The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-31
La Beata, the PiOuS One.

In 1906 the Russian chamberlain,
Nikolai Peterovich Rezanof arrived in
Sitka as imperial inspector of the
northeast establishments, and as plen-
! ipotentiary of the Russian American
company. He was instructed to in7
vestigate the condition of the colonies,
to make what immediate Improvement
was possible, and to suggest any re-
forms to increase their prosperity.
On the way to Sitka, Rezanof had
been ambassador extraordinary to
Japan, coming there with Krusen-
stern and Lisiansky, who were in
charge of the first Russian voyage
around the world. In June, 1905,
Rezanof and Langsdorff, a surgeon and
naturalist, sailed in the Neva to the
Russian American settlements, while
Krusenstern in the Nadeshda contin-
ued his voyage.
When Rezanof reached Sitka, he
found that the first essential was to
secure a regular food supply. While
this question was being pOndered, Capt
Wolfe arrived in the American ship
Juno. He enthusiastically supported
the floating stories of California
abundance, while at the same time he
declared it impossible to secure trade
relations because of the Spanish re-
strictive commercial laws. Rezanor
determined to bluff the California
OFFICIALS He knew that the car had
secured from the king of Spain the as
surance that in all his colonies supplies
and assistance would be given to
Krusenstern on his scientific voyage.
Rezanof calculated that Krusenstern
could not vet have reached California,
and that if he himself coasted down at
once he might secure supply of food
for needy Sitka-
The Neva requiring repairs, he bar
gained with Capt. Wolfe for the Juno,
and purchased it and its cargo for
IS. 900. Then, after having secured
Sitla. for every article that might
prove tempting to the Californians, he
and Langsdorff sailed on March g.
1905. The crew was sick with scurvy,
and they were delayed off the mouth
of the Columbia, but finally, on April
5, they entered San Francisco Bay:
| TO the conandante of the preside
IRezanof explained that he was part
of the Krusenstern expedition, ana
wished to see the governor. With the
greatest of courtesy Comandante
Arguello babe him rest and refresh
himself at San Francisco, while cour-
Ter would speed to Monterey and sum
mon his excellency to greet the as
tinguished visitor. In vain dld RezanoI
invent reasons why he himself Snouia
Journey to the governor; the Spanish
laws forbade exposing the interior u
the country to a foreigner, ana the
cornandante was a loyal OFFICER he
was also a hospitable host and never
1 vearied in entertaining the visitors:
Among the members OF ms sla Ian, =,
| the most interesting to the Russians
was his daughter, Conception, then
| beautiful girl of fifteen. She was
slender and graceful, with dusKy eye
and heavy black braidS that reached 70
her arched ilstepS. VivaciouS ana gfd-
| oio,,e her repartee was fresh and
| sparkling. With manners that Woulo
| grace any European court. she We
known to be not entirely satlsned VII, VIII
her country California paradise!
| she is reported to have exclaimed. On,
no: a good soil, warm climate, plenty
| of grain and cattle, but nothing else
Rezanof, although twice her age.
! Widower, and a courtier who had shone
in several European capitals, soon
| found himself exerting all his ability
to please this unschooled Californian.
His tales of the outer Worid natuT ,aI1-
charmed her, and by the time Gov
ernor Arrillaga arrived at San iran
cisco. on April IS, the Russians had al
least one strong advocate among the
Californians.
The governor agreed that it would be
an advantage to California to ship II
produce to Sitka. but the Spanish laws
prohibited trading with foreign vessels
and so he could not eountenance it
| Neither would he consent to the padres
exchanging any of their surplus for the
cargo of the Juno. All of Rezanof s
| diplomacy was of no avail against the
| governors strict sense of his duty
Conception tried by sundry suggestions
to open way for the trade, and hei
ready sympathy awakened a deeper
| feeling in Rezanofs heart
He could not overlook the political
I advantage there would be in a mar
riage uniting Alaska and California
but there is no reason to doubt that
his personal feelings were deeply in
volved. At this time he wrote in his
| journal: Seeing that my situation was
not improving, expecting every day
| that some misunderstanding would
| arise, and having but little confidence
in my own people, I resolved to change
my pOliteness to serious tone. Final
~ I imperceptibly created in her ar
iInpatience to hear something serious
from me on the subject. which caused