The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-28
EATEN UP By FLAMES
BaranoR Castle, the Landmark
Of Sitka, Destroyed.
THE SOLE OCCUPANT ESCAPES.


old Baranoh castle at Sitka was brought
down by the steamer City Of Topeka.
which arrived from Alaska yesterday.
The only occupant Of the castle was
United States Court Commissioner Robert
c. Rogers, the father Of Bolton Rogers. OF
this city. who lost ell his effects. inciud-
ing the manuscript Of . volume nearly
ready for publication. and escaped from
window in his night clothes and overcoas.
The following account Of the fire Is pub
iished BY the Aiaskan, Of the same date a.
the FIRE:
cit was about 2 O'Clock this morning
when Sergt l. Delmore. Of tho marine
garrison. who was on duty as sergeant OF
the guard, discovered ire issuing from be-
tween the rustic underneath the buildings
foundation. about in the middle on the
east side. The long roll WIS Immediately
sounded. and the fire alarm gun DIS
charged. while member Of the guard was
sent to Firsmen's hall TO ring tie firebeil.
Lieut.. Joseph II. Pendleton and his COM
mand was. a. usual. among the first on the
ground, and discerned Commissioner
Robert c. Rogers. the only occupant
OF the building at night, standing In
front of his bedroom window, near the
northwest corner Of the structure. on the
second floor. Mr. Rogers was perfectly
\
ton shouted: Il cannot find my way out
on account Of the dense smoke to which
the lieutenant answered: Don't Be
afraid We will help you out The officer
then went to the front door to gain en-
trance TO the building. but was driven
back by the suffocating smoke 40 soon rs
he opened the door. He then ordered
ladder to be brought up. At that time the
ladder truck of the ire brigade arrived at
the scene Of the tire and one Of its ladders
was brought up, but was too short. Mr..
William G. Jack brought up second lad
der and with the aid of that one Mr..
Rogers was saved through the window,
having nothing oa bat an overcoat hastily
thrown over his night clothes. This was
all the gentleman saved from his valuable
belongings, his faithful dog Bret Harte
also losing its life in the flames.
"Soon after the marines reached the
scene the second signal gun was fired, no.
tifying the Piuta that assistance from her
was required. The blue jackets under
Lieut.. David Peacock. the gunboat's exec
utive officer. and Ensign Rust did effect
i've service in protecting the adjacent dis
trict jail building and the custom house
from catching fire. The eastern wall of
the Jail was saved from igniting by ais
which Lieut.. Peacock ordered from the ma
val storehouse, the canvas being kept wet
continually by the sailors and the Mis-
sion boys, all working with will"
The fire progressed rapidly and all hope
Of saving the castle was soon abandoned,
every one turning his attention to saving
the government buildings. The marines
began to remove the property of Judge
Warren Truitt and District Attorney c. S.
Johnson. but this was found unnecessary.
AT 5 80 o'clock the east wing fell and soon
afterward the west wing went down, leav-
ing nothing of the timbers standing erect.
The cause of the fire is not given.
Baranoff castle was one of the oldest
and best known landmarks Of Sitka, and
has been visited by thousands of tourists
from all over the world as one Of the rel
les Of Russian sway in that territory. Its
name. also Baranov island on which Sitka
is situated. is derived from Andrew An
dryevitch Baranoff, who took possession
Of the island in 1879, as agent Of the Rus
sian American Fur Company. Under the
charter Of this company from the
car. its representative was governor
Of the territory and held absolute sway
there until 1852. The castle Is supposed
To have been Baranoff's residence on the
island. which he left in lsl6 1t was built
on the apex Of q hill occupying . com.
handing position, and on account of its
age was fast going to decay. Last year,
by means Of subscriptions raised in Sitka,
repairs were made to keep ii standing.
This was accomplished mainly through
the efforts of Edwin T. Hatch, collector of
customs for Alaska. In his report for
1891. Gov. Lyman K. Knapp said concern
Ing the castle:
1T Is sentiment universally shared
that the old Russian governors residence
ought 10 be rehabilitated and preserved an
relic of the past. and at the same time
made useful for official residences or other
government purposes"
Among the passengers on the steamer
were Rev. and Mrs. A. L. Austin. Mr..
Austin has charge OF the PRESBYTERIAN
Indian missionary school at Stka, and is
now on his way East, being a delegate to
the Presbyterian General Assembly, which
will meet at Saratoga. n. Y, In May. Tho
school of which Mr.. Austin. has charr.
was founded In ISL and now has IA
pupils, ninety-two boys AID fifty-two girls.
and employs eighteen teachers, superin-
tendents, etc. The school has a regular
industrial department. including carpen.
tering. blacksmithing, shoemaking. etc.
and is nearly self-supporting. The BOYS
IN the industrial department have erected
most Of the buildings. which embrace tw O
sehoolhonses. two hospitals. one church
and nine cottages. the latter being occu-
pied by graduates of the school. All the
shoes and clothing worn by the pupils are
made by them.
The Alaska Herald. published At Si,ka.
has been purchased from Walter B. Porter
by 4. q. Sylvester. of juneau.
The Topekas passenger list was as fol-
lows: Rev. and Mrs. A T. Austin. Mr.,
J. 5. Bugbee, II. W. Sahin. Donald Berry.
W. Castle. Hank Wright. John Seed. Nor.
ris orion. William Haresty. J. +. Cleye-
land, John Arnold.