The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-05-08

The following interesting paper
on the Russian Occupancy of the
Islands was read by Prof. Alex
ander before the Historical Society
last evening;
Few persons at the present time
are aware of the many links con-
Meeting the early history of these
islands with that of the northwest
coast of America.
| One of the most interesting his
torical relics in this country is the
old Russian fort, which is still
| standing at Waimea, Kauai, a short
distance south of the mouth of the
river, and which was the scene of a
bloody fight in 1924.
Another memento of Russian oc-
cupation is circular redoubt stu
ated on the bluff east of the Hama
lei river.
The Hawaiian version of the
story was collected ON the spot by
Rev. Samuel Whitney, few years
after the events referred to took
place, and was published in the
Hawaiian Spectator in 1889, in Vol.
l., PIP. 1851, and also in Dibble's
History, PIP. 1850.
The Russian account, which has
until lately been locked up in the
early records of Russian America,
| shall now how have the pleasure
of laying before the Historical
Society.
During my late visit to Washing
ton, Mr. Allen, the librarian of the
Department of State, at our request,
caused thorough search to be
made in the ancient archives of
Alaska for any references to these
islands.
At length complete account of
the transactions referred to was
found in Ikmeneff's History of
the Formation of the Russian
American Company" which was
translated for our benefit.
/ have since found that Mr.. III.
III. Bancroft had already made use
of it in Vol XVIII of his history
relating to Alaska.
CHARACTER OF GOVERNOR BARANoFF.
During the early part of this CEN
tury Russian America was gov
erned by Count Baranoff, who re-
sided at Sitka, and is described by
Washington Irving in his Astoria"
PIP. 465-466, as a rough, rugged,
hospitable, hard-drinking old Rus
sian somewhat OF n soldier, some
what OF trader above all, boon
companion of the old registering
school, with a strong cross of the
bear Mr.. Hunt, Astor's agent,
found this hyperborean veteran en-
sconsed in n fort which crested the
whole OF high rocky promontory
1t mounted one hundred guns,
large and small, and was impreg-
nable To Indian attack.
Here the old Governor lorded it
over sixty Russians. who formed
the corps of the trading establish
ment, besides an indefinite number
of Indian traders, who were con
tinually coming and going
Besides these immediate serfs
and dependents just mentioned,
the old Russian potentate exerted
considerable sway over numer
Gus and irregular class of maritime
traders, who looked to him for aid |
and munitions, and through whom |
he may be said to have. in some |
degree, extended his power along |
the whole Northwest Coast" These |
were American captains engaged IN
fur trade.
Over these eoaRting captains. as
we have iutimated. the veteran
governor exefted some sort of
sway. but il was Of peculiar aud |
characteristic kind. IL was the ty-
ranny of the table. They were
obliged IT, Join him in his pros
MICS OF eefousals. aud o. drink |
potations potile deep
" lie Is continually" said Mt.
Hunt. giving entertainments by |
way ef parade. and II yea de not
drink raw run, aud beilins runeh |
rs strong as sulphur, lac will insuli