds. Another had the face divided with a
horizontal line in the middle and painted black and white.
The visage of a third was painted in checkers, et cetera.
Most of them had little mirrors before the acquisition of
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which they must have been dependent on each other for
those correct touches of the pencil, which are so much
in vogue, and which daily require more time than the
toilet of a Parisian bell. These savages were known to
be treacherous and dangerous, but they pretended to be friendly,
and fears were gradually allayed by continued peace. The story
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of the great massacre and destruction of the fort is
of poignant interest, as simply and pathetically told by one
of the survivors, a hunter in this present year eighteen
o two, about the twenty fourth of June, I do
not remember the exact date, but it was a holiday.
About two o'clock in the afternoon, I went to the
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river to look for our calves, as I had been
detailed by the commander of the fort, Vasilai Medvenikov, to
take care of the cattle. On returning soon after, I
noticed that the fort a great multitude of Kalash people,
who had not only surrounded the barracks below, but were
already climbing over the balcony and to the roof with
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guns and cannon, and standing upon a little knoll in
front of the outhouses, was the Sicatoyin or Chief Mikhail,
giving orders to those who were around the barracks, and
shouting to some people in canoes not far away to
make hay stand assist in the fight. In answer to
his shout, sixty two canoes emerged from behind the points
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of rocks. One is inclined to be skeptical concerning the
exact number of canoes. The frightened hunter would scarcely pause
to count the war canoes as they rounded the point.
Even if I had reached the barracks, they were already
closed and barricaded, and there was no safety outside. Therefore
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I rushed away to the cattle yard, where I had
a gun. I only waited to tell a girl who
was employed in the yard to take her little child
and fly to the woods. When seizing my gun, I
closed up the shed very soon after this, for Kolosh
came to the door and knocked three times. As soon
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as I ran out of the shed, they seized me
by the coat and took my gun from me. I
was compelled to leave both in their hands, and, jumping
through a window, ran past the fort and hid in
the thick underbrush of the forests. Though two Kolosh ran
after me, but could not find me in the woods.
Soon after, I emerged from the underbrush and approached the
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barracks to see if the attack had been repulsed. But
I saw that not only the barracks, but the ship
recently built, the warehouse and the sheds, the cattle sheds,
bath house, and other small buildings had been set on
fire and were already in full blaze. The seotter skins
and other property of the company, as well as the
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private property of Medvenikoff and the hunters. The savages were
throwing from the balcony to the ground on the water side,
while others seized them and carried them to the canoes,
which were close to the fort. All at once I
saw two kolosh running toward me, armed with guns and lances,
and I was compelled to hide again in the woods.
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I threw myself down among the underbrush on the edge
of the forest, covering myself with pieces of bark. From
there I saw Nick Vassen drop from the upper balcony
and run toward the woods, but when nearly across the
open space, he fell to the ground, and four warriors
rushed up and carried him back to the barracks on
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the points of their lances and cut off his head.
Kabanov was dragged from the barracks into the street, where
the kolosh pierced him with their lances. But how the
other Russians who were there came to their end I
do not know. The slaughter and incendiarism were continued by
the savages until the evening, But finally I stole out
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among the ruins and ashes, and in my wanderings came
across some of our cows and saw that even the
poor dumb animals had not escaped the bloodthirsty fiends, having
spears stuck in their sides. Exercising all my strength, I
was barely able to pull out some of the spears
when I was observed by two colosh, and compelled to
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leave the cows to their fate and hide again in
the woods. I passed the night not far from the
ruins of the fort. In the morning, I heard the
report of a cannon and looked out of the brush,
but could see nobody, and, not wishing to expose myself
again to further danger, went higher up in the mountain
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through the forest. While advancing cautiously through the woods, sigh,
met two other persons who were in the same condition
as myself, a girl from the Chiniat's village Kodiak with
an infant on her breast, and a man from the
Keluda village who had been left behind by the hunting
party on account of sickness. I took them both with
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me to the mountain, but each night I went with
my companions to the ruins of the fort and bewailed
the fate of the slain. In this miserable condition, we
remained for eight days, with nothing to eat and nothing
but water to drink. About noon of the last day,
we heard from the mountain too cannon shots, which raised
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some hopes in me, and I told my companions to
follow me at a little distance, and then went down
toward the river through the woods to hide myself near
the shore and see whether there was a ship in
the bay. He discovered, to his unspeakable joy, an English
ship in the bay. Shouting to attract the attention of
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those on board. He was heard by six colosh who
made their way toward him and had almost captured him.
Ere he saw them and made his escape in the woods.
They forced him to the shore at a point near
the case ape, where he was able to make himself
heard by those on the vessel. A boat put off
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at once, and he was barely able to leap into
it when the calash in hot pursuit came in sight again.
When they saw the boat, they turned and fled. When
the hunter had given an account of the massacre to
the commander of the vessel, an armed boat was sent
ashore to rescue the man and girl who were in hiding.
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They were easily located, and, with another Russian who was
found in the vicinity, were taken aboard and supplied with
food and clothing. The commander himself then accompanied them with
armed men to the sight of the destroyed fort, where
they examined and buried the dead. They found that all
but Kabanov had been beheaded. Three days later, the chief
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Mikhail went out to the ship, was persuaded to go
a board, and with his nephew, was held until all
persons captured during this massacre and still living had been surrendered.
The prisoners were given up reluctantly one by one, and
when it was believed that all had been recovered, the
chief and his nephew were permitted to leave the ship.
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The survivors were taken to Kodiak, where the humane captain
of the ship demanded of Baronoff a compensation of fifty
thousand roubles in cash bearenough, learning that the captain's sole
expense had been in feeding and clothing. The prisoners refused
to pay this exorbitant sum, and after long wrangling, it
was settled for furs worth ten thousand roubles. Accounts of
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the massacre by survivors and writers of that time vary somewhat,
some claiming that the massacre was occasioned by the broken
faith and extreme cruelty of the Russians in their treatment
of the savages, others that the Sitckens had been well treated,
and that Chief Mikhail had falsely pretended to be the
warm and faithful friend of Baronoff, who had placed the
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fullest confidence in him. Baronof was well nigh broken hearted
by his new and terrible misfortune. The massacre had been
so timed that the most of the men of the
fort were away on a hunting expedition, and Bearonoff himself
was on a Fognak island, which is only a few
hours sail from Kodiak. Several Kolosh women lived at the
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fort with Russian men, and these women kept their tribesmen
outside informed as to the daily conditions within the garrison.
On the weakest day of the fort, a holiday, the
kolosh had therefore suddenly surrounded it, armed with guns, spears,
and daggers, their faces covered with masks representing animals. About
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this time, Krozenstern and Lyzinsky sailed from Kronstadt in the
hope which was fulfilled of being the first to carry
the Russian flag around the world. Lyznski arrived dead Kodiak
after many hardships, only to receive a written request from
Bear enough to proceed at once to Sitka and assist
him in subduing the savages and avenging the officers and
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men lost in the fearful massacre on the fifteenth of
August eighteen o four. He therefore sailed to eastward, and
on the twentieth of the same month entered Sitka. Sound
the day must have been gloomy in Lizenski's mood in
keeping with the day, for he thus describes a bewitch is,
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under favorable conditions, one of the most idyllically beautiful imaginable.
On our entrance into Sitka Sound to the place where
we now were. There was not to be seen on
the shore, the least vestige of habitation. Nothing presented itself
to our view but impenetrable woods, reaching from the water
side to the very tops of the mountains. I never
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saw a country so wild and gloomy. It appeared more
adaptive for the residence of wild beasts than of men.
Shortly afterward, Baronoff arrived in the harbor with several hundred
Illusions and many Russians after a tempestuous and dangerous voyage
from Yaktat the sight of the convict settlement, he learned
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that the savages had taken up there position on a
bluff a few miles distant, where they had fortified themselves.
This bluff was the noble height upon which Baronof's castle
was afterward erected, and which commands the entire bay upon
which the Sitka of today is located. Liznski, in his
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Voyage Around the World, describes the Indians fort as an
irregular polygon, its longest side facing the sea. It was
protected by a breast. Were two logs in thickness and
about six feet high around and above it, tangled brushwood
was piled. Great shot did little damage even at the
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distance of a cable's length. There were two embrasures for
cannon in the side facing the sea, and two gates
facing the forest. Within were fourteen large huts, or as
they were called then and are called at the present
time by the natives barbaras. Judging from the quantity of
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provisions and domestic implements found there, it must have contained
at least eight hundred warriors. An envoy from the Calash
fort came out with friendly overtures, but was informed that
peace conditions could only be established through the chiefs. He departed,
but soon returned and delivered a hostage. Bearnoff made plain
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his conditions agreement with the chiefs in person, the delivery
of two more hostages and permanent possession of the fortified bluff.
The chiefs did not appear and the conditions were not accepted. Then,
on October first, after repeated warning, Baronov gave the order
to fire upon the fort. Immediately afterward, Baronof Lieutenant Arlasov
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and a party of Russians and allusions landed with the
intention of storming the fort. They were repulsed. The panic stricken,
illusions stampeded, and Bearonov was left almost without support. In
this condition, he could do nothing but retreat to the boats,
which they were barely able to reach before the kalash
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were upon them. They saved their field pieces, but lost
ten men. Twenty six were wounded, including Baronof himself. Had
not their retreat at this point been covered by the
guns of the ship, the loss of life would have
been fearful. The following day, Leznski was placed in command.
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He opened a rapid fire upon the fort, with such
effect that soon after noon a piece envoy arrived with
promise of hostages. His overtures were favorably received, and during
the following three days several hostages were returned to the Russians.
The evacuation of the fort was demanded, but although the
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chief consented, no movements in that direction could be discovered
from the ships. Lezinski moved his vessel farther and toward
the fort and sent an interpreter to ascertain how soon
the occupants would be ready to abandon their fortified and
commanding position. The reply not being satisfactory, Lizenski again fired
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repeatedly upon the stronghold of the Kalash. On the three
d of October, a white flag was hoisted and the
firing was discontinued. Then arose from the rocky height and
drifted across the water until far into the night the
sound of a mournful, wailing chant. When dawn came, the
sound had ceased. Absolute silentlans reigned. Nor was there any
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living object to be seen on the shore, save clouds
of carrion birds, whose dark wings beat the still air
above the fort. The Kolash had fled. The fort was
deserted by all save the dead. The bodies of thirty
Kalash warriors were found, also those of many children and
dogs which had been killed, lest any cry from them
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should betray the direction of their flight. The fort was
destroyed by fire, and the construction of magazines, barracks, and
a residence for bear enough was at once begun. A
stockade surrounded these buildings, each corner fortified with a block house.
Bigarrison received the name of Novo Arkangelsk or New Archangel.
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The tribal name of the Indians in that locality was
Sitka pronounced Sika, and this short and striking name soon
attached itself permanently to the place. Immense houses were built
solidly and with every consideration for comfort and safety, and
many families lived in each. They ranged in size from
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one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet in length
and about eighty in width, and were from one to
three stories high with immense attics. They were well finished
and richly papered. The polished floors were covered with costly
rugs and carpets, and the houses were furnished with heavy
and splendid furniture which had been brought from Saint Petersburg.
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The steaming brass samovar was everywhere distinctive feature of the
hospitality and good cheer which made Sitka famous to the
gay and luxurious life, the almost prodigal entertainment of guests
by sickens. From this time on to eighteen sixty seven,
every traveler, from writers in navel officers down to traders
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has enthusiastically testified at the first signal from a ship
feeling its way into the dark harbor. A bright light
flashed to welcome across the water from the high cupola
on Baronoff's castle, and fires flamed up on signal island
to beacon the way The officers were received as friends
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and entertained in a style of almost princely magnificence during
their entire stay. The only thing asked in return being
the capacity to eat like gluttons, revel like roysters, and
drink until they rolled helplessly under the table. And in
Baronoff's estimation, these were small returns indeed, to ask of
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a guest for his ungrudging and regal hospitality. Visions of
those high revels and glittering banquets of a hundred years
ago come glimmering down to us of today. Beautiful, gracious,
and fascinating were the Russian ladies who lived there, if
we are to believe the stories of voyagers to the
Sitka of Baronoffs and wrangle times. Baronoff's furniture was of
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specially fine workmanship and exceeding value. His library was remarkable,
containing works in nearly all European languages and a collection
of rare paintings, the latter having been presented to the
company at the time of its organization. Bearonov had left
a wife and family in Russia. He never saw them again,
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although he sent allowances to them regularly. He was not
bereft of woman's companionship, however, and we have tales of
reverie by night, when Baronof alternately sang and toasted everybody,
from the Emperor down to the woman upon his knee,
with whom he shared every sparkling glass. He had a
beautiful daughter by a native woman, and of her he
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was exceedingly careful. A governess, whom he surprised in the
act of drinking a glass of liquor, was struck in
sudden blind passion and turned out of the house. The
following day he sent for her, apologized, and reinstalled her
with an increased salary, warning her, however, that his daughter
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must never see her drink a drop of liquor. When
in his most gloomy and hopeless moods, this daughter could
instantly soothe and cheer him by playing upon the piano
and singing to him songs very different from those sung
at his drunken all night orgies. That there was a
very human and tender sigh to Baronoff's nature cannot be
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doubted by those making a careful study of his tempestuous life.
He was deeply hurt and humiliated by the insolent and
supercilious treatment of naval officers who considered him of inferior position,
notwithstanding the fact that he was in supreme command of
all the Russian territory in America. From time to time
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the Emperor conferred honors upon him, and he was always
deeply a pre and it is chronicled that when a
messenger arrived with the intelligence that he had been appointed
by the Emperor to the rank of collegiate counselor, Baronof,
broken by the troubles, hardships, and humiliations of his stormy life,
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was suddenly and completely overcome by joy. He burst into
tears and gave thanks to God. I am a nobleman.
He exclaimed, I am the equal in position and the
superior in ability of these insolent naval officers. In eighteen twelve,
mister Wilson, p Hunt of the Pacific for Company sailed
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from a story of four Sitka on the Beaver with
supplies for the Russians. By that time, Baronof had risen
to the title and pomp of governor and was living
in splendid style, befitting his position and his triumph over
the petty officers whose names are now insignificant in Russian history.
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Mister Hunt found this Hyperborean veteran ensconcedin a fort which
crested the whole of a high rocky promontory. It mounted
one hundred guns large and small, and was impregnable to
Indian attack unaided by artillery. Here, the old governor lorded
it over sixty Russians who formed the core of the
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trading establishment, besides an indefinite number of Indian hunters of
the Kodiak tribe, who were continually coming and going, or
lounging and loitering about the fort like so many hounds
round a sportsman's hunting quarters. Though a loose liver among
his guests, the governor was a strict disciplinarian among his men,
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keeping them in perfect subjection, and having seven guards on
duty night and day. Besides those immediate serfs and dependents
just mentioned, the old Russian potentate exerted a considerable sway
over a numerous and irregular class of maritime traders who
looked to him for aid and munitions, and through whom
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he may be said to have in some degree extended
his power along the whole northwest coast. These were American
captains of vessels engaged in a particular department of trade.
One of the captains would come in a manner empty
handed to New Archangel. Here his ship would be furnished
(34:26):
with about fifty canoes and a hundred Kodiak hunters, and
fitted out with provisions and everything necessary for hunting the
seattle on the coast of California, where the Russians had
another establishment. This ship would ply along the California coast
from place to place, dropping parties of otter hunters in
(34:46):
their canoes, furnishing them only with water, and leaving them
to depend upon their own dexterity for a maintenance. When
a sufficient cargo was collected, she would gather up her
canoes and hunters and return turn with them to Archangel,
where the captain would render in the returns of his
voyage and receive one half of the skins as his share.
(35:09):
Over these coasting captains, the old governor exerted some sort
of sway, but it was of a peculiar and characteristic kind.
It was the tyranny of the table. They were obliged
to join in his prosniks or carousals, and his heaviest
drinking bouts. His carousals were of the wildest and coarsest,
(35:29):
his tempers violent, his language strong. He is continually said,
mister Hunt, giving entertainment by way of parade. And if
you do not drink raw rum and boiling punch as
strong as sulfur, he will insult you as soon as
he gets drunk, which is very shortly after sitting down
(35:51):
at table. A temperance captain who stood fast to his
faith and kept his sobriety inviolate might go elsewhere for
a market. He was not a man after the governor's heart. Rarely, however,
did any captain made of such unusual stuff darken the
doors of Baronoff's high Side castle. The coasting captains knew
(36:12):
too well his humor and their own interests. They joined,
with either real or well affected pleasure in his roistering banquets.
They ate much and drank more. They sang themselves hoarse,
and drank themselves under the table. And it is chronicled
that never was Baronoff satisfied until the last named condition
(36:33):
had come to pass. The more the guests that lay
sprawling under the table upon and over one another, the
more easily were trading arrangements affected with Baronoff. Later on,
mister hundrelates the memorable warning to all flinchers which occurred
shortly after his arrival. A young Russian naval officer had
(36:55):
recently been sent out by the Emperor to take command
of one of the company's vests. The governor invited him
to one of his prosniks and plied him with fiery potations.
The young officer stoutly maintained his right to resist, which
called out all the fury of the old ruffian's temper,
(37:16):
and he proceeded to make the youth drink whether he
would or not. As the guests began to feel the
effect of the burning liquors, his own temper rose to
the occasion. He quarreled violently with his almost royal host,
and expressed his young opinion of him in the plainest language,
if Russian language ever can be plain. For this abuse
(37:40):
of what Baronoff considered his magnificent hospitality, he was given
seventy nine lashes when he was quite sober enough to
appreciate them. With all his drinking and prodigal hospitality, Bearonof
always managed to get his own head clear enough for
business before sobriety returned to any of his guests who
(38:02):
were not so accustomed to these wild and constant revels
of their hosts, so that he was never caught napping.
When it came to bargaining or trading. His own interests
were ever uppermost in his mind, which at such times
gave not the faintest indication of any befuttlement by drink
or buy licentiousness of other kinds. For more than twenty years,
(38:26):
bare enough maintained a princely and despotic sway over the
Russian colonies. His own commands were the only ones to
receive consideration, and but scant attention was given by him
to orders from the directory itself. Complaints of his rulings
and practices seldom reached Russia. Tyrannical, coarse, shrewd, powerful, domineering,
(38:50):
and of absolutely iron will, all were forced to bow
to his desires, even men who considered themselves his superiors.
In all save sheer brute force of will and character.
Captain Kruzenstern, a contemporary in his account of Baranov, says
none but vagabonds and adventurers ever entered the company's services
(39:12):
as promised. Linux uneducated Russian traders, whose inferior vessels were
constructed usually of planks, slashed to timbers and cocked with moss.
They sailed by dead reckoning, and were men controlled only
by animal instincts and passions. It was there invariable destiny
to pass a life of wretchedness in America. Few ads Kruzenstern, ever,
(39:39):
had the good fortune to touch Russian soil again. In
the light of present American opinion of the advantages and
joys of life in Russia, this naive remark has an
almost grotesque humor. Like many of the brilliantly successful, but
unscrupulous men of the world, Barnoff seemed to have been
(39:59):
born under a lucky star, which ever led him on
through all his desperate battles with Indians, his perilous voyages
by sea, and the ploddings of subordinates who hated him
with a helpless hate. He came unharmed. During his later
years at Sitka. Bare enough, weighed down by age, disease,
(40:19):
and the indescribable troubles of his long and faithful service,
asked frequently to be relieved. These requests were ignored greatly,
to his disappointment. When finally, in eighteen seventeen, Hagemeister was
sent out with instructions to assume command in Bearonof's place
if he deemed it necessary. The orders were placed before
(40:43):
the old governor so suddenly and so unexpectedly, that he
was completely prostrated. He was now failing in mind as
well as body, And in this connection Bancroft adds another
touch of ironical humor. Whether intentional or accidental, it is
impossible to determine one of his symptoms of approaching imbecility,
(41:06):
writes Bancroft, being in his sudden attachment to the church,
he kept constantly about him the priest who had established
the first church at Sitka, and, urged by his spiritual adviser,
made large donations for religious purposes. The effect of the
unexpected announcement is supposed to have shortened Baronoff's days. Lieutenant Yanovski,
(41:31):
of the vessel which had brought Hagemeister, was placed in
charge by the latter as his representative. Yanovsky fell in
love with Baronoff's daughter and married her. It was therefore
to his own son in law that the old governor
at last gave up the scepter copyright by F. H.
(41:52):
Noel Seattle. A book An Eskimo Girl in Parka copyright
by F. H. Noel Seattle. A blook an Eskimaux Girl
in Parka. By strength of his unbreakable will alone, he
arose from a bed of illness, and painfully and sorrowfully
arranged all the affairs of his office to the smallest end,
(42:13):
most insignificant detail, preparatory to the transfer to his successor.
It was in January eighteen eighteen that Hagemeister had made
known his appointment to the office of governor. It was
not until September that baronof had accomplished his difficult task
and turned over the office. There was, then, and there
(42:34):
is to day, half way between the side of the
castle and Indian River, a gray stone, about three feet
high and having a flat table like surface. It stands
on the shore beside the hard white road. The lovely bay,
set with a thousand isles, stretches sparkling before it. The
blue waves break musically along the curving shingle. The wooded
(42:58):
hills rise behind it. The winds murmur among the tall trees.
The name of this stone is the Blarny Stone. It
was a favorite retreat of Barnafsen. There, when he was
sunken in one of his lonely or despondent moods, he
would sit for hours staring out over the water. What
(43:19):
his thoughts were at such times, only God and he knew,
for not even his beloved daughter dared to approach him.
When one of his lone moods was upon him in
the first hour that he was no longer governor of
the country he had ruled so long and so royally,
he walked with bowed head along the beach until he
reached his favorite retreat. There he sat himself down and
(43:44):
for hours remained in silent communion with his own soul.
He had longed for relief from his arduous duties, but
it had come in a way that had broken his heart.
His government had at last listened to complaints against it, and,
ungrateful for his long and faithful service, had finally relieved
(44:05):
him with but scant consideration, with an abruptness and a
lack of courtesy that had sorely wounded him. Nearly thirty
of his best years he had devoted to the company.
He had conquered the savages and placed the fur trade
upon a highly profitable basis. He had built many vessels
and had established trading relations with foreign countries. Forts, settlements,
(44:30):
and towns had risen at his indomitable will. Sitka especially
was his own, her storied splendor, whose fame has endured
through all the years. She owed entirely to him. She
was the city of his heart. He was her creator,
his light, blood, his very heart beats were in her.
(44:51):
And now that the time had really come to give
her up forever, he found the hour of farewell, the
hardest of his hard life. No man, of whatsoever material
he may be made, nor howsoever insensible to thee influence
of beauty he may deem himself to be, could dwell
for twenty years in Sitka without finding, when it came
(45:13):
to leaving her, that the tendrils of her loveliness had
twined themselves so closely about his heart that their breaking
could only be accomplished by the breaking of the heart itself.
Of his kin. Only a brother remained, the offspring of
his connection with a Collocian woman, was now married and
settled comfortably. A son by the same mistress had died.
(45:38):
He had first thought of going to his brother, who
lived in Kamchaka, but Galovnin was urging him to return
to Russia, which he had left forty years before. This
He had finally decided to do it, having been made
clear to him that he could still be of service
to his country and his beloved colonies by his experience
(46:01):
and advice. Remain in the town he had created and
ruled so tyrannically, and which he still loved so devotedly.
He could not the mere thought of that was unendurable.
All was now in readiness for his departure, But the
old man he was now seventy two, had not anticipated
(46:22):
that the going would be so hard. The blue waves
came sparkling in from the outer sea and broke on
the curving shingle at his feet. The white and lavender
wings of sea birds floated widespread upon the golden September
air vessels of the fleet he had built under the
most distressing difficulties and disadvantages lay at anchor under the castle,
(46:45):
wherein he had bankcaded every visitor of any distinction or
position for so many years, and the light from whose
proud tower had guided so many worn voyagers to safety.
At last, the yellow, red roofed buildings, the great ones
built of logs, the chapel, the significant black houses, all
(47:05):
arose out of the wilderness before his sorrowful eyes, taking
on lines of beauty he had never discovered before. From
this hour Barnoff failed rapidly. From day to day. His
time was spent in bidding farewell to the Russians and natives,
to many of whom he was sincerely attached, and to
(47:25):
places which had become endeared to him by law association.
He was frequently found in tears. Those who have seen
Fersitka rising out of the blue an island sea before
their raptured eyes may be able to appreciate and sympathize
with the old governor's emotion. As on the twenty seventh
of November eighteen eighteen, he stood in the stern of
(47:49):
the Kutusov and watched the beloved city of his creation
fade lingeringly from his view. He was weeping silently, hand hopelessly,
as the old weep. When at last he turned away,
Bearonof never again saw Sitka. In March, the Kutusov landed
at Batavia, were it remained more than a month there.
(48:12):
He was very ill, and soon after the vessel had
again put to sea. He died like bearing a sad
and lonely death, far from friends and home. On the
sixteenth of April eighteen nineteen, the waters of the Indian
Ocean received the body of Alexander Baranof notwithstanding his many
(48:33):
and serious faults, or possibly because of their existence in
so powerful a character, combined as they were, with such
brilliant talent, and with so many admirable and conscientious qualities,
bear Enough remains through all the years the most fascinating
figure in the history of the Pacific coast. None is
(48:54):
so well worth study in close investigation. None is so
rich in surprises and delights. None has the charm of
so lone and beautiful a setting. There was no littleness,
no niggardliness in his nature. He never knew whateveres was,
wrote Klebnikov, and never hoarded riches. He did not wait
(49:18):
until his death to make provision for the living, but
gave freely to all who had any claim upon him.
He spent money like a prince. He received ten shares
of stock in the company from Schlikov, and was later
granted twenty more, But he gave many of these two
his associates who were not so well remunerated for their
(49:39):
faithful services. He provided generously during his life for his
family and for the families in Russia of many who
lost their lives in the colonies or who were unable
through other misfortunes to perform their duties in this respect.
Born of humble parentage in Kargopal, Eastern Russia, in seventeen
(50:00):
forty seven, he had aden early age, drifted to Moscow,
where he was engaged as a clerk in retail stores
until seventeen seventy one, when he established himself in business.
Not meeting with success, he four years later emigrated to
Siberia and undertook the management of a glass factory at Erkutsk.
(50:23):
He also interested himself in other industries, and, on account
of several valuable communications to the Civil Economical Society on
the subject of manufacture, he was in seventeen eighty nine
elected a member of the society. Copyright by Dobbs Noma,
Northern Madonna. Copyright by Dobbs no A, Northern Madonna. His
(50:47):
life here was a humdrum existence of which his restless
spirits soon wearied. Acquainting himself with the needs resources and
possibilities of Kamchatka. He set out to the eastward with
an ass assortment of goods and liquors, which he sold
to the savages of that and adjoining countries. At first
(51:07):
his operations were attended by success, but when in seventeen
eighty nine two of his caravans were captured by Chukchi,
he found himself bankrupt and soon yielded to Schlikov's urgent
entreaties to try his fortunes in America. Such is the
simple early history of this remarkable man. Not one known
(51:29):
descendant of his is living today, but men like Baronoff
do not need descendants to perpetuate their names. Bancroft is
the highest authority on the events of this period, his
assistant being Ivan Petrov, a Russian who was well informed
on the history of the colonies. Many secret reasons have
(51:50):
been suspected for the sale of the magnificent country of
Alaska to the United States for so paltry a sum.
The only revenue, however, that Russia to rived from the
colonies was through the rich for trade, and when after
Behrenoff's death this trade declined in its future seemed hopeless.
The country's vast mineral wealth. Being unsuspected, Russia found herself
(52:14):
in humor to consider any offer that might be of
immediate profit to herself for seven millions and two hundred
thousands of dollars. Russia cheerfully because unsuspectingly yielded one of
the most marvelously rich and beautiful countries of the world.
Its valleys yellow with gold, its mountains green with copper
(52:35):
and thickly veined with coal, its waters alive with fish
and forbearing animals, Its scenery sublime to the scornful and
unappreciative United States. As early as the fifties, it became
rumored that Russia, foreseeing the entire decline of the fur trade,
considered Alaska a white elephant upon its hands, and that
(52:56):
an offer for its purchase would not meet with disfavor.
The matter was discussed in Washington at various times, but
it was not until eighteen sixty six that it was
seriously considered. The people of the present state of Washington
were among those most desirous of its purchase, and there
was rumor of the organization of a trading company of
(53:20):
the Pacific Coast for the purpose of purchasing the rights
of the Russian American Company and acquiring the lease of
the Lezier, which was to expire in eighteen sixty eight.
The Russian American Company was then, however, awaiting the reply
of the Hudson Bay Company concerning a renewal of the lease,
and the matter drifted on until in the spring of
(53:42):
eighteen sixty seven the Russian Minister opened negotiations for the
purchase of the country with mister Seward. There was some
difficulty at first over the price, but the matter was
one presenting so many mutual advantages that this was soon satisfactory.
Arranged on Friday evening March twenty fifth, eighteen sixty seven,
(54:05):
mister Seward was playing Wistworth members of his family when
the Russian minister was announced. Baron Stowickle stated that he
had received a dispatch from his government by cable conveying
the consent of the Emperor to the session tomorrow. He added,
I will come to the department and we can enter
(54:25):
upon the treaty. With a smile of satisfaction, Seward replied,
why wait till tomorrow. Let us make the treaty tonight.
But your department is closed, you have no clerks, and
my secretaries are scattered about the town. Never mind that,
(54:46):
said Seward. If you can muster your legation together before midnight,
you will find me awaiting you at the department. By
four o'clock on the following morning, the treaty was engrossed, sealed,
and ready for tran transmission by the President to the Senate.
The end of the session was approaching, and there was
(55:06):
need of haste in order to secure action upon it.
LUTs A painted this historic scene. Mister Seward is seen
sitting at his table, pennin and listening to the Russian minister.
The gaslight streaming down on the table illuminates the outline
of the great country. When immediately afterward the treaty was
(55:28):
presented for consideration in the Senate, Charles Sumner delivered his
famous and splendid oration, which stands as one of the
masterpieces of history, and which revealed an enlightened knowledge and
understanding of Alaska that were remarkable at that time and
which probably surpassed those of Seward. Among other clear and
(55:50):
beautiful things, he said, the present treaty is a visible
step in the occupation of the whole North American continent.
As such, it will be recognized by the world and
accepted by the American people. But the treaty involves something more.
By it we dismiss one more monarch from this continent.
(56:12):
One by one, they have retired, first France, then Spain,
then France again, and now Russia, all giving way to
that absorbing unity which is declared in the national motto
epluribus Union. There is yet one more monarch to be retired,
and all kindness and goodwill from our continent. And that
(56:34):
event will take place when our brother Canadians unite with us, indeed,
as they already have in spirit. For years, the purchase
was unpopular and was ridiculed by the press, and in conversation,
Alaska was declared to be a barren, worthless, god forsaken
regent whose only products were icebergs and polar bears. Vegetation
(56:58):
was confined toes and while Russia was wittily suggested as
an appropriate named for our new possession, as well as Aspergia.
But in the face of all the opposition and ridicule,
those two great Americans, Seward and Sumner, stood firmly for
the acquisition of this splendid country. They looked through the
(57:20):
mist of their own day, and saw the day that
is ours
Chapter sixteen. Inspired by the important discoveries of this expedition
and by the hope of a profitable fur trade with China,
various Russian traders and adventurers known as Promishlniki made voyages
into the newly discovered regions, pressing eastward island by island,
(00:20):
and year by year, beginning that long tale of cruelty
and bloodshed in the Aleutian Islands, which has not yet
reached an end. Men as harmless as the pleading, soft
eyed seals were butchered as heartlessly in as shamelessly that
their stocks of furs might be appropriated and their women ravished.
(00:41):
In seventeen forty five, Alexe Beliath and ten men inveigled
fifteen allusions into a quarrel with the sole object of
killing them and carrying off their women. In seventeen sixty two,
the crew of the Gavel persuaded twenty five young Aleutian
girls to accompany them to pick berries and gather roots
(01:02):
for the ship's company on the Kamchatkin Coast. Several of
the crew and sixteen of these girls were landed to
pick berries. Two of the girls made their escape into
the hills. One was killed by a sailor, and the
others cast themselves into the sea and were drowned. Gavrel Pushkariff,
(01:23):
who was in command of the vessel, ordered that all
the remaining natives, with the exception of one boy and
an interpreter, should be thrown overboard and drowned. These are
only two instances of the atrocious outrages perpetrated upon these
innocent and childlike people by the brutal and licentious traders
who have frequented these far beautiful islands from seventeen forty
(01:47):
five to the present time. From year to year now,
dark and horrible stories float down to us from the
far northwestward or vex our ears when we sail into
those pale blue water. Nor do they concern Promishlniki alone.
Charges of the gravest nature have been made against men
(02:09):
of high position who spend much time in the illusion islands.
That these gentle people have suffered deeply, silently and shamefully
at the hands of white men of various nationalities has
never been denied nor questioned. It is well known to
be the simple truth. From seventeen sixty to about seventeen
(02:32):
sixty sixte Natives rebelled that their treatment and active hostilities
were carried on. Many Russians were killed, some were tortured. Solaviv,
upon arriving at Unalaska and learning the fate of some
of his countrymen, resolved to avenge them. His designs were
(02:52):
carried out with unrelenting cruelty by some writers, notably Berg.
His crimes have been palliated under the plea that nothing
less than extreme brutality could have so soon reduced the
natives to the state of fear and humility in which
they have ever since remained, failing to take into consideration
(03:13):
the atrocities perpetrated upon the natives for years before there
open revolt. In seventeen seventy six we find the first
mention of Gregor Ivanovitch Shelikov, but it was not until
seventeen eighty four that he succeeded in making the first
permanent Russian settlement in America on Kodiak Island, forty three
(03:34):
dark and strenuous years after Vitis bearing saw Mount Saint
Elias rising out of the sea. Shelikov was second only
to Barrenof in the early history of Russian America and
is known as the founder and father of Russian colonies
in America. His wife Natalie accompanied him upon all his voyages.
(03:57):
She was a woman of very unusual character, energetic and ambitious,
and possessed of great business and executive ability. After her
husband's death, her management for many years of not only
her own affairs, but those of the Chlikov company as well,
reflected great credit upon herself. It was the far sighted
(04:19):
Schlikov who suggested and carried out the idea of a
monopoly of the fur trade in Russian America under imperial charter.
As a result of his forceful presentation of this scheme
and the able and doubtless selfish assistance of General Jacobi,
the Governor General of Eastern Siberia, the Empress became interested.
(04:42):
In seventeen eighty eight, an Imperial yu case was issued
granting to the Chlikov Company exclusive control of the territory
already occupied by them. Assistance from the public coffers was
at that time withheld, but the Empress graciously granted to
Shelikoff and his partner Golakhov, swords and medals containing her portrait.
(05:06):
The medals were to be worn around their necks and
bore inscriptions explaining that they had been conferred for services
rendered to humanity by noble and bold deeds. Although Shelikov
greatly preferred the pecuniary assistance from the government, he nevertheless
accepted with a good grace the honor bestowed and bided
(05:28):
his time patiently in accordance with commands issued by the
commander at Okotsk and by the Empress herself. Shelikof adopted
a policy of humanity in his relations with the natives,
although it is suspected that this was on account of
his desire to please the Empress and work out his
own designs, rather than the result of his own kindness
(05:50):
of heart. Copyright by e. A heg Juno courtesy of
Webster and Stephen's Seattle Steamer Resolute, right by ye a
heg Juno courtesy of Webster and Stephen's Seattle Steamer Resolute.
With the clearness of vision which distinguished his whole career,
(06:11):
Shelikov selected Alexander Baranoff as his agent in the territory
lying to the eastward of Kodiak in Voskresensky or Sunday
Harbor now Resurrection Bay, on which the town of Seward
is situated. Baronoff built in seventeen ninety four the first
vessel to glide into the waters of northwestern America, the Phoenix.
(06:36):
At the request of Shelikoff, a colony of two hundred
convicts accompanied by twenty priests, were sent out by Imperial
Ukase and established at Yakatat Bay under Baronof. During the
years that followed, many complaints were entered by the clergy
against Baronoff for cruelty, licentiousness, and mismanagement of the company's affairs.
(07:00):
But whatever his faults may have been, it is certain
that no man could have done so much for the
promotion of the company's interests at that time as Baronof,
nor could any other so efficiently have conducted its affairs.
It was during his governorship that the rows of success
bloomed brilliantly for the Russian American Company in the colonies.
(07:23):
He was a shrewd, tireless practical business man. His successors
were men distinguished in army and navy circles, haughty and patrician,
but absolutely lacking in business ability and ignorant of the
unique conditions and needs of the country. After Baronoff's resignation
and death, the revenues of the company rapidly declined, and
(07:47):
its vast operations were conducted at a loss. It was
in seventeen ninety one that Baronoff assumed command of all
the establishments on the island of the Schleikov Company, which
under Imperial page had already secured a partial monopoly of
the American fur trade. Owing to competition by independent traders,
(08:09):
the large company, after the death of Schlikoff, united with
its most influential rival under the name of the Chelikoff
United Company. The following year, this company secured an Imperial
U case which granted to it, under the name of
the Russian American Company, full privileges for a period of
(08:30):
twenty years on the coast of northwestern America, beginning from
latitude fifty five degrees north and including the chain of
islands extending from Kamchaka northward to America and southward to Japan.
The exclusive right to all enterprises weather hunting, trading or building,
and to new discoveries was strict prohibition from profiting by
(08:53):
any of these pursuits, not only to all parties who
might engage in them on their own responsibility, but also
to those who formerly had ships and establishments there, except
those who have united with the new company. In the
same year, a fort was established by Baranoff on what
is now Sitka Sound. This was destroyed by natives, and
(09:17):
in eighteen o for another fort was erected by Barnaff
near the site of the former one, which he named
Fort Archangel Michael. This fort is the present Sitka. Its
establishment enabled the Russian American Company to extend its operations
to the islands lying southward and along the continental shore.
(09:39):
We now come to the most fascinating portion of the
history of Alaska. Not even the wild and romantic days
of gold excitement in the Klondike can equal Bearanuff's reign
at Sitka for picturesqueness and mysterious charm. The strength and
personality of the man were such that to day, one
who is familiar with his life and story, entering Sitka
(10:03):
will unconsciously feel his presence and will turn with a
sigh to gaze upon the commanding height where once his
castle stood. There were many dark and hopeless days for
bear Enough during his first years with the company, and
it was while in a state of deep discouragement and
hopelessness that he received the news of his appointment as
(10:24):
chief manager of the newly organized Russian American Company. Most
of his plans and undertakings had failed. Many Russians and
natives had been lost on hunting voyages. English and American
traders had superseded him at every point to the eastward
of Kodiak. Many of his illusion hunters had been killed
(10:46):
in conflict with the Savage Linkets. He had lost a
sloop which had been constructed at Voskresensky Bay. And finally
he had returned to Kodiak and during the agonies of
inflammatory rheumatism, only to be reproached by the subordinates, who
were suffering of actual hunger. So long had they been
(11:06):
without relief from supply ships. In this dark hour, the
ship arrived, which carried not only good tidings but plentiful
supplies as well. Bearnofs Star now shone brightly, leading him
on to hope and renewed effort. In the spring of
the following year seventeen ninety nine, Barenof, with two vessels
(11:28):
manned by twenty two Russians and three hundred and fifty canoes,
set sail for the eastward. Many of the natives were
lost by foundering of the canoes, and many more by
slaughter at the hands of the Calash, But finally they
arrived at a point now known as Old Sitka, six
miles north of the present Sitica, and bartered with the
(11:51):
chief of the natives for a site for a settlement.
Captain Cleveland, whose ship Caroline of Boston was then ying
in the harbor, describes the Indians of the Vicinity as follows,
A more hideous set of beings in the form of
men and women I had never before seen. The fantastic
(12:12):
manner in which many of the faces were painted was
probably intended to give them a more ferocious appearance, and
some groups looked really as if they had escaped from
the dominions of Satan himself. One had a perpendicular line
dividing the two sides of the face, one side of
which was painted red, the other black, with the hair
(12:35):
daubed with grease and red ochre and filled with the
down of birds. Another had the face divided with a
horizontal line in the middle and painted black and white.
The visage of a third was painted in checkers, et cetera.
Most of them had little mirrors before the acquisition of
(12:55):
which they must have been dependent on each other for
those correct touches of the pencil, which are so much
in vogue, and which daily require more time than the
toilet of a Parisian bell. These savages were known to
be treacherous and dangerous, but they pretended to be friendly,
and fears were gradually allayed by continued peace. The story
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of the great massacre and destruction of the fort is
of poignant interest, as simply and pathetically told by one
of the survivors, a hunter in this present year eighteen
o two, about the twenty fourth of June, I do
not remember the exact date, but it was a holiday.
About two o'clock in the afternoon, I went to the
(13:39):
river to look for our calves, as I had been
detailed by the commander of the fort, Vasilai Medvenikov, to
take care of the cattle. On returning soon after, I
noticed that the fort a great multitude of Kalash people,
who had not only surrounded the barracks below, but were
already climbing over the balcony and to the roof with
(14:01):
guns and cannon, and standing upon a little knoll in
front of the outhouses, was the Sicatoyin or Chief Mikhail,
giving orders to those who were around the barracks, and
shouting to some people in canoes not far away to
make hay stand assist in the fight. In answer to
his shout, sixty two canoes emerged from behind the points
(14:24):
of rocks. One is inclined to be skeptical concerning the
exact number of canoes. The frightened hunter would scarcely pause
to count the war canoes as they rounded the point.
Even if I had reached the barracks, they were already
closed and barricaded, and there was no safety outside. Therefore
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I rushed away to the cattle yard, where I had
a gun. I only waited to tell a girl who
was employed in the yard to take her little child
and fly to the woods. When seizing my gun, I
closed up the shed very soon after this, for Kolosh
came to the door and knocked three times. As soon
(15:05):
as I ran out of the shed, they seized me
by the coat and took my gun from me. I
was compelled to leave both in their hands, and, jumping
through a window, ran past the fort and hid in
the thick underbrush of the forests. Though two Kolosh ran
after me, but could not find me in the woods.
Soon after, I emerged from the underbrush and approached the
(15:28):
barracks to see if the attack had been repulsed. But
I saw that not only the barracks, but the ship
recently built, the warehouse and the sheds, the cattle sheds,
bath house, and other small buildings had been set on
fire and were already in full blaze. The seotter skins
and other property of the company, as well as the
(15:50):
private property of Medvenikoff and the hunters. The savages were
throwing from the balcony to the ground on the water side,
while others seized them and carried them to the canoes,
which were close to the fort. All at once I
saw two kolosh running toward me, armed with guns and lances,
and I was compelled to hide again in the woods.
(16:13):
I threw myself down among the underbrush on the edge
of the forest, covering myself with pieces of bark. From
there I saw Nick Vassen drop from the upper balcony
and run toward the woods, but when nearly across the
open space, he fell to the ground, and four warriors
rushed up and carried him back to the barracks on
(16:34):
the points of their lances and cut off his head.
Kabanov was dragged from the barracks into the street, where
the kolosh pierced him with their lances. But how the
other Russians who were there came to their end I
do not know. The slaughter and incendiarism were continued by
the savages until the evening, But finally I stole out
(16:57):
among the ruins and ashes, and in my wanderings came
across some of our cows and saw that even the
poor dumb animals had not escaped the bloodthirsty fiends, having
spears stuck in their sides. Exercising all my strength, I
was barely able to pull out some of the spears
when I was observed by two colosh, and compelled to
(17:20):
leave the cows to their fate and hide again in
the woods. I passed the night not far from the
ruins of the fort. In the morning, I heard the
report of a cannon and looked out of the brush,
but could see nobody, and, not wishing to expose myself
again to further danger, went higher up in the mountain
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through the forest. While advancing cautiously through the woods, sigh,
met two other persons who were in the same condition
as myself, a girl from the Chiniat's village Kodiak with
an infant on her breast, and a man from the
Keluda village who had been left behind by the hunting
party on account of sickness. I took them both with
(18:03):
me to the mountain, but each night I went with
my companions to the ruins of the fort and bewailed
the fate of the slain. In this miserable condition, we
remained for eight days, with nothing to eat and nothing
but water to drink. About noon of the last day,
we heard from the mountain too cannon shots, which raised
(18:25):
some hopes in me, and I told my companions to
follow me at a little distance, and then went down
toward the river through the woods to hide myself near
the shore and see whether there was a ship in
the bay. He discovered, to his unspeakable joy, an English
ship in the bay. Shouting to attract the attention of
(18:46):
those on board. He was heard by six colosh who
made their way toward him and had almost captured him.
Ere he saw them and made his escape in the woods.
They forced him to the shore at a point near
the case ape, where he was able to make himself
heard by those on the vessel. A boat put off
(19:06):
at once, and he was barely able to leap into
it when the calash in hot pursuit came in sight again.
When they saw the boat, they turned and fled. When
the hunter had given an account of the massacre to
the commander of the vessel, an armed boat was sent
ashore to rescue the man and girl who were in hiding.
(19:28):
They were easily located, and, with another Russian who was
found in the vicinity, were taken aboard and supplied with
food and clothing. The commander himself then accompanied them with
armed men to the sight of the destroyed fort, where
they examined and buried the dead. They found that all
but Kabanov had been beheaded. Three days later, the chief
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Mikhail went out to the ship, was persuaded to go
a board, and with his nephew, was held until all
persons captured during this massacre and still living had been surrendered.
The prisoners were given up reluctantly one by one, and
when it was believed that all had been recovered, the
chief and his nephew were permitted to leave the ship.
(20:15):
The survivors were taken to Kodiak, where the humane captain
of the ship demanded of Baronoff a compensation of fifty
thousand roubles in cash bearenough, learning that the captain's sole
expense had been in feeding and clothing. The prisoners refused
to pay this exorbitant sum, and after long wrangling, it
was settled for furs worth ten thousand roubles. Accounts of
(20:39):
the massacre by survivors and writers of that time vary somewhat,
some claiming that the massacre was occasioned by the broken
faith and extreme cruelty of the Russians in their treatment
of the savages, others that the Sitckens had been well treated,
and that Chief Mikhail had falsely pretended to be the
warm and faithful friend of Baronoff, who had placed the
(21:01):
fullest confidence in him. Baronof was well nigh broken hearted
by his new and terrible misfortune. The massacre had been
so timed that the most of the men of the
fort were away on a hunting expedition, and Bearonoff himself
was on a Fognak island, which is only a few
hours sail from Kodiak. Several Kolosh women lived at the
(21:25):
fort with Russian men, and these women kept their tribesmen
outside informed as to the daily conditions within the garrison.
On the weakest day of the fort, a holiday, the
kolosh had therefore suddenly surrounded it, armed with guns, spears,
and daggers, their faces covered with masks representing animals. About
(21:48):
this time, Krozenstern and Lyzinsky sailed from Kronstadt in the
hope which was fulfilled of being the first to carry
the Russian flag around the world. Lyznski arrived dead Kodiak
after many hardships, only to receive a written request from
Bear enough to proceed at once to Sitka and assist
him in subduing the savages and avenging the officers and
(22:11):
men lost in the fearful massacre on the fifteenth of
August eighteen o four. He therefore sailed to eastward, and
on the twentieth of the same month entered Sitka. Sound
the day must have been gloomy in Lizenski's mood in
keeping with the day, for he thus describes a bewitch is,
(22:32):
under favorable conditions, one of the most idyllically beautiful imaginable.
On our entrance into Sitka Sound to the place where
we now were. There was not to be seen on
the shore, the least vestige of habitation. Nothing presented itself
to our view but impenetrable woods, reaching from the water
side to the very tops of the mountains. I never
(22:55):
saw a country so wild and gloomy. It appeared more
adaptive for the residence of wild beasts than of men.
Shortly afterward, Baronoff arrived in the harbor with several hundred
Illusions and many Russians after a tempestuous and dangerous voyage
from Yaktat the sight of the convict settlement, he learned
(23:16):
that the savages had taken up there position on a
bluff a few miles distant, where they had fortified themselves.
This bluff was the noble height upon which Baronof's castle
was afterward erected, and which commands the entire bay upon
which the Sitka of today is located. Liznski, in his
(23:37):
Voyage Around the World, describes the Indians fort as an
irregular polygon, its longest side facing the sea. It was
protected by a breast. Were two logs in thickness and
about six feet high around and above it, tangled brushwood
was piled. Great shot did little damage even at the
(23:59):
distance of a cable's length. There were two embrasures for
cannon in the side facing the sea, and two gates
facing the forest. Within were fourteen large huts, or as
they were called then and are called at the present
time by the natives barbaras. Judging from the quantity of
(24:19):
provisions and domestic implements found there, it must have contained
at least eight hundred warriors. An envoy from the Calash
fort came out with friendly overtures, but was informed that
peace conditions could only be established through the chiefs. He departed,
but soon returned and delivered a hostage. Bearnoff made plain
(24:42):
his conditions agreement with the chiefs in person, the delivery
of two more hostages and permanent possession of the fortified bluff.
The chiefs did not appear and the conditions were not accepted. Then,
on October first, after repeated warning, Baronov gave the order
to fire upon the fort. Immediately afterward, Baronof Lieutenant Arlasov
(25:07):
and a party of Russians and allusions landed with the
intention of storming the fort. They were repulsed. The panic stricken,
illusions stampeded, and Bearonov was left almost without support. In
this condition, he could do nothing but retreat to the boats,
which they were barely able to reach before the kalash
(25:29):
were upon them. They saved their field pieces, but lost
ten men. Twenty six were wounded, including Baronof himself. Had
not their retreat at this point been covered by the
guns of the ship, the loss of life would have
been fearful. The following day, Leznski was placed in command.
(25:51):
He opened a rapid fire upon the fort, with such
effect that soon after noon a piece envoy arrived with
promise of hostages. His overtures were favorably received, and during
the following three days several hostages were returned to the Russians.
The evacuation of the fort was demanded, but although the
(26:14):
chief consented, no movements in that direction could be discovered
from the ships. Lezinski moved his vessel farther and toward
the fort and sent an interpreter to ascertain how soon
the occupants would be ready to abandon their fortified and
commanding position. The reply not being satisfactory, Lizenski again fired
(26:37):
repeatedly upon the stronghold of the Kalash. On the three
d of October, a white flag was hoisted and the
firing was discontinued. Then arose from the rocky height and
drifted across the water until far into the night the
sound of a mournful, wailing chant. When dawn came, the
sound had ceased. Absolute silentlans reigned. Nor was there any
(27:02):
living object to be seen on the shore, save clouds
of carrion birds, whose dark wings beat the still air
above the fort. The Kolash had fled. The fort was
deserted by all save the dead. The bodies of thirty
Kalash warriors were found, also those of many children and
dogs which had been killed, lest any cry from them
(27:25):
should betray the direction of their flight. The fort was
destroyed by fire, and the construction of magazines, barracks, and
a residence for bear enough was at once begun. A
stockade surrounded these buildings, each corner fortified with a block house.
Bigarrison received the name of Novo Arkangelsk or New Archangel.
(27:49):
The tribal name of the Indians in that locality was
Sitka pronounced Sika, and this short and striking name soon
attached itself permanently to the place. Immense houses were built
solidly and with every consideration for comfort and safety, and
many families lived in each. They ranged in size from
(28:11):
one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet in length
and about eighty in width, and were from one to
three stories high with immense attics. They were well finished
and richly papered. The polished floors were covered with costly
rugs and carpets, and the houses were furnished with heavy
and splendid furniture which had been brought from Saint Petersburg.
(28:36):
The steaming brass samovar was everywhere distinctive feature of the
hospitality and good cheer which made Sitka famous to the
gay and luxurious life, the almost prodigal entertainment of guests
by sickens. From this time on to eighteen sixty seven,
every traveler, from writers in navel officers down to traders
(28:58):
has enthusiastically testified at the first signal from a ship
feeling its way into the dark harbor. A bright light
flashed to welcome across the water from the high cupola
on Baronoff's castle, and fires flamed up on signal island
to beacon the way The officers were received as friends
(29:18):
and entertained in a style of almost princely magnificence during
their entire stay. The only thing asked in return being
the capacity to eat like gluttons, revel like roysters, and
drink until they rolled helplessly under the table. And in
Baronoff's estimation, these were small returns indeed, to ask of
(29:38):
a guest for his ungrudging and regal hospitality. Visions of
those high revels and glittering banquets of a hundred years
ago come glimmering down to us of today. Beautiful, gracious,
and fascinating were the Russian ladies who lived there, if
we are to believe the stories of voyagers to the
Sitka of Baronoffs and wrangle times. Baronoff's furniture was of
(30:03):
specially fine workmanship and exceeding value. His library was remarkable,
containing works in nearly all European languages and a collection
of rare paintings, the latter having been presented to the
company at the time of its organization. Bearonov had left
a wife and family in Russia. He never saw them again,
(30:26):
although he sent allowances to them regularly. He was not
bereft of woman's companionship, however, and we have tales of
reverie by night, when Baronof alternately sang and toasted everybody,
from the Emperor down to the woman upon his knee,
with whom he shared every sparkling glass. He had a
beautiful daughter by a native woman, and of her he
(30:50):
was exceedingly careful. A governess, whom he surprised in the
act of drinking a glass of liquor, was struck in
sudden blind passion and turned out of the house. The
following day he sent for her, apologized, and reinstalled her
with an increased salary, warning her, however, that his daughter
(31:11):
must never see her drink a drop of liquor. When
in his most gloomy and hopeless moods, this daughter could
instantly soothe and cheer him by playing upon the piano
and singing to him songs very different from those sung
at his drunken all night orgies. That there was a
very human and tender sigh to Baronoff's nature cannot be
(31:33):
doubted by those making a careful study of his tempestuous life.
He was deeply hurt and humiliated by the insolent and
supercilious treatment of naval officers who considered him of inferior position,
notwithstanding the fact that he was in supreme command of
all the Russian territory in America. From time to time
(31:55):
the Emperor conferred honors upon him, and he was always
deeply a pre and it is chronicled that when a
messenger arrived with the intelligence that he had been appointed
by the Emperor to the rank of collegiate counselor, Baronof,
broken by the troubles, hardships, and humiliations of his stormy life,
(32:16):
was suddenly and completely overcome by joy. He burst into
tears and gave thanks to God. I am a nobleman.
He exclaimed, I am the equal in position and the
superior in ability of these insolent naval officers. In eighteen twelve,
mister Wilson, p Hunt of the Pacific for Company sailed
(32:39):
from a story of four Sitka on the Beaver with
supplies for the Russians. By that time, Baronof had risen
to the title and pomp of governor and was living
in splendid style, befitting his position and his triumph over
the petty officers whose names are now insignificant in Russian history.
(33:00):
Mister Hunt found this Hyperborean veteran ensconcedin a fort which
crested the whole of a high rocky promontory. It mounted
one hundred guns large and small, and was impregnable to
Indian attack unaided by artillery. Here, the old governor lorded
it over sixty Russians who formed the core of the
(33:21):
trading establishment, besides an indefinite number of Indian hunters of
the Kodiak tribe, who were continually coming and going, or
lounging and loitering about the fort like so many hounds
round a sportsman's hunting quarters. Though a loose liver among
his guests, the governor was a strict disciplinarian among his men,
(33:43):
keeping them in perfect subjection, and having seven guards on
duty night and day. Besides those immediate serfs and dependents
just mentioned, the old Russian potentate exerted a considerable sway
over a numerous and irregular class of maritime traders who
looked to him for aid and munitions, and through whom
(34:05):
he may be said to have in some degree extended
his power along the whole northwest coast. These were American
captains of vessels engaged in a particular department of trade.
One of the captains would come in a manner empty
handed to New Archangel. Here his ship would be furnished
(34:26):
with about fifty canoes and a hundred Kodiak hunters, and
fitted out with provisions and everything necessary for hunting the
seattle on the coast of California, where the Russians had
another establishment. This ship would ply along the California coast
from place to place, dropping parties of otter hunters in
(34:46):
their canoes, furnishing them only with water, and leaving them
to depend upon their own dexterity for a maintenance. When
a sufficient cargo was collected, she would gather up her
canoes and hunters and return turn with them to Archangel,
where the captain would render in the returns of his
voyage and receive one half of the skins as his share.
(35:09):
Over these coasting captains, the old governor exerted some sort
of sway, but it was of a peculiar and characteristic kind.
It was the tyranny of the table. They were obliged
to join in his prosniks or carousals, and his heaviest
drinking bouts. His carousals were of the wildest and coarsest,
(35:29):
his tempers violent, his language strong. He is continually said,
mister Hunt, giving entertainment by way of parade. And if
you do not drink raw rum and boiling punch as
strong as sulfur, he will insult you as soon as
he gets drunk, which is very shortly after sitting down
(35:51):
at table. A temperance captain who stood fast to his
faith and kept his sobriety inviolate might go elsewhere for
a market. He was not a man after the governor's heart. Rarely, however,
did any captain made of such unusual stuff darken the
doors of Baronoff's high Side castle. The coasting captains knew
(36:12):
too well his humor and their own interests. They joined,
with either real or well affected pleasure in his roistering banquets.
They ate much and drank more. They sang themselves hoarse,
and drank themselves under the table. And it is chronicled
that never was Baronoff satisfied until the last named condition
(36:33):
had come to pass. The more the guests that lay
sprawling under the table upon and over one another, the
more easily were trading arrangements affected with Baronoff. Later on,
mister hundrelates the memorable warning to all flinchers which occurred
shortly after his arrival. A young Russian naval officer had
(36:55):
recently been sent out by the Emperor to take command
of one of the company's vests. The governor invited him
to one of his prosniks and plied him with fiery potations.
The young officer stoutly maintained his right to resist, which
called out all the fury of the old ruffian's temper,
(37:16):
and he proceeded to make the youth drink whether he
would or not. As the guests began to feel the
effect of the burning liquors, his own temper rose to
the occasion. He quarreled violently with his almost royal host,
and expressed his young opinion of him in the plainest language,
if Russian language ever can be plain. For this abuse
(37:40):
of what Baronoff considered his magnificent hospitality, he was given
seventy nine lashes when he was quite sober enough to
appreciate them. With all his drinking and prodigal hospitality, Bearonof
always managed to get his own head clear enough for
business before sobriety returned to any of his guests who
(38:02):
were not so accustomed to these wild and constant revels
of their hosts, so that he was never caught napping.
When it came to bargaining or trading. His own interests
were ever uppermost in his mind, which at such times
gave not the faintest indication of any befuttlement by drink
or buy licentiousness of other kinds. For more than twenty years,
(38:26):
bare enough maintained a princely and despotic sway over the
Russian colonies. His own commands were the only ones to
receive consideration, and but scant attention was given by him
to orders from the directory itself. Complaints of his rulings
and practices seldom reached Russia. Tyrannical, coarse, shrewd, powerful, domineering,
(38:50):
and of absolutely iron will, all were forced to bow
to his desires, even men who considered themselves his superiors.
In all save sheer brute force of will and character.
Captain Kruzenstern, a contemporary in his account of Baranov, says
none but vagabonds and adventurers ever entered the company's services
(39:12):
as promised. Linux uneducated Russian traders, whose inferior vessels were
constructed usually of planks, slashed to timbers and cocked with moss.
They sailed by dead reckoning, and were men controlled only
by animal instincts and passions. It was there invariable destiny
to pass a life of wretchedness in America. Few ads Kruzenstern, ever,
(39:39):
had the good fortune to touch Russian soil again. In
the light of present American opinion of the advantages and
joys of life in Russia, this naive remark has an
almost grotesque humor. Like many of the brilliantly successful, but
unscrupulous men of the world, Barnoff seemed to have been
(39:59):
born under a lucky star, which ever led him on
through all his desperate battles with Indians, his perilous voyages
by sea, and the ploddings of subordinates who hated him
with a helpless hate. He came unharmed. During his later
years at Sitka. Bare enough, weighed down by age, disease,
(40:19):
and the indescribable troubles of his long and faithful service,
asked frequently to be relieved. These requests were ignored greatly,
to his disappointment. When finally, in eighteen seventeen, Hagemeister was
sent out with instructions to assume command in Bearonof's place
if he deemed it necessary. The orders were placed before
(40:43):
the old governor so suddenly and so unexpectedly, that he
was completely prostrated. He was now failing in mind as
well as body, And in this connection Bancroft adds another
touch of ironical humor. Whether intentional or accidental, it is
impossible to determine one of his symptoms of approaching imbecility,
(41:06):
writes Bancroft, being in his sudden attachment to the church,
he kept constantly about him the priest who had established
the first church at Sitka, and, urged by his spiritual adviser,
made large donations for religious purposes. The effect of the
unexpected announcement is supposed to have shortened Baronoff's days. Lieutenant Yanovski,
(41:31):
of the vessel which had brought Hagemeister, was placed in
charge by the latter as his representative. Yanovsky fell in
love with Baronoff's daughter and married her. It was therefore
to his own son in law that the old governor
at last gave up the scepter copyright by F. H.
(41:52):
Noel Seattle. A book An Eskimo Girl in Parka copyright
by F. H. Noel Seattle. A blook an Eskimaux Girl
in Parka. By strength of his unbreakable will alone, he
arose from a bed of illness, and painfully and sorrowfully
arranged all the affairs of his office to the smallest end,
(42:13):
most insignificant detail, preparatory to the transfer to his successor.
It was in January eighteen eighteen that Hagemeister had made
known his appointment to the office of governor. It was
not until September that baronof had accomplished his difficult task
and turned over the office. There was, then, and there
(42:34):
is to day, half way between the side of the
castle and Indian River, a gray stone, about three feet
high and having a flat table like surface. It stands
on the shore beside the hard white road. The lovely bay,
set with a thousand isles, stretches sparkling before it. The
blue waves break musically along the curving shingle. The wooded
(42:58):
hills rise behind it. The winds murmur among the tall trees.
The name of this stone is the Blarny Stone. It
was a favorite retreat of Barnafsen. There, when he was
sunken in one of his lonely or despondent moods, he
would sit for hours staring out over the water. What
(43:19):
his thoughts were at such times, only God and he knew,
for not even his beloved daughter dared to approach him.
When one of his lone moods was upon him in
the first hour that he was no longer governor of
the country he had ruled so long and so royally,
he walked with bowed head along the beach until he
reached his favorite retreat. There he sat himself down and
(43:44):
for hours remained in silent communion with his own soul.
He had longed for relief from his arduous duties, but
it had come in a way that had broken his heart.
His government had at last listened to complaints against it, and,
ungrateful for his long and faithful service, had finally relieved
(44:05):
him with but scant consideration, with an abruptness and a
lack of courtesy that had sorely wounded him. Nearly thirty
of his best years he had devoted to the company.
He had conquered the savages and placed the fur trade
upon a highly profitable basis. He had built many vessels
and had established trading relations with foreign countries. Forts, settlements,
(44:30):
and towns had risen at his indomitable will. Sitka especially
was his own, her storied splendor, whose fame has endured
through all the years. She owed entirely to him. She
was the city of his heart. He was her creator,
his light, blood, his very heart beats were in her.
(44:51):
And now that the time had really come to give
her up forever, he found the hour of farewell, the
hardest of his hard life. No man, of whatsoever material
he may be made, nor howsoever insensible to thee influence
of beauty he may deem himself to be, could dwell
for twenty years in Sitka without finding, when it came
(45:13):
to leaving her, that the tendrils of her loveliness had
twined themselves so closely about his heart that their breaking
could only be accomplished by the breaking of the heart itself.
Of his kin. Only a brother remained, the offspring of
his connection with a Collocian woman, was now married and
settled comfortably. A son by the same mistress had died.
(45:38):
He had first thought of going to his brother, who
lived in Kamchaka, but Galovnin was urging him to return
to Russia, which he had left forty years before. This
He had finally decided to do it, having been made
clear to him that he could still be of service
to his country and his beloved colonies by his experience
(46:01):
and advice. Remain in the town he had created and
ruled so tyrannically, and which he still loved so devotedly.
He could not the mere thought of that was unendurable.
All was now in readiness for his departure, But the
old man he was now seventy two, had not anticipated
(46:22):
that the going would be so hard. The blue waves
came sparkling in from the outer sea and broke on
the curving shingle at his feet. The white and lavender
wings of sea birds floated widespread upon the golden September
air vessels of the fleet he had built under the
most distressing difficulties and disadvantages lay at anchor under the castle,
(46:45):
wherein he had bankcaded every visitor of any distinction or
position for so many years, and the light from whose
proud tower had guided so many worn voyagers to safety.
At last, the yellow, red roofed buildings, the great ones
built of logs, the chapel, the significant black houses, all
(47:05):
arose out of the wilderness before his sorrowful eyes, taking
on lines of beauty he had never discovered before. From
this hour Barnoff failed rapidly. From day to day. His
time was spent in bidding farewell to the Russians and natives,
to many of whom he was sincerely attached, and to
(47:25):
places which had become endeared to him by law association.
He was frequently found in tears. Those who have seen
Fersitka rising out of the blue an island sea before
their raptured eyes may be able to appreciate and sympathize
with the old governor's emotion. As on the twenty seventh
of November eighteen eighteen, he stood in the stern of
(47:49):
the Kutusov and watched the beloved city of his creation
fade lingeringly from his view. He was weeping silently, hand hopelessly,
as the old weep. When at last he turned away,
Bearonof never again saw Sitka. In March, the Kutusov landed
at Batavia, were it remained more than a month there.
(48:12):
He was very ill, and soon after the vessel had
again put to sea. He died like bearing a sad
and lonely death, far from friends and home. On the
sixteenth of April eighteen nineteen, the waters of the Indian
Ocean received the body of Alexander Baranof notwithstanding his many
(48:33):
and serious faults, or possibly because of their existence in
so powerful a character, combined as they were, with such
brilliant talent, and with so many admirable and conscientious qualities,
bear Enough remains through all the years the most fascinating
figure in the history of the Pacific coast. None is
(48:54):
so well worth study in close investigation. None is so
rich in surprises and delights. None has the charm of
so lone and beautiful a setting. There was no littleness,
no niggardliness in his nature. He never knew whateveres was,
wrote Klebnikov, and never hoarded riches. He did not wait
(49:18):
until his death to make provision for the living, but
gave freely to all who had any claim upon him.
He spent money like a prince. He received ten shares
of stock in the company from Schlikov, and was later
granted twenty more, But he gave many of these two
his associates who were not so well remunerated for their
(49:39):
faithful services. He provided generously during his life for his
family and for the families in Russia of many who
lost their lives in the colonies or who were unable
through other misfortunes to perform their duties in this respect.
Born of humble parentage in Kargopal, Eastern Russia, in seventeen
(50:00):
forty seven, he had aden early age, drifted to Moscow,
where he was engaged as a clerk in retail stores
until seventeen seventy one, when he established himself in business.
Not meeting with success, he four years later emigrated to
Siberia and undertook the management of a glass factory at Erkutsk.
(50:23):
He also interested himself in other industries, and, on account
of several valuable communications to the Civil Economical Society on
the subject of manufacture, he was in seventeen eighty nine
elected a member of the society. Copyright by Dobbs Noma,
Northern Madonna. Copyright by Dobbs no A, Northern Madonna. His
(50:47):
life here was a humdrum existence of which his restless
spirits soon wearied. Acquainting himself with the needs resources and
possibilities of Kamchatka. He set out to the eastward with
an ass assortment of goods and liquors, which he sold
to the savages of that and adjoining countries. At first
(51:07):
his operations were attended by success, but when in seventeen
eighty nine two of his caravans were captured by Chukchi,
he found himself bankrupt and soon yielded to Schlikov's urgent
entreaties to try his fortunes in America. Such is the
simple early history of this remarkable man. Not one known
(51:29):
descendant of his is living today, but men like Baronoff
do not need descendants to perpetuate their names. Bancroft is
the highest authority on the events of this period, his
assistant being Ivan Petrov, a Russian who was well informed
on the history of the colonies. Many secret reasons have
(51:50):
been suspected for the sale of the magnificent country of
Alaska to the United States for so paltry a sum.
The only revenue, however, that Russia to rived from the
colonies was through the rich for trade, and when after
Behrenoff's death this trade declined in its future seemed hopeless.
The country's vast mineral wealth. Being unsuspected, Russia found herself
(52:14):
in humor to consider any offer that might be of
immediate profit to herself for seven millions and two hundred
thousands of dollars. Russia cheerfully because unsuspectingly yielded one of
the most marvelously rich and beautiful countries of the world.
Its valleys yellow with gold, its mountains green with copper
(52:35):
and thickly veined with coal, its waters alive with fish
and forbearing animals, Its scenery sublime to the scornful and
unappreciative United States. As early as the fifties, it became
rumored that Russia, foreseeing the entire decline of the fur trade,
considered Alaska a white elephant upon its hands, and that
(52:56):
an offer for its purchase would not meet with disfavor.
The matter was discussed in Washington at various times, but
it was not until eighteen sixty six that it was
seriously considered. The people of the present state of Washington
were among those most desirous of its purchase, and there
was rumor of the organization of a trading company of
(53:20):
the Pacific Coast for the purpose of purchasing the rights
of the Russian American Company and acquiring the lease of
the Lezier, which was to expire in eighteen sixty eight.
The Russian American Company was then, however, awaiting the reply
of the Hudson Bay Company concerning a renewal of the lease,
and the matter drifted on until in the spring of
(53:42):
eighteen sixty seven the Russian Minister opened negotiations for the
purchase of the country with mister Seward. There was some
difficulty at first over the price, but the matter was
one presenting so many mutual advantages that this was soon satisfactory.
Arranged on Friday evening March twenty fifth, eighteen sixty seven,
(54:05):
mister Seward was playing Wistworth members of his family when
the Russian minister was announced. Baron Stowickle stated that he
had received a dispatch from his government by cable conveying
the consent of the Emperor to the session tomorrow. He added,
I will come to the department and we can enter
(54:25):
upon the treaty. With a smile of satisfaction, Seward replied,
why wait till tomorrow. Let us make the treaty tonight.
But your department is closed, you have no clerks, and
my secretaries are scattered about the town. Never mind that,
(54:46):
said Seward. If you can muster your legation together before midnight,
you will find me awaiting you at the department. By
four o'clock on the following morning, the treaty was engrossed, sealed,
and ready for tran transmission by the President to the Senate.
The end of the session was approaching, and there was
(55:06):
need of haste in order to secure action upon it.
LUTs A painted this historic scene. Mister Seward is seen
sitting at his table, pennin and listening to the Russian minister.
The gaslight streaming down on the table illuminates the outline
of the great country. When immediately afterward the treaty was
(55:28):
presented for consideration in the Senate, Charles Sumner delivered his
famous and splendid oration, which stands as one of the
masterpieces of history, and which revealed an enlightened knowledge and
understanding of Alaska that were remarkable at that time and
which probably surpassed those of Seward. Among other clear and
(55:50):
beautiful things, he said, the present treaty is a visible
step in the occupation of the whole North American continent.
As such, it will be recognized by the world and
accepted by the American people. But the treaty involves something more.
By it we dismiss one more monarch from this continent.
(56:12):
One by one, they have retired, first France, then Spain,
then France again, and now Russia, all giving way to
that absorbing unity which is declared in the national motto
epluribus Union. There is yet one more monarch to be retired,
and all kindness and goodwill from our continent. And that
(56:34):
event will take place when our brother Canadians unite with us, indeed,
as they already have in spirit. For years, the purchase
was unpopular and was ridiculed by the press, and in conversation,
Alaska was declared to be a barren, worthless, god forsaken
regent whose only products were icebergs and polar bears. Vegetation
(56:58):
was confined toes and while Russia was wittily suggested as
an appropriate named for our new possession, as well as Aspergia.
But in the face of all the opposition and ridicule,
those two great Americans, Seward and Sumner, stood firmly for
the acquisition of this splendid country. They looked through the
(57:20):
mist of their own day, and saw the day that
is ours
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