Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-14
FROM ALASKA.
Formal Transfer and Delivery of
Russian America.

Formal Transfer and Delivery of
Russian America.
NEW YORK, Nov. 13.-The Herald's
Alaska correspondence, dated Oct. Sih,
says: The formal transfer and delivery of
Russlan America took place to-day, Ma
Jor GeneTai Lowell II. Rousseau being first
TO hoist the American flag. 10,
Terrific Hurricane.
The same correspondent writing No.
vember !, says: The steamer Ossipee ex-
perienced terrific hurricane forty miles
OH Archangel. She was nearly wrecked
and lost all her boats. A number of sails
anu the chronometer were destroyed, and
most of the fires put out. She shipped an
immense sea, damaging the powder in her
ma sazlnes. Seven sailors were wounded
but none killed. Gen. Rousseau and staff
were aboard at the time. =.
Inc hurricane swept over the harbor
Win great violence. Several vessels were
oodly damaged and some driven ashore. a
number of houses were blown down
throughout the city. No lives were lost.
HI Feeling in the City.
Inc Russian Commissioners have pro-
tested against the occupancy of the Fur
Company's buildings by United States
troops. BY courtesy the troops are now
sheltered and the supplies stored there.
me matter VIII be referred to Mr.. Seward.
Much ill feeling has been exhibited
since our occupation of the city. 10
seven duels on paper have occurred, but
they were settled without bloodshed.
Particulars of the Transfer of Rus-
SIAN America. =
NEW ARCHANGEL, Oct. s, via SwINoM-
IsH. w. T., Nov. 1.-THE formal transltr
and delivery of Russian America to the
United States Government took place to-
day by Capt. Pestrichoff. acting Commits
sloner, on behalf of the Russian Govern
ment, aud Maj. Gen. Rousseau. At 8 z.
NJ. battalion of United States troops, un-
der command OF Maj. Charles o. Wood, 8 h
Infantry, was drawn up in front of the
Governors residence.
BY half-past three large concourse as
sembled, comprising the Americans, Rus
slams, Creoles and Indians. At the last
named hour the Russian forts and fleet fired
salutes in honor Of the lowering Russian
flag. but the flag would not come down.
In lowering it, it to.e its entire width close
by the halyards and fioated from the cross
trees forty feet from the ground.
Three Russian sailors attempted to ascend
the inch and half guy rope supporting
the flag staff, but each failed. A fourth as
cended i'll boatswain's chair, seized the
flag and threw it in the direction directly
beneath him. but the motion OF the wind
carried it off. ....- ..
:. Five minu es after the Russian flag was
lowered the stars and stripes went grace
fully up. Mr.. Geo. Lowell Roussese. hay-
ing the honor of flying tue fig to the
breeze. The United States steamers Ossip-
pee and I,esacI at the same time honoring
the event by firing salutes. AS the Rus
sian flag was lowered Capt. Pestrechoff
stepped forward and addressed Gen. Rous-
seau as follows: r.. -
GENER AL AS Commissioner of his I'm
perial Majesty, the Emperor OF Russia, [
now transfer and deliver the territory of
Russian America, ceded by his Majesty to
the United States.
Gen. Rousseau, in response, as the Amer
lean fl ~ ascended, said:
CAPTAIN :-As Commissioner on behalf
of the United States Government, l re-
ceive and accept the same.
Several ladies witnessed the ceremonies,
among them Princess Makestoff. Mrs. Gen.
Davis and Mrs. Maj. Wood. The Princess
wept audibly as the Russian flag went
down. f.
The transfer was conducted in a purely
diplomatic and business like manner. The
entire transaction was concluded in a few
hours. The Ossipee, with commissioners
on board, was steaming into the harbor at
IL O'Clock in the forenoon, and at 4 o'clock
in the afternoon a dozen American flags
were floating over the newly born Ameri-
can city of Sitka.
Further Particuia of the Great Hur.
The United States steamer Ossippi was
nearly wrecked on the night of the 9th
ult., when 40 miles southeast of Oschangel,
in the most terrific hurricane witnessed on
this coast during the past 20 years. She
lost all her boats and considerable sails and
rigging. The chromometer was destroyed,
and all the fires but fonr put out. Those
remaining were kept alive by burning oil,
tallow, greese, lard, candles, and like sub
stances. She shipped immense sea, doing
great damage to the powder in the mega
zine. Forty-six sailors were wounded, but
providentially none killed. .r1,. i
Gen. Rousseau and son George, and also
the Generals staff, were ON board. The
hurricane lasted eighteen hours, and the
entire storm between thirty-siX and forty
hours. Lieutenant Commander Crossman
and boatswain named William Green,
saved the ship by heroic exertions in bat
tening the hatchway when the storm
ragged with the greatest fury. The engin-
eers and firemen all behaved nobly.