The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-02-23

$500 - p
&c. -
SMALL ESKIMO VILLAGE NEAR ST.
MICHAEL. .s
peg over the Mackenzie and Porcupine
rivers Since the advent of the Alaska
Commercial company another ap-
proach is afforded. 1t is by ocean
steamer to st. Michael, thence by river
steamer up the Yukon. " H.
In June, 1889, the writer was one Of
party of twenty who started from !:
San Francisco for Northern Alaska to
determine the international boundary
We sailed from San Francisco on the
18th of June on the Bertha For the
succeeding two weeks our experiences
were such rs are generally incident to
| a long voyage on the Pacific ocean. Our
voyage to Unalaska was through as
| barren and desolate a waste as a jour
| ney through Death valley a few
! "gooneys,.' as the sailors called some
| birds of the albatross species, followed
us continually to detect the drop of
every crumb Other sea animals-por-
| pOise, nautilus, barnacleS, some small
animals resembling Portuguese men
of-war," and UP near Boring sea a few
| schools of killer whales and numbers
| of fur seals
On the 9th the captain announced
that 1.-The distant pale cloud to port is
| land His statement was soon veri-
fed by the appearance Of bright,
snowy mountains, both to the left and
to the right-showing we were headed
| for Il pass in the Aleutian chain of
islands. The rest Of the day the most
enchanting views presented them
selves If a section were taken from
| Colorado's most rugged, snOw-capped
range and placed on the middle of the
broad Pacific, the picture would not
do justice to the Aleutian chain. On
! the left was Mt. Makooshin. the Nesu-
vius of Unalaska, $500 feet above the
sea. On the right was mighty Shis-
halden, towering $500 feet-its SYM
metrical cone enveloped in crowns of
perpetual snow and it's base washed
by the mad waves of the Pacific and
the more gentle surf of Boring sea.
Both to the east and to the west was
island after island. peak after peak,
gradually turned into cloud in the dis
lance
We pass by Egg Island and "Old
Man." high mountain peaks, projecting
above the sea. and so through Onalgo
pass into Boring sea. An Aleut vii
lage ten miles to port attracts eager
interest the captain points out
Beaver bay, where Capt Cook refit-
ted his feet in ITS Mount MakOo-
shin was the first landing place of
the Russians under Stephen Glottav in
within twelve miles of Unalaska
Priest Rock" marks our position. This
is one of those fantastic 'necks'' so
common in vOlcanic-made lands, stand
ing of the sea slender and high, with
cowl and gown, in thoughtful attitude
| UnalaSka is about as we'll known as
San Francisco was before 1S49. 1t is
, the San Francisco of the Aleutian
. islands. At Unalaska we are not yet
out of civilization nor out of temper
ate climes Here the torrid and frigid
l zones meet and barbarism and civiliza-
/ ton shake hands. The Japanese warm
current pays tribute to the cold of the
north IN the form of raw fogs and
chilly rains. Here is to be seen the
d first cryptogamic plant life and the
e tundra peculiar to cold climes. yet the
: average annual temperature is about
k | the same as that of the middle states
and the emperor goose Of northern
Alaska finds 1t warm enough for win
:, | ter quarters.
Unalaska's little land-locked harbo1
l. of Iliuliuk was filled upon our arrival
t with men-of war, revenue cutters, mer
e chantmen and whaling vessels.
; 1t was the middle Of the flower sea
|. son. Valiagated anemOnes orchids
& monks hoods, buttercups, dandelons
and daisies were only a part of the
luXuriance everywhere in profusion
) l. Since his first contact with Russian
/ civilization upon the landing of Stepa1
Il Glottav in 1867 the Aleut has under
q gone a change in language, religion
e and dress. He is not improved, bu
he is changed. He still likes his fish
cod, halibut, trout, herrings and seal
; and as a rule he spears his game il
u the old primitive manner. He is still
|, at home in his underground barbara
is or primitive house. But he has ais,
s learned to crave the canned foods
bread and -four of civilization, and h,
has not the least superstition agains
living in a comfortable cottage burn
u ing Australian hard coal and dressin
@ in imported cloth made suits. Tn
D. AIeut has inherited the qualities of hi
:. ancestors, the wild Japanese-like ma
l. tives Of 1850, and the habits of hi
s ancestors, the Russian traders OF 175
m and later. These people are member
!, OF the Greek church Many Of Their
read and write the Russian language
= This is taught them by the priests
The Aleuts are dependent upon til
n traders for living They are PAL
e liked prices for their otter, fox, mini