The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-09
RUSSIA WANTS FORT ROSS.
THE STORY OF DoNA Govern.
CION,S LOVE RECdLLED

SAN FRANCISCO, April 3O.-Bishop Nicholas n,
the Russian Church OF San Francisco went IL f. y
days ago TO visit tho remains Of the Russian ,,,.
Element called Fort Ross, on the coast. "a l.f
days journey by rail north Of san Francesca
lie was charged by the Cars Government
with tho mission Of examining the ruins
and negotiating with tho American uau.y
TO ontnin possession Of the property.
The Russian Government is unNiou, 10
buy back the place, which Il owned as
| late rs 1913, In order TO restore the church and
care for the graveyard in which lie The rrluains
OF many Russians. The story OF bona Con.cp-
cion Arguillo Is brought 10 mind by tli, Incl.
dent. without her bright black eyes and ardent
heart the Car would never have obtained a
foothold south of Sitka, and with their mid. had
II not been for an untimely death amid S,b,rltn
SHOWS. Russian domination might have been c-
tablishcd on the Californian coast.
In the autumn of 1905 Nikolai Ps'royr,h
Rczanof, Imperial Chamberlain. arrive, IN
Alaska to inspect the northeastern settlements
of Russia and report upon their condition aui
the possibility of Strengthening and extending
them. He found the colonies in "a bad way. and
saw that trade would have to h. opened with
the Californians IL the Russian settlements w,se
TO DO of consequence. True, the CalifOrniins hnd
n barbcd wire fence all around them In thusha,e
of n Spanish royal order forbiddinG trade OF any
sort with foreigners. Aside from the immediate
necessities of the colonists, Iczanof had a dream
of Russian power spanning the Pacific, ami he
very first essential in his scheme was 10 zen
trade and friendly relations with the Californian
settlements. His plan was TO strengthen tho
Alaskan colonies and then grad ually to mako
new settlements, devoted largely TO agriculture,
along the coast south OF the Columbia, to inn OFT
Chinese to do the labor. and finally, by virtue Il
superior strength. numbers and energy, to wI,st
all of Alta California from the SpaniAris aud
make 1t u rich and powerful Russian province.
He knew the indolcnt character Of the !nca-ro
Spanish population, the fertility OF the soil .nl
! the great desirubility OF the country. md he had
faith that in n few years he could accomplish lis
scheme and give to Russia a new empire.
So. in March, lso6, lie sailed away 10 tho
south with a cargo of goods to trade for pro-
visions. and II month later cast anchor Ia san
Francisco Bay. Senior Arguillo, the comiuandans
at the Preside, received him with opcn-hanIcd
hospitality, but would hear nothing of his prupo-
sitions for trade. AT first all conversation hal
to be carried on in Latin through the padres AMI
DR.. LangsdorlT, II physician und naturalist, who
accompanied Rczanof. But this condition OF
affairs did not last long, for Rezanof, under
Doha Conceptions tuition, made rapid progress
In the Spanish tongue. The sehorita was said 10
be the most beautiful woman in California; shc
was only just turned 10. and she was in the full
bloom OF glrllSI attractions. In her black cNCS,
as well as in her heart, was all the traditional
fire OF the Spanish woman. The Imperial Cham
berlain was already a widower and well aionE in
middle age, but he had a handsome face, a Dis
tinguishcd appearance, a fascinating manner.
and he was muster of all the arts OF lovcmakinE.
He was a diplomatist in favor at the Russian
court, and had handled the Car AT airs in
many, capitals. He knew all the glories of ths
had reached the girl in her seclusion on the
lonely shore Of san Francisco Bay, and SO she
promptly fell deeply in love with him.
kcEhnUt gave no hint OF his ultimate schemes
or OF the dire need OF provisions in Sitki; H.
and California for the mutual benefit OF both.
me Governor Of the province came up from
tried every means in his power TO carry his
point. He argued and %hattered, but GOV. Arel-
hidden by his master 10 allow trading with out
siders, and allow trading he would not. Nor
law S"" Which Resrn q 'p pr TT os q. III" Hs declared Of th hns
he had lived sixty years without rcproach anu
"f Bmt R Rel .n6f S Snsn s, nr,ek Ibs Sn H WAS ec sfTfi one in.
ming card he could plavNfor Doha Conception was
IN. the hi ntima 81 h tria tadhe erS eye yo, and her ~ father ne C Was
crnor. SO, as his companion, Langsiorf, put H..
he decided to sacrifice himself by this marriage
tothe welfare OF the two countries. and. as hes
himself described the situation in his report. 40
""gradually created in her the desire 10 hear
posal, hereto that he WAS, caused the greatest
consternation. Poor Conception, who had a1.
TO confession. and was begged. implorcG. AMI
ordered 10 refuse him, but she stood r~csoIUtc.y
~ 10 " on ! I'm III "plAl iliIIs l..Il
or none. Finally Don Jose. who could rcIWsn
his daughter, nothing, gave his consent 10 iae
marriage, subject TO the Pope's approval.
statement was sent OF 10 Rome and the be
trothtl was celebrated.
That point gained. Rezanof found everything
else plain sailing. just as he had expected. 10
wrote to his superior that after the bctr"'hn! h'
he "p p / '"'i H RoF soon OF ms sst Ge{hG the y a1 Tg ~,h nor
consent for unlimited trade with the CIHIU"
mans, provided IL was carried on III n wa! 'Ay.
would not be an open intraction Of the rng.
orders, and then, his ship loaded with, pro-.
SiSn Pr es iG5 o saii ' six ' @ee HSF'6 but IN hH t R%a , 3gT" la
had removed the first obstacle TO the ro,..
America. The colony at Fort Rcss was tlrn-
suit OF his plans, which the Governor OF Aia~ot
planned TO return across Siberia to st. "a
burg, whence he expected 10 be sent on r'}'.'-
matte mission TO Madrid. and from 'n.ry. '
promised to return in two years by wa! uf Mn
leo 10 California and claim his bride. N.-h...
doubt he meant TO keep his promise, FOR hl, arlri
was set on planting the Russian power ur tbs
coast SO firmly that it could not be nproo'o". 90
illness. and for u long time lay helpless in NaS
huts. And at last, in March. 1907, be died n
the midst of siberian SHOWS.
In her own far-off corner of the world ScIur,'t
Arguillo waited and waited: year after veal. '"
before even II rumor Of his death came 10 lir,
and II was thir,y-six years before she learned, @
she finally did from an American traveller, tho
doubt Of HIM, did she feel. She had l",it
suitors. for she was famous alike Tor hes
turc. Twelve years after her betrolhUl thrro
was one determined sutton, an Aw,ric,,ii,
who would not take no for an answer. llo
offered to become II convert To her religion II 10
would marry him, She entertained the itea tor
n little whilr, thinking it her duty to wed mn
II rho could thereby save his soul. But 10
ccrc lie had no need OF her, and ii ii were not slo
could do him no good, and 80 he had TO wear
the willow along with all the rest. At last
she took religious orders, and dedicated
her lite to good deeds. She ministercd 10
the sick, taught and cared for The children
of the poor, spanish and Iudian alike. so
good and pure and gentle was her life that
many believed her 10 hold communication with
the angels, and Governor .A!vnrlao declared
that she saved hi, life at santa Barbara in 1888
by "A warning which she must hayo received
from heaven. When DOlnini'nns founded tho
convent OF 81, Catherine at Bcnicia she entered
II, and there, IN lsj7. She died. The story OF
her lifelong l0yc amt loyalty, and u ruined
church, II few diinpidaicd houses and a gray.
yard are ali that remain OF ltrLanof's ambition.