Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-13
CURIOUS COMPLAINT
Russians Alle6o Brutal Treatment in
Alaskan Settlements
Ar THE HANDS OF THE AMERICANS.
No Official Information Received in
Washington but 40 iuvesliga'
tiUn ordered.

NEW YORK, Jan. ia dispatch to
The Herald from Paris Gays:
The St. Petersburg correspondent Of
the European edition OF the Herald
writes that curious complaints against
the existing state OF affairs In A.lsska
are brought by the Svet. 1t alleges
that the handful of Russians remain
ing In the territory suffer under all
sorts OF vexations and even oppressive
ncts on the part OF American tradere
who "run" Alaska.
1t is claimed that number of the
compAny's agents entered Greek
orthodox church during service with
tiIe arms IN their hands to drive the
congregation out to work and that, the
Russian teacher having refused to
give his lessone in English, the
Americans threatened to burn down
his school.
General condemnation lie brought
against the government at Washington
Tor leaving the administration oil
Alaska too much in the hands OF u
trailing company, which, II 10 claimed,
finds its interest III uebauching The
natives.
NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION RECEIVED.
NEW YORK, Jan. ia special to
the Herald from Washington says:
Absolutely no official Information
has been received IN regard to the out.
RACES perpetrated on Russian residents
OF the territory OF Alaska by the North
American Comm eTCial company. Vbe
state anu treasury departments nave
heard nothing from their Representa-
tives in Alaskn and Russia on the
subject. The statements that agents
OF the company invaded Russian
school anu chapel may have some
bpsis. State department officials be-
lieve that religious troubles exist IN
Alaska.
There are three clHHses of schools
the fret the territorial school, unser
the uirect supervision OF tile govern
ment; the second, The orthodox Rus
sian schools, governed by Archbishop
Nlcholas,of the Russian Greek church,
who ia IA close personal friend Of I'm
peror Nicholas, and which the United
States is obligated by treaty provisions
to protect, and the third TO unortho'
dox native schools. The Russian gov
tEbuout ihtt hhBurb phOtonttN w VIZ
state department at the action OF un-
orthodox Ru .sian school authorities in
seeking the withdrawal OF pupils from
the orthodox schools.
The etate department turned the
matter over to the treasury department
with instructions to Investigate the
matter, and Its report, 20 Tar as can be
learned, has not yet been received. In
view OF the trouble existing last sum
mer, the state department authorities
ARE inclined TO believe that the out
breaks Just reported are the result OF
the religious Disturbances existing be-
tween the orthodox and unOIthodCx
Russian churches. They do not see
what connection the agents OF the
company could have In the
matter. The company's rights are
all confined IN the seal islands, and so
far az can be learned they have ne
nutboity on the main land. The sug-
gestion is also maue that the agents
may have Visited the main lani AMI
perpetrated the outrages. but this can
only be settled by an investigation,
which Will be made by the treasury
department either through the Russian
minister, the representatives OF the
state department or the agents OF The
treasury department in Alaska.