Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-14
AN OLD RUSSIAN FORT.
PECULiARlTlES OF A MUSCOWTE FOR
LITIGATION IN ALASKA.

Old Defenses of Fort Wrangell-A Mill
tary Post In Name Only-Russians and
Indians-Curios for sale-Biankets.
Alaska Scenery.
Names Of places in this territory which
have military designations may inspire
sense OF security to outsiders unacquainted
with the country. For instance, upon hear
ing of Fort Wrangell one would naturally
conclude that such a post would furnish
ample security for a reasonable scope of
country. Yet the nearest troops are at Port
Townsend, nearly 1000 miles distant by
water, if we except small company of ma
rines at Sitka Fort Wrangell is a military
post only in name. 1t is about 80 miles
southeast of Stka by the waters of the inlets,
but by the bi-monthly steamers in q north
east course its distance is more than 500
miles
1t is one of the old Russian settlements, and
was one of their most prosperous trading
posts. The main part of the village is on a
moderate SLOPE with lofty chain of noun
tains close behind. There are not more than
500 inhabitable acres there, and upon them
was crowded all there ever was of Wrangell
in its most prosperous days. On the north
side of the village is higher knoll, and on
this stand the old defenses of Fort Wrangell
| A high wooden palisade or stockade sur
| rounded the area set apart for military pur-
| poses; the stockade is gone, but the buildings
all remain in a fair state Of preservation. The
| fort proper where were the officers quarters
and the barracks for the men stands on the
north side Of the quadrangle, and is a solid
| log building boarded over and made impen-
etrable 10 bullets. The government house
stands on the west side of the square, and is
built of the same material.
This building on the seaside is adapted fol
defensive purposes, On the east side of the
quadrangle is large log and boarded build
ing which was used in the old Russian days
as storehouse and its outer front wa:
adapted to protective and defensive purposes
A PECULIAR STRUCTURE.
AT the southeast corner of this squar,
stands the most peculiar structure of all
land one more suggestive of the necessities O
ldefenSe than all the rest 1t is the blocl
house or bastiOn and upon its safety and Sc
curity depended the safety and security o
the entire post. Ii is solidly built of logs
and is about twelve feet square at the ground
It rises in these dimensions to about lively,
feet, the height OF the palisades, where is a sec
ond story of wider dimensions, extending en-
tirely over the margin OF the first. Its wall
are not parallel with those of the first, but i
is placed diaEonally across the first, so tina
/ | its corners do not conform to the corners o
the first In thus being wider than the frs
story, and extending over it on all sides, rifle
men could defend it, not only by aiming out
ward, but downward on the outside OF tn
palisades Such defenses were common i
Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio 100 year
! ago, but they are now only historic meme
ries, while the Russian block house at For
Wrangell still exists as memento of thei
occupation, and is rapidly going to ruin.
There are only a few Russians left g
Wrangeil. not more than dozen of pur
hloods. There are quite a number of th
mixed race, Indian and Russian, still thert
but the bulh Of the denizens of the place al
natives These relics of Russian peasantT
and the half breeds are as rule more wortl
less than the native or Indian. The hous,
Of the old Russian settlement are rapid
disappearing from lack of care and throug
the wet climate, which is destructive OF tin
Der. About 500 Indians have their wiDtt
home there. During the canning season the
go out a long distance up the iniets and tai
sslmOH ana oUus4 non uaIuIerle
When that season is over they return =
Wrangell, spending the winter months !
hunting the mule deer, sometimes attackir
the great brown bear of the adjoining moul
tains, but giving over most of their leisul
= time to gambling. There are twelve or e
- teen Americans in the village, some in publ
employment, some in mission work teachir
the Indians, some in saloon keeping, and Il
rest in traders stores. sS