Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-01-30
ALASKA

WRITTEN FOE THE TRIBUNE.
The first Russian Governor o.
Alaska was Baranov or Baranof. He
was despot of the first order A titly
representative Of the tyranny of the
Russian Emperors of half a century
ago. His will was law. The majority
Of the inhabitants we're serfs sent out
for punishment to his second Siberia
Out Of this class soldiers were made
to perform such duties as were re.
quired and also the work of the Rus
sian American Fur Company
Kodiak in those days was the
most important town in Alaska fo1
commerce and trade. The old town
of Sitka was some eighteen miles
from the place where the present
town Of Sitka then called New Arch
angeD is situated. The old town site
IS now a celebrated fishing ground
It was abandoned on account Of CON
tinuous warfare with the Indians
who were in those times hostile and
aggressive It is noted in the history
of Alaska as a bloody ground, on &C
count Of q general massacre of the in
habitants by the Indians ot.cnrring 2
there It took place during the night
time, and while Governor Baranoy
was at Kodiak; the Indians in force
attacked the place. The inhabitants
and soldiers were surprised and most OF
them murdered in their beds Out of
the entire number three escaped in
the darkness and made their way to
one of the canoes and steered for
Kodiak to tell the dreaded tale to the
Governor.
That official lost no time in assem-
bling all his force at Kodiak, and, put
ting them on board such vessels as
were in port, at once sailed for
the scene of the massacre. Nearing
the place a halt was made until dark
ness set in; the troops were landed
and the boats placed in position. The
attack by land and water was stimuli
taneously. Not an Indian escaped; /;
the revenge was terrible; after that
Baranov found his position precarious,
and the place unsafe.
The ground was level and easy Of
approach inviting hostility from the
numerous tribes scattered along the
coast, hence it was that a change of
location became necessary, and the
present town of Sitka selected on ac-
count of its defensible position. In
the early days of Alaska's history even
the largest vessels approaching the
Russian settlement, came with eau
ton. The Indians lay IN wait in
their large bidarks, some of them ca
picious enough to contain from fifty
to sixty warriors, and the many is
lands in the vicinity were most favor
able for hiding places. On the ap-
proach .of vessels inperfectly armed
or perhaps wholly unarmed, the sava-
ges found opportunity sometimes, un-
der a pretence of trading, or by sur
rounding the vessels and svnrming
on board to overpower the crews and
take possession of the cargo. Those
were the days of sailing vessels which
gave opportunities impossible in our
times.
The hostile intentions of the Indi-
ans were well known to Baranov, and
to provide against surprises he forti-
fed his position and walled in the In
dian villages by a E'stockade" some
twelve or fourteen feet high, and
along the "stockade'' put up log cab
ins of solid description and situated
to overlook the Indian settlements.
In each of those log cabins three sold
iers were at all times on duty, night
and day-they were not allowed to
move from their post for 48 hours.
Their meals were brought to them by
their wives or children and when the
s'tour" of duty was over they went to
work for the fur company until their
turn again arrived.
Eternal vigilance was the price OF
life; liberty was thing wholly un-
known-never heard of. The Cover
nor found it unsafe to pass the out
skirts of the town without his blood
hounds. Of this famous type he had
four to accompany him in his travels.
There is large rock alongside the
road to the timber, this was as far as
any road reached until the arrival of
the Americans, and this was as far as
the Governor ventured to &C, hence to
this day it is named "Baranov's Rock." :"
The Indians could not approach the
Governor while accompanied by his
hounds, as they could smell an
Indian a long way off, and went for
him They were dangerous. After
time some of the dogs were poisoned
and Baranoy traced the deed to a