New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-17
ADVENTURES IN THE W1LDs OF ALASKA
EXPERIENCES OF IVAN PETRoFF, A SPECIAL AGENi
OF The IENoUH Do NNT"N'
InN rcRApH To THE TRInINE.l

WAssIyGToN Jan. 16.-Ivan Pctroh, special
agent of the Census Bureau for Alaska, compie'cu
his work in the field last September and has reaeheu
Washington Mr. Petrof is the gentleman VINO las.
wear made journey of 5000 miles. in Alaska ana
among the Aleutian Islands, $500 miles OF when
was through portion of Alaska never before pehe-
trated by civilized men. This journey was made
for the Cepsus Bureau and was entirely successful
The islands and the western portion of the penLhs-
1a of Alaska as far east as Cooks Inlet were eN
amined and the data required for the census puo-
locations were secured.
Forlast summers work Mr.. Petrof planned to
take the work at Cooks Inlet when he left 1t the
,revious season. and make hisway along TO-
ward the castto Sitka. In this he was only par
italy successful and for very good reasons as ihe
following story of his adventures will show:
Having collected his supplies at the Island of
Kodiak he set sail in a schooner, early in tie sea-
SON for the northern shore of Cooks Inlet. Inc
vessel had been out only about an hour, when she
struck upon a sunkeu reef not marked in any chart
of the locality speedily filed and sunk Her cargo
including his property, was a total loss Ihe pas
sengers and were rescued ana returned 10
Kodiak, where a new outfit was procured, and after
short delay a second and more successful attempt
to reaoh the main Land was made
Mr.. Petroif and party made their way with canoes
olonq the northern coast of Cooks Inlet to and
around its head distance of about 100 miles, and
then struck out overland for Prince Williams
Sound carving his canoes and supplies. 1hls
portage has only once before been made Inc re-
gion is one of the most inhospitable and repeliant
ON the earth Two large glaciers, one eight and the
other fifteen miles wide were crossed the passage
being one of great difficulty and many dangers
One Of these glaciers the smaller, re lched and ter
minated in the sea; but the other had formed Tor
itself deep valley In front Of the terminal mo-
ro1nes being of great size. At that season of the
vear there was continuous noise like thunder
caused by ayaIanches of and ice from the hlgh
mountains on each side of the glaciers. The COM
fort of the travellers was seriously nterfercd with
by numerous accidental ce-water baths.
Prince Williams Sound was reached on the 1st of
June at winch time the season was so backward
that no blade of grass green thing was to be
seen The ground frozen so solid that 1t was
difieult TO fix the tent-poes in their places. The
conntrv around Prince Williams Sound Is very for
Kidding i'm appearance; stones and large boulders,
hrouuht down by glaciers OF former ages, cover the
greater portion of the earth the remainder beng
swamp or bog. Upon the mountain sides, at a dis
tance there is timber which with an almost impen-
etrable underground reaches up short distance
above the sea level.
In coastinr along the Sound in his canoe Mr. Pc
troff passed the face of glacier twenty miles wide
from which large pieces of ice small bergs in fact.
we're constantly breaking off and floating out to sea-
making passage very periOus. His canoe was in
sinking condition when he reached Nuchek Island
In this place there are two stores, and considerable
trade is carried on with the natives for long DIS
tance up and down the coast.
Having completed his preparations Mr.. Pet1of
started from Nuchek with crew of four Inuis,
and haf-breed interpreter, for Copper River fifty
miles distant. He ascended the river to the first
village, Alaganok, inhabited by North American
Indians As he landed, however, and before he ap
proaehed the village his Inuits became alarmed
aud deserted him in q body. The natives were re-
ioiced at this state of affairs and hattered them
selves that they would keep the traveller and his
stores among them to be preyed upon at their
e.sure.
He sought to hire crew of Indians to assist him
or his journey, but they demanded "a large gold
piece every day for each man employed" The boat
was large one, and the Indians fanced Il would be
i,nnossbe for their visitors TO escape without help.
With his Interpreter alone he decided to make the
Mt empt and when night came they cut loose and
foated down stream. The channel through the
delta to the sea was difficult one, but 1t was safely
passed and when the coast was reached sails were
set for a return to Nuchek. Before reaching the
island the boat upon suDken rocks and was
wrecked. The two were picked of by natives,
who saw them from the shore, but much of their
property was lost.
VI.
the Kolosh Indians from distant point on the
coast. who usually come year to Nuchek with
furs 20 trade for the molasses used in making their
favorite mtoxcant. He started accompanied by
his interpreter. with party of Koloshes from
village near Cape YaStag and reached their village
with his stores in safety. Here, however, he found
himself prisoner. The barbarians, like those
on the Copper River and with much
better reason fancied they had pnZe
which it would be sin TO part with They not
ONLY refused to accompany the travellers further,
bat refused to let them proceed by themselves.
Their pretext was that they had tiouple Win
miners and feared their visitors would belay their
hiding place and their weakness and thus bring on
nttaek from their enemies. The Indians became IN
uolcnt and from the first stole all they could lay
tl.ir hands on. After time they segan series OF
annoyances calculated to provoke their visitors,
with view TO putting them to death ana mus Sc
Curing everything. -
day gave up 10 the chief, upon bis demand, MI;
Pttrofi7s breach-Oading rifle. ihe cmei hieu on
the chambers OF the piece and brought u 10 u1e
owner TO be loaded again. he took II, anu PFC eno
ini 10 load it, managed 20 put the main sprhg OF
the lock out of place. rendering the piece unservc-
sble. The chief was greatly ehraeed anu hostiLitieS
became more imminent. "A short the utae
tent Tor his own use. which request
Was firmly refused. ThereuDOn the Indians sent OH
81 lieir women and chlldren-a most ohiiDous pro-
ceeding and one which was interpreted as sure
forebodiDg of bloody work-at least IN intention.
ihe traveller determined to postpone no longer
ms attempt 10 escape. All the large canoes mt Tor
keaeolng Ead been cent away; but the case was Il
desperate one and the captive secretly selected the
bsst df those remaining and noted the place OF It's
foncealreRt. After cooking aud eating their sup
yer The Two aed retired 10 heir tent as usual ana
ued down the flaps IN front. Mr.. Ietron
oiew ms KNIFE and cnt long slit III he back and
Hlreeled the interpreter TO load ainself with such
supplies he could carry and go out. The fellows
~ fUuau .lr hafd dNd m