St. Landry democrat., 1879-06-07
STTKA.
Alaska's Principal TOwn-Haa POpmEa.
tinn and RuAlnesR

| SEIAAs
| Alaska'B Principal TOwn-Haa POpuSa
tinn and Ruslness.
Sitka is the largest town in the vast
territory for which our government paid
seven million dollars. it is situated on
the west coast of Baranoff island, and
although lying in latitude So deg. SO
sec., nearly l6 deg. north Of Boston and
only 2 deg. south of Greenland, the
climate is 80 modified by the Japan cur-
rent that the thermom eter rarely falls
below zero. The summers are short and
cool, not differing more than 60 deg,
from the water temperature of winter.
The population consists of about three
hundred white people, exclusive of the
garrison, and one thousand two hundred
Indians. When Alaska belonged to
Russia, Sitka was in a more hourishing
condition; it was garrison town com.
manded by Prince Mosontoff. tthe time
of the transfer, the Russian inhabitants
were offered their passage to Russia or
the passage money if they remained.
All the best people went home to the
mother country, leaving the most de-
graded class.
The Indians belong to the Asiatic
type, and differ in habits from the plain
Indians. They build good log houses,
and as they live almost entirely by fish,
ing, their VILLAGE faces the bay. Each
family owns boat, and in the summer
men, women and children go out on long
fishing excursions, coming back with
their winters supply of oil and dried
fish. Most of the valuable turs they
obtain in barter with inferior Indians,
and in turn exchange them for provisions
and clothing at the Indian traders.
Sitka still wears a foreign air, having
changed very little since the Russian
occupation. The quaint church. built
in the form of Greek cross, with it's
shining dome surmounted by a great
gilt cross, the summer house belonging
to the princess, the little chapel that
bears grave interest from the massacre
of priest and people, many years ago,
the buryingsground, with slabs OF mar
BILE fitting over the graves, and the sym
Dol of our religion for headboard, all
these are strange and picturesque to
American eyes. The strange, impress
sive service of the Greek church, the
floor crossed with resinous fir boughs
instead OF carpets, the chanting
of the long robed priests, the singing of
the chorister boys, carry the traveller
back to the Catholic church of the mid,
die ages. In no other place can a con-
gregation be fonnd more absorbed in de-
votion, nowhere q congregation more
oblivious of sacred teachings when out
of church.
Tourists have pronounced the bay of
sitka, although entirely different, equa
in beauty to the bay of Naples or Rio
Janeiro. It is never troubled by the Sc.
we're storms that send mountains of spray
dashing over the reef at the opening of
the bay.
In the summer Of 1872 the bay pre-
sented very gay appearance. The Sa-
ranac, then flagship of the Pacific
squadron, with Admiral Winslow on
board, was cruising in Alaska waters
She boasted of a boat crew that had
never been beaten, except by some light
Asiatic craft, and had been victorious
over many European crews. A race
was planned between this boat and an
Indian war canoe. The course was frem
the starting point up the bay, around
the Saranac and back. The Indian boat
won the race by full quarter of a
mile. The interest displayed by the In
dians on the bank, during the race, and
their enthusiasm at the result, disproves
the theory that Indians are perfectly
stoical.
When the forests of Oregon and Wash
ington are exhausted, and the salmon
destroyed in the Columbia, attention
will be drawn to the vast forests of
Alaska and the abundance of salmon,
and Sitka may be the capital of valu,
able territory. Until then there is little
hope fer her. Now: with her resources
undeveloped, her garrison removed, and
her inhabitants living in daily fear of
the Indians, she is the picture of deso,,