The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1868-10-17
Correspondence of the Baltimore Suu.1
Letter from tho New American (Russian)
Possession.

Possession.
UNITED STATES REV. STEAMER WAYAMDA. !
Sf. PAUL, ISLAND OF KODIAK, June "a, 1868.
penued you few lines from Victoria aud
Sitka. and since writing those two letters
have seen great many sights, strange
country and astrangs people. We LETT Sitka
on the sob of May, for our long north wss,er
ly cruise, arriving here on our wsy some
days ago. Upon our arrival we found the
place occupied by company Of troops
Since leaving Sitka We have visited q grss,
many places, surveyed, souDded out and
made charts Of bays. rivers, inets and inuu
merable places; have been up Cooks Inlet
to Fort ST. Nicholas, and as far north Is the
parallel Of 81.
Il found the climate and the weather very
sultry and dissgr grseabs, from the heavy rains
and the heavy fogs that prevail throughout
the summer season, which lasts about four
months. The other eight months (wintsr
season) are so terribly cold, and the gales so
severe. that it is almost impossible for the
natives to venture out Of their huts for fear
Of being blown away. The weather We have
had SO far has been passabIe. Since arriv-
ing here it has been delightful, clear and
calm, and it seems impossible for you to be-
lisvs ms when l say have laid iu my bunk
and read until twelve o'clock at mid night,
receiving light from the outside through the
air port.
The days are now gradually getting short,
aud 10 few months, or at least in Septem-
Der. the lights will have to be lit about six
o'clock and IN the months Of December, Jan.
uary and February, "oId Sol" sets about
two o'clock 10 the afternoon. The noun
taus are always covered with snow through.
out the summer, and some time ago, having
an opportunity Of visiting the top Of one Of
those very high mountains that look, at first
sight, impossible to ascend. joined the ex-
peditiou, bad a terrible time gaining the top,
but succeeded, after skiuuing Of shtns, tired
and worn out, after some houra of bard
climbing, to have the pleasure Of seeing
some beautiful sights from the top, eating
snow and snow. ballipg, which have not had
for some years.
The natives are avery inferior class OF
people, and are fast dying out. l saw the
remnants Of once powerful tribe which
now contains about half a dozen families.
The only disease they are troubled with is
consumption, owing to the terrible Gil.
mate. They are very religious set. and
were very kind to 10. We have made some
valuable discoveries 10 coal. 1t is Of a very
superior quality. Having tested some few
tons 1--WE mined ourseves) 10 furnaces, it
made steam very fast, makes very little
clinkers aud smoke. 10 quantity it is inex-
haustble.
So far as land is concerned. the country
is worthless-I mean for farming land, DC
but its fisheries are valuable, also for furs
at present 1t will not take long for our
people to kill off the fur animals. Under
the Russian Government it was heavy pen
atty for any one to kill the animals out Of
season, and certain amount or number had
to be killed yearly.
We are now waiting for coal to arrive
from Victoria TO continue our trip, and then
proceed westward as far as the island of
Oma laska, Bristol Bay, and from thence 10
Norton Sound, Arctic Ocean, if the weather
permits, and return to Sitka which will be
about the first of September, and arrive at
San Francisco about the lst Of November.
The trip is very interesting. So far do
not regret coming, but would not like TO be
stationed permanently upon the coast. An
American ice company has very extensive
ice.houses and lakes here, and oil of that
very valuable article that is consumed in
San Francisco and China is shipped by this
company. The superintendent here is Gen
eral Dana, late Of tue Army of the Potomac,
and a very clever gentleman. think be
will return just 10 time to cast vote fer the
next President. l..