The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-11-04
AN ARCTIC CRUISE.

The following interesting letter
from the pen Of Capt. j. J. Winant
formerly resident OF this county is
copied from the Alameda Semi
weekly Argus.
How little the American people
know of Alaska! Many know, OF
course, that such country exists,
and some have slight remembrance
that it was purchased few years
ago from Russia and is now part
of the United.S,ates. This is about all
the knowledge the great mass Of the
American people possess; but there
are some few, however, who have
been more observing and who re-
member more than this. They re-
member that it was purchased from
Russia for seven and halt millions
of dollars, and paiG-or out of the
common treasury of the United
States, and then whal?-thrown open
to the great public Tor settlement
and development, as had been the
custom with other 1ewly-acqnirel
territory? No, but ON the contrary,
closed mp like sealed book and laid
aside for the sole use and benefit of
a few individuals, that they might
fatten anG grow rich while the re-
mainder of the American people are
debarred from even entering it's fine
harbors without being hunted like
pirates. But the time has not come
yet for writing up the history of
ALASKA, and there are but few people.
if'any, on the Pacific Coast who
would have the moral courage to.tell
all the truth, or, as it We're, "turn on
she light" We can wait awhile for
these important facts, Mr.. Editor,
but perhaps few little glimpses,
caught from q vessels deck as she
sailed along, may be interesting TO
you readers, for you know we are
really allowed to sail along within
nine miles Of the landl
Leaving San Francisco April lst
we touched at Neah Bay, w. T.,
then bore awaw for Unimak Pass,
which is the nearest opening into the
Behring sea, Here the mountains
rise, beautiful and symmetrical, TO-
ward the sky to about eight thous-
and feet elevation, draped in snow
from base to summit. And here, too.
volcano should be seen, rs it is
marked on tie charts and described
in the Coasts Pilots, but it was at
rest when We passed by, No fire or
even smoke could be seen. but all
was quiet. Our disappointment,
however, was soon compensated by
fine display farther to the eastwood,
where we saw noble, lofty moun-
tain in full state of eruption, rolling
the fire in grand style down the sides,
It may be that while this one is burn
ing the other is taking rest, which
is certainly a saving of fuel. | would
like some volcano sharp to explain
whether this is recent outbreak or
otherwise. This is important to
navigators, as a good volcano makes
a splendid lighthouse, or, rather,
answeres the purpose of one.
We next crossed the Behring sea
and struck over To the coast of She
ria, and at our first stopping place
an accident occurred which might
haYe resulted seriously. How seri-
ously it did result we do no. know,
for we dill not wait to see. >Soon
after coming 10 anchor the natives
came on board and Legan to ask for
whisky. We would not let them
have any, which seemed to disappoint
them greatly; but yet they seemed
pood natured and sociablt; taving
their women and children with them.
Towards evening one of the men who
seemed to be CHIEF, was looking at
y pistol which he war,ei TO buy from
ans OF our crew. 1t was small self
cooking revolver, and the native
wanted some cartriges in to try it. /