New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-17


AND LAGER BEER.
From Our Special Correspondent
sITKA. Alaska May 8, 1868.
II is nv purpose in tins letter to give you some
facts in regard to the present condition of Stka.
Reticence may be virtue highly priced, but, like
other things is liable to abuse and has already given
rise TO much anxiety on the part of friends far away
| If we had not been comfortable, you would have
heard grumbling enough; We the citizens OF Sltka'
all Join hands in saying that all reports IN reference
to our starving and dying are false Shouldyou hap
pen to drop down here among u.s. and see the rotun-
dity of our persons. you would be astoniShcd,
pecially after reading the resolutions offered in the
House of Representatives, making inquiries as to our
starving ETC. The harbor of Sltka is very pictur-
esque one. with plenty of water for the largest ships
to pass in and ont but dangerous one, owing to the
large number of little isets and rocks between which
pass narrow channels any Of them with sufficient wa
ter to float ship but hardly sea-roOm enough to be
safe; however the old Russian pilot seems to have
no difficulty in getting through them when required
The entrance to the harbor is superb Mount
! Edgecome losses up some 1900 feet above tho
level of tho sea; its immense crater tlled with
snow marks the northwestern boundary OF the
harbor aud can be at great distance, although
BranOr Island is made upof mountains piled on noun
tains looking if pushed up ont OF the sea by some
grand CONFUSION OF nature at no very distant day,
rs evidenced by their peaked SUBMITS and Jagged
outlines EdgecOme looks down upon them all. and
casts his immense shadow lar the waters Of the
bay and at day long past has lighted IT mp with
his flames and shook the whole island with his NUT
terings. The town Of Sitka, formerly New-Arch-
angel is situated point of land iuttng ont into
the bay. from the base OF the mountains, probably
containing about q thousand acres, and from the
character of the soil appears TO have been made by
the waShingS of the ocean. On the point is quite
large lake of fresh water in front of which, along
Che edge of the bay are about one hundred and nifty
3 doh, rTrlfr. TF.l flntYn ~
but one street ana that extends through the whole
length of the town, and Is continued Tor about mile
to Indian River. a little mountain stream empty
ing into the bay at this point. ms j. the
only road or the island beyond this, and in
fact on all sides of the island for some distance
before YOU reach its termination, the thicket Is i'm
penetrable This little Iyer furnishes splendid water
cold ice and seems TO get MS supply IRON Inc melt
ing SHOWS on the summit of the mountains To tins
little river the road leads, and was made by the Rus
SLAMS Tor the purpose OF geItlg wafer rs the laAe
water is hardly fit to drink. There IS not well or
cisem the island. large proportion OF the water
used being carried IN small casks Sung on pole, on
! the shoulders of two men or women. There is no
evidence here of a single cOmioTt-even the houses
of the HIGHER officers of the Russian Eur COMPANY.
| except il may be the Governors, have no convent
ences and are but little better than barns pattOncd
/ off with logs and plank covered with muslin and
this with paper. perfect nest for all kinds OF YER
| min. as YOU can imagine, and regret TO say these
! pests are well represented The population here,
prior 10 our arrival. all dependents Of the Rus
! Siau-AmeriCau Fur Company mere slaves did as
they were told, and for dong that received enough
to eat. drink, and wear, such rs 1t was: were gov
erncd lcuently. furnished amuscments from time 10
! time and given plenty of holidays by the Church,
! some 90 or 10 days IN the year. are very simple
minded hOSpitablc, 90 anything for yOu with great
pleasure, deem 1t favor and don't complain u they
abuscd-take IL Tor granted tat IL IS Tct prob
ably by this time think Il is an American custom. ~
friend of mine here would remark, should say So
! The Governors house is approached by three flights
of steps: on the first platform Is covered way to tho
entrance of the house; on the next. gcntry-bOX.
end ON the next on one side the guard house and on
| tha ,th q
steps the barracks for the soldiers. All approaches
to it are well guarded. On the other three sides are
the Company warehouses; stu occupied IN part by
! them forming hollow square, with a battery Of
some II or Il guns bearing the Indian village and
one of the approaches 10 the town. There IS dock
here which is IN dlaPlqated condition ana cannot
be used for ships TO lay alongside Of until u IS
tended. The Russians had an old hulk anchored in
front of it, and a staging built, but TINS de-
strOyed by the furOus gale had here shortly after
our arrival The COmpanys office was on the left Of
the entrance to the Governors house. This is now
occupied the upper part Of it for officers quarters,
| and the lower rooms for the headquarters and Col
lecors Office on the left Of this is large building
| still occupied by the Company as workshop, etc.
| Opposite the entrance to the greenhouse IS ship
| yard, and further on on the edge Of the bay Is a
large stOrehOuse now occupied by the Quarermas-
ter the attic as residence the lower TWO nOols with
everything, presume, pertaining TO army uses. The
| GrecORusSan Church have rather an imposing ca
thedTal here which is great relief 10 the appear
anCe of the town. IL has dome and steepe, with
| chime of bells. stands nearly in the center of the
town, fronting the main street, in fact is in its
ter, the street fronting on each side 1t is built in
| the form of a cross and although it has a rather
! rough exterior IS very gorgeous inside decorated
| with the paraphernalIa pertaining 10 the Church
! service, which Is very imposing and magnificent.
The Church property here consists of the Bishops
! House, Widows Home Cathedral and Chapel. The
latter is built on the line of stOckade, with
| trance from the Indian village. This was built for
the benefit of the Indians but IS not IN use AT present
Our red brethren do not seem to be particularly Inn
bued with that Christian spirit so essential to q
happy hereafter, although, j believe. the principal
! chiefs a convert The Indian village fronts on the
bay, and contains about 100 large hus. built of hewn
logs and very substanal-built for defense as well
TO live in. There are from 800 to ZOO warriors,
| with their squaws, children and dogs. Up TO the
time of arrival they were not permitted to
| into the town. except they were wanted by the
| Russians 10 work. A few passes were given TO the
more distinguished chiefs but since the Stars and
Stripes have floated from the flagstaff Mr.. and Mrs.
Indian have been permitted to pay us their respects
any time between Teyellle and retreat but after that
if caught in town. locked up in the cells until
morning, and possibly for example sake, for two or
| three days. The Indians have market here they
! furnish any quantity Of fish and game, charging
fair price Tor it, 1t might be interesting to of
! your readers 10 know something about the prices,
as well as the article offered, so / Will gave you
| a list: deer, from SO TO 81; grouse - cents
each; ducks, 25 cents each; wild geese % cents to
81; snipe, 30 cents q dozen; CLANS % cents basket;
halibut as much as you carry for 70 cents; cod
! 80 cents for a big fish; salmon, during the season,
| from 10 10 - cents each You may feel disposed to
laugh about fish eggs, but there plenty of them
! for sale. Tho Indians collect them by cutting
branches from the pine trees and sinking them in the
water where the fish come TO deposit their spawn.
After allowing them TO remain there for some time
| they become covered with fish eggs They are then
! taken out of the water, carried to their huts and
made into paste" kaivial'-with other ngTedi-
| ents. Since the herring commenced running the In
daus have been luXurlatlDg. IL IS an every day
Curcnce to see the delicate little squaWs with large
twg covered with fish eggs nibbling them Oft with
great gusto they pass along the streets. Our pres
ent population may be considered floating one; the
Russians are soon to be flOated off to the mouth of
| tie AmOOr River, and the corners are very
settled not having had much experience in frontier
life can form but poor idea OF what constitutes
] pioneer or what kind of an animal he is Ours
mostly made up Of parcel of men who came up here
in the emnlnX of tho GnYernmont M the rate of ono