New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-06

as agated by excitement, deeply earnest in the pur-
suit OF gain aud eager for the earliest news from
abroad as any growing town in Kansas or Minnesota.
DESCRIPTION OF SITKA HARBOR-THE FIRST
AMERICAN RELIGIOUS sERvICE-THE CERE-
MONIES OF TRANsFER-FEELINGS OF THE
RUSSIANS
Prom The Sitka Correspondence Of The Alta Californian
The haTbOr is narrow, lying between the
Island Yapous and the eurvlng shore of the mainland
town has convenient but not extensive wharfng. The
beach mostly covered with small powders OF green
stone trap and hard clay slate The appearance of the
itself is not very inviting the right the
warehouses Of the Russian American Company, tho Gov
enOrs residence the churches and the houses of the
Russian population On the left is the Indian town,
ssting of GO square block cabins. part OF them
reaching III single nile along down the beach They are
built Of hewn logs with roofs of cedar bark and beray
in their structure blending Of savage and civilized taste
the former greatly predominating They have no win
dOwS, but wide opening in the center Of the roof
swers the tvOiOd purpose of admitting the light and
built in the center OF the cabin. The isand-Bara!off-
on which stka is bnilt takes its name FROM former
Governor, and is 81 miles long, with average width OF
90 miles II has no white ihabitans except the resi-
dents OF this town. who with the CreOes number 1885,
The Indians are OF the KousRe tribe and are said 10
number 1913 The present town of st1a settled IN
1904 and owes its origin 10 the sea otcr-thc most val
uabe furbeaTng animal OF the Northern seas AZ that
time il was found in large numbers about this and the
adjacent islands and the high value its skin led the
transfer Of the Headquarters OF the Russian American
October 10 was the American Sunday. The day was
drzzly tin late IN the afternoon The Lutheran Church
given the Rev Mr. Rainer the army chaplain, to
hold services there in the afternoon II is not large
has pews after the English fashion organ, and
an air OF neatness andcOmfort The occasion was
by an American clergyman in Alaska. The an.
Gencs was typical OF tne m%gG Pop4 NJ Fn15
Russians and more numerous than both ,h9 dGsy
the words uttered they seemed 10 appreciate The event
one OF mOmentthc beginning OF an era IN the history
vo iG cS eod Inc pfeoc5ST 'o WE sn
say that the influence OF Luther has encompassed the
world Crossing both continents, IT now untcs ia ono
fath and practice men OF divers origin habits aud cur
ture' The speaker alluded TO the important change
try lie felt that he uttered the sentiment OF ne AmeI-
can people when he extended the hand OF fellowship,
Their rights as clizens WOud DC respected y le people
Of the United States, and would be protected by just and
would be a generous and prevailing harmony; and that
under the guidance and worship OF the same God, aided
10y tie influence Of free schools and republican neutu
tons, there prosperous future awaiting Alaska
Military appointments are not always made with refer
encc fitness hut Mr.. Raners experience qualities him
for the duties Of his present position He familiar with
pioneer life Emgraling from ONO 10 Oregon 20 years
ego he delivered the first religious discourse In Portland
aud was the earliest preacher Ia Umpqua ana Rogue
As soon KS the Ossipee was at anchor Gen Davis the
commander Of the United states forces In the naibo sent
HDoEs L. 5. TRoOps. sITKA HARBOR,
TERRITORY or ALASKA, oct IL, 1867.
10 Major J.. ROUSSEAU, Z. s. A. and Cgptai PEST
CHOuEOrF Russ La,p. Mary.
missionos Of Transfer the safe arrival Of the United
states troops under my command designated 10 occupy
the newly Ce3cd Territory Of Alaska The troops are Stl
the transit stsameT John j. stephens where theg
vii be {stgngQ VI such Time as The commissioners S'''
owing 10 the length Of time the troops have been on
shipboad It hoped that the Comnissonts Will make
can he conveniently done. II Affords pleasure
offer TIE services Of myself and command to the Comms
sOncr 20 take any part they may desire In the cefe0-
MICS Of transferring the Territory. gentlemen, re-
.ucctTnliv your obedient servant, JETF G. DAVIS,
Breyct Major Gen. Commanding
Al o'clock the Russian troOps formed the parapct,
IN front Of the Governors house Othe right OF tho Gov
eminent flag stan, fir mast 100 feet high At the same
20 the mcuOf-warthe boat Of Gen Days with the nag
covered the little harbor With boats and the sheen Of the
inuscts the uniforms Of the officers, with TIE dark and
lofty mountains background, presented novel ana
impressive picture: short row aud the stars anu
stripes were landed for the first time on our new terri
tory As soon a. the soldiers were an iaheu' peI ~
1s with the guard Of honor proceeded to the Governor
house the latter taking ther position On te ,e i ,
Of the flagstaff. Our soldiers now nled past anu looA
their position the left OF the Russasthe ater pre-
scntirig arms and returning the salute.
The battalion Of L. :. troops was commanded ny
Breyet Major G. o. wood OF the 9th Infantry; the Guard
n az The 81 Artillery was commanded by Brevct CAPT.
B McIntre; Co. f. Of the 9th Infantry Dy Lieut. NJ g
Y W Iiyermore % Artillery, with their respective
Companies Davis attended by the inenDers Oh
srr. ant Surgeon A. II. Holt aud Lieut.. b H.
Kenney Asst.-Adjuant- General Tbe RUSSIAN infantry
prince MaksOutof and the Commissioners Gen Rousseau
and Capt Pestchouroh appeared ana takg tner %
destch9uton tis fSen to move down the stan gun
numbered from the Osspce, the ship OF the senior oihcer
OF our squadron moment after u was answered. Wy
gun from the Russian battery These guns We're nrGa
alternately first by and then 10y thcm ulul n guns
were fired BY each. When the nag had descehued one
third Of the distance y caught last IN lhe yaHn O
of the Governors marines ascending disengdgcd ~ anu
dropped down upon the heads OF the RUSSIAN hon.Is
"a if seeking home with those who were its appointed
defenders Capt Peschourof, turning 20 the American
Commissioner, Gen. Rousseau, SAID: by the authOIty
of Ills Majesty the Emperor Of all the Russias, transfer
a. os fhe agent of the United States all the territory
and dominion now possessed by His Majesty on the Cont
nent of America and in the adjacent islands according 10
a treaty made between these TWO Powers. IL,
Gen Rousseau replied: accept from YOU as agent OF
His Majesty the Emperor OF all the Russiss the territory
and dominion which Won have tranferred to me, IN Com
missioner the part Of the United states 10 receive INC
0ur flag was now bent TO the halyards by two Amcr
can sailors and George Lowell koussean iad OF 10 aI1
Of Gen Rousseau, assisted by miashlpma Iat,c.
the stars and Stripes slowly aud surely to the heau Oh
the staff Numbered from tho Kusssn paIec,5
answered FROM ship The ming was AFTERMATH
as before until each had fired the national salute
can and fbe national colors foated over new wide
spread territory. Our dominion now borders on ne"
ocean, and almost touches me 9la @ bhrta i
Ocrac institutions now extend over an area '
possession OF despOtc Government Inc ocoSSlnh in
spred the soul OF every American present. ana az Tue
officers retired three mighty cheers were ElHHi anu We
an reoiced that we now stood on American SOIL -,
Ts inquiry naturally arises In the mind OF the reader
How do the Russians OF Alaska regard this sale OF the
territory 10 foreign pOwerP very nueh as you loAu
er, would IN the same circumsIsCSs, ,b cereno
mentioned that very few OF them Wltnessea 'he
Dies OF the transfer The Russians IKE me Amstlcans
prOud Of their vast domain bllheItO ~ Hot
Pnssia ike tie United States, has invariably been ad-
ding TO- but surrendering any OF her teiH1oiy
The sale of Alaska Is anomaly IN her p0ncy now
ever iudcious the disposal OF this domain may seem 70
te Emperor and to fle European Russians those SUD-
ec living i'm the territory cannot see the ehpedlenty OF
lie aet In the same light No could walk me streets
today after the announcement OF the arrival o. te sya
,i9ners without perceYing that air OF depression
nervadcd the Russian population. overheard one say
I'm broken English TO companion cannot ne piesent
AZ tbe death OF the country. mere WIN DO many
tears sbed tonight Ia StRa SAID flnlander 20 our IN
ernrete and Il is told that the intelligent ana accom-
ef... n Aft
isGr was over retired 10 her chamber ana Wep pit-
tarv II the report be true, and DO not d1uOl a' ~
nj ro.Iif IDrh Il