Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-12-05
Important from the Russian Possession The
Allied Fleet in the Vicinity of Ayan.

E5-The whaling barque George" Capt.
Wall, recently arrived at San Francisco. in
twenty-six days from the Sea of Ochotsk..
The English steamer Barracouta arrived of
the port OF Ayan on the evening of the 9th OF
July; boat from her boarded all the vessels
that were then IN port The Commander of
the steamer thought there were three tcn-gun
batteries in the port, and was prepared for ac-
ton when he came in He made inquiries of
the American whaling captains then lying in
port, and found that the place was deserted
He ran in with the steamer anu anchored.
After getting all the information that could
be obtaina9 in relation to the Russians, tho
btealner got ander way aud stood cut to Sea
again, TO communicate with the frigates that
we're off the port trying TO get in after she
communicated with the frigates, she stood
back into port, and came to anchor the same
evening. On the 10th two frigates arrived in
the bay, the Pique and Amphitrite. and came
to anchor. The three commanders went on
shore. Commander Frederi ks stated to the
American captains that it was not his inten-
tention to burn the place, but to destroy all
vessels that he could find Commander Fred
ericks then issued his proclamation, and re-
quested a Mr.. Packard, who was then residing
at Ayan, to use his utmost endeavors to send
proclamation to the inhabitants-the proc
lamation granting them protection The
English commanders were very much surpris-
ed to find the town deserted people hav-
ing previously all left the town when the
steamer appeared Their effects had all been
removed some time previous, with the excel.-
ton of some goods in the Russian American
Company's warehouse, which they were in the
act of removing at the time when the steamer
hove in sight. After the Russians made out
that it was an English steamer, they left every
thing, and proceeded into the interior, where
the remainder Of their people were.
There was at Ayan small vessel on the
stocks, which the Russians were building, and
small steamer that had been brought there
the year before; she vas intended as a tug
boat on the river Amoor The Governor of
Ayan had hole dug in the beach, above
high water mark, and with tackels and pur-
chases hoisted the tug-boat into the hole, with
the intention of burying her. As the time
the British steamer hove in sight the Rus
slams were engaged in putting merchandise il
the tug-boat from the Company's warehouses.
The steamer had got so close to the shore be-
fore she was discovered, that the Russians did
not have time to cover her up. On the 11th
of July, the squadron sent their boats on
shore, and commenced taking al aud every
thing they could find, that was of any use TO
them, that the Russians had left On the
landing of the boats, they found the place
where the tug was buried, and they COM
menced taking ont the boxes Of merchandise
and hardware that the Russians had put into
the tug-boat, and conveyed them on board
the squadron. After they had got all that
was convenient for them to take. the COM
! mander ordered the tug-boat to be blown up.
which was done by putting one hundred
pounds of powder into the fore part of the
vessel, and applying to it s. slow match which
took fifteen minutes to burn TO The powder.
The explosion was most effectual; it COM
pletely ripped open the forward part of the
vessel, which was built of iron.