Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-03-02

ing swamp or bog. Upon the mountain
sides, al distance, there Ia timber which
with an almost impenetrable underground
reaches up short distance above the sea
level
In coasting along the Sound i'm his ca
noe, MIR. Petref passed the face of gla--
cier twenty miles wide, from which large
pieces OF ice, small bergs In fat, were
constantly breaking of and floating out TO
sea, making passage very periIous. His
canoe was In sinking condition when he
reached Nuchek Island. In this place are
two stores, and considerable trade Is car
ried on with the natives for long dis
tance up and down the coast.
Having completed his preparations, Mr..
Petroff started from Nuchek with O crew
Of four IRuits and half breed interpre-
ter for Copper River, fifty miles distant.
He ascended the river to the first village,
Alsganok, inhabited by North American
Indians. AS he landed, however, and be-
fore he approached the village, his Inuts
became alarmed and deserted him I'm a
body. The natives were rejoiced at this
state of affairs, and fattered themselves
that they would keep the traveller and his
stores among them to be preyed upon Ut
their leisure.
lie sought 10 hire crew OF Indians TO
assist him on his journey, but they do
manded ''a large gold piece every day for
each man employed" The boat was
large one and the Indians fancied It would
be impossible for their visitors to escape
withcat help.
With his interpreter alone he decided 70
make the attempt, and when night came
they cut loose and foated down the stream.
The channel through the delta to the sea
was difficult one, but it was safely passed
and when the coast was reached sails were
set for return TO Nuchek. Before
reaching the island the boat ran 1pon
sunken rocks and was wrecked. The two
men were picked of by natives who saw
them from the shore, but much OF their
property was lost.
MIR. Petrof now decided TO await the
arrival OF the Kolosh Indians from q dis
tant point on the coast, who usually come
once year TO Nuchek with furs to trade
for the molasses used In making their IA
yOrlte ntoxIcant. He started, accompan.
led by his interpreter, with party OF Ko-
loshes from q village near Cape kaktag,
and reached their village with his stores
IL safety. Here, however, he found him.
self prisoner. The bGrbarians, like those
ON the Copper River, and with much bet
ter reason. fancied they had prize which
1t would be SIN TO part with. They not
only refused 10 accompany the travellers
further, but refused 70 LET them proceed
by themselves. Their pretext was that
they had trouble with miners and feared
their visitors would betray their hiding
place and their weakness, and thus bring
an attack from their enemies. The In
dlans became insolent, and from the i1rsC
stole all they could lay their hands on.
After time they began series of annoy
ances calculated 70 provoke their visitors.
with view TO putting thin to death and
thus securing everything
The interpreter was O coWardIy follow.
and one day gave up to the chief, upon
his demand, MIR. Petrof's Dreach-loading
rifle. The chief fired OF the chambers Of
the piece and brought il 70 the owner 70
be loaded again. He took it, and pretend
ing TO load it, managed to put the main
spring OF the lock out of place, rendering
the piece unservlceable. The chief was
greatly enraged and hostilitles became
more imminent. A. short time afterwards
the chief demanded Mr.. Pe.rofF's tent for
his own use, which request was tirEaly re-
fused. Thereupon the Indians sent off
all their women and children-a most
ominous proceeding and one which was in
tetpreted as q sure forebodinK of bloody
wOrk-at least in intention.
The traveller determined to postpone no
longer his attempt hls escape. AL the
large canoes 6t for sea going had been
sent away but :he case was u desperate
one, and the captives secretly selected the
best OF those remaining and noted the
place OF concealment After cooking and
eating their supper the two men retired to
theii tent as usual and tied down the flaps
in 'front.' MIR. Petrof drew hls knife and
cut long slit in the back and directed the
interpreter TO load himself with such sup
plies as he could carry and 20 out The
fellows heart failed him, and it was only
by drawing his pistol and threatened to
blow his brains out that Petrof secured
obedience. The escape was made in safe
ty, and the two men made their way by
night along the coast towards Nuchek
again.
Mr. Petrof was prisoner with the Ko-
loshes from the 9Th of August till the 28th
of September. When he effected bis es-
cape IL was too late in the season for fur
ther explorations, aud he made his way
to San Francisco. The Government YES
sells had returned without tidings of him,
and the report had gone forth that he had
Pelished. Upon his arrival at San Fran
cisco, he went one evening to the meeting
OF q scientific society Of of which he was
a member, and foune thai one of his fell
low-members was just on the point Of de-
livering memorial address upon his life
and services.