The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-09-15
The Capture az Bomarsrrzad by tflc


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The news by the Europa, announced that Bonn
ersund had been taken by the French and Engllsh
forces. This fortress is situated on one the A
land Islands, at the extremity Of the Black Sea-
and near the Gulf of Bothnla, and the Prncl-
ple protection of the island The following if.-
eresting description OF these islands is given IN
the London Times:
5. The Aland isles, which lie hardly 25 leagues
distant from Stockholm, and are called by The
Firms, 'Ayenommas,' consists of three groups oil
about so Inhabited, and 200 unInha6ited islands
The nha bitants, who number about 15,OOO, are
a healthy and cheerful race, who support them
selves partly by agriculture and the breeding OF
cattle, partly by fishing and by acting as pilots.
They refuse TO be called either Swedes or Films.
but proudly call themselves Alanders; and the
chief islands, with superfces Of about seven
square leagues, (while the whole group contains,
perhaps 10 square leagues they call the Con-
nent. In oden times it had its own kings, and
supported half the population of the whole Archi'
peligo. In addition to many good ports, it pos.
sesses in particular, the safe anchorage Of 4lter
macs, which IS capacious enough to admit the
whole Russian fleet; on the shore Of which lies
the strong fort OF Bomersund, capable of maintain
ing within its walls $4,000 men. Bomersund has
only been built bout 20 years, but the history of
ibis group Of islands goes further back. Already
in the fourteenth century it is mentioned earl
DOM and at different times it has been i'll the pos,
session Of Swedish princes and queens, whether
kef or lonure.
"Up to the year 1927, the islands were used
by he Russian fleet, (Which then continually
threatened the Swedish shores,) place Of rem.
devious. Many Alandars who fled to Sweden re-
turned after the peace Of 1927. 10 1852 & 1903,
the Russians again took possession OF the islands.
but the Alanders secretly organized themselves in
the later year, surprised the Russians and took
the Russian commander, Major Neidhart, prison
er. In 1902 however, the islands again
taken BY the Russians, and have ever since then
remained as their own possession.
"On lonely red granite rock, lying close to
the sea, the ruins Of the strong Castle
holm, which was up to the year 1894 he residence
Of the Swedish Governor of the islands. The pas.
sage between these islands, with their deeply in
denied bays, is more like excursion on lake
than on tho open 1t is impossible to see eth.
er ahead or astern; the view is either bounded
by fresh green meadows, with short-legged catlle
and sheep feeding on them, by nice looking villa
ges, surrounded by kitchen gardens, or by bare
desert cliffs of red granite Astounding in feidspar
along which there stretch hazel shrubs, Or thin
stunted woods Of pine. AT one of the most east
erly of the Aland Islands, Sattunga, the steamer
which plies between Stockholm and Finland, re.
mains anchor during the nj ht, but at the very
first dawn of day during the summer it cautiously
continues its course through The labyrinth Of is
lands the channel between which is marked out
by, stakes, till it arrives at the mouth Of the Aura
joki, where one has the first sight Of the shores Of
Fuand.''