The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-13
AMERICAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION.


srRAIr-THE STOP AT oUNALAsKA-couRrE-
SIZES AND supPLIEs--A COLONY HoP-ALEur
MARRIAGE cUsToMs-THE ILLICIT wHIsKEY
TRAFFIC : MOUNTAIN scENERY-orF AGAIN.
MLIoULIouK HAnDoR.
OUNALAsKA, August q, 1871
Our arrival here announced in my last letter. had
the effect Of waking up the dormant energies of this
little out of the way settlement. which only at in
tervals Of many months u vessel Of any kind.
As we steamed slowly in the whole population
turned out on the beach to gaze at ship as she
came bow on to the shore before making tho short
right anglo turn around the reef that covers the
trance to tho inner basin or anchorage. When we
anchored the commanding officer OF the cutter
Rush promptly lowered his boat and paid ON
official visit to the Jeanette. He with
ceremony. for he had all tho gold lace authorized
by the fact that he is lieutenant commander Of the
United States Revenue Service. Our officers
also in gorgeous array" as became the occasion.
and tho interchange of coureses that took place in
the cabin was marked by pleasant regard for the
Official proprieties such as mono but gentlemen OF
the army and navy seem to know how to treat with
full Justice. We had also formal visit from the
civil authorities Of the place tho persons OF Mr.
Greenbaum. the agent OF the Alaska Commercial
Company, and Mr.. Smith. the Deputy Collector
Of the port Of Illiouliouk. The first named
gentleman is charged with important trusts by his
company because this station is the chief point Of
distribution Of supplies to sub-stations we'll as
being the final point of collection OF furs and other
merchandise before they aye sent to San Francisco
FUR HEADQUARTERS.
nliouliouk is. therefore, the Alaska Commercial
Company's headquarters for the Aleutian Islands.
Alaska Territory and the Seal Islands From it the
schooner ST. George carries food clothing and other
nocessaries. as well as passengers to st. Paul. st.
George and st. Mchaels as we'll as to hunting
places westward along the line OF the Alautian
Islands the region where the otter is hunted and
spoiled OF his costly fur. Under Mr.. Greenbaun's
charge placed liberal supplies and his comfortable
quarters In the village show that his wants not
neglected by the company he serves. The stores of
the Alaska Commercial Company arc housed In
three wooden buildings fronting on a good pile
wharf; alongside which the water is deep enough to
allow 1.00Oton steamer to lie with safety. These
stores represent curious collection of goods, and
may be classed under the general heads Of coal.
oil. meat. dry goods. boots aud Shoes ware tin.
wood and delr. cutlery (knives. axes. tools OF
rious kinds). hardware (such locks, rings nails.
screws. &c.. fancy goods (pipos and IN end
less assortment Of tempting articles to strike
the native fancy. musical Instruments (barrel
organs, music boxes. flutes Addles ct hoe
genus omne). arms critics and shotguns Of many pat
to me that there also . miscellaneous collection
OF things which had time to inspect. but which
presented startling variety Of objects You will
probably ask what the traders of the company want
with barrel organs in stock. hasten to inform you
that barrel organs 90 of like hot cakes in this
gion and there fsmilies dwelling in these dis
tant islands who have sunk their whole capital,
amounting to many hundreds OF dollars. in q
swell aud many-cylindored barrel organ. Indeed.
the organ that took gold modal for
cellence In construction. tone and other requisites
the late Vienna Exposition is owned by drunken
Aleut Indian this village. said native having paid
several hundred dellars for 1t. Now. when lie COTS
drunk he either hammers the instrument with
club or turns tho crank to make music. Just tho
spirit Of mischief harmony moves him. In tho
negotiations involved in the disposal of this
markable assortment OF goods Mr.. Greenbaum is,
OF course, master, and serves his employers with
zeal and ability. As good natured and hospitable
gentleman can commend him to all travellers In
this direction.
Mr.. Smith. tho Deputy Collector. has duties
which important than would i'm.
agine. considering his station aud its remoteness
from civilization. He has been . member OF the
expedition which explored Alaska in the early days
when the Western Union Telegraph Company pro-
posed to limo across Behring Strait TO con-
meet with the Siberian lines. and thus became
familiar with the habits and customs OF the Alaska
Indians. On the success Of tho Atlantic cable
scheme tho Russo-American telegraph idea
abandoned. but many of the members Of the expe-
dition became identified with Indian trading and
returned to Alaska aud the islands. Mr.. Smith was
one Of these and travelled all tho region north
Of and along tho Yukon River. Finally he was ap-
pointed Deputy Collector at Illiouliouk.
THE ILLICIT wHrsKEY TnAFYIc.
t1x,t vO kv,ax
nlcgitimate business is being carried in these
regions by dealers in whskey 1t is contrary to law
to sell whiskey to the Alaskan or Alcutan Indians
yet year after year vessels fitted out whalers to
all appearance. but which In reality whiskey
ships leave San Francisco and Honolulu for tho
Bchring Strait settlements and exchange their rot
gut" for furs. ivory ana whalcbone. The Indians
these coasts like the rcd elsewhere will part
with anything for whiskey. The only English word
most of them know is "wheosky," which
they sling at you tho moment their
feet touch the ships deck. They beg
for ''wheesky" almost pitcously. Taking due ad-
vantage of this we'll known thirst for spirit of
civilization exhibited by the natives tho traders load
up their vessels with the cheapest and kinds
Of whiskcy and visit the little settlements along tho
coast where they tho seeds of murder. thievery
and all kinds OF denominations among the hapess
tives The revenue cutter Rush and several agents
Of the Treasury. including Mr. Smith. the Collector
aforesaid unite their efforts stop this traffic Tho
suspected vessels searched and those found en-
gagged in the whskcy trade seized according to law.
There is in store here about sixteen hundred
gallons Of contraband spirit that were recently
captured up the coast vessel recently wrecked
at Nounivak VIGOROUSLY engaged in the whiskey
business. When she ashore It is reported that
her captain destroyed the vile spirit measure of
safety, for If the natives down on the wreck
and found the. to them precious liquor grand
national drunk would be organized forthwith. which
might wind up with the massacre of tho wrecked
by tho frcnzicd savagcs. 1t will BIO secn there
fore. that the services Of competent officer to con-
troll tho trade of these islands coasts rs well az to
stop cgitimatc trade In whiskey. are much needed.