The Alaska citizen., 1910-07-30

United States Geological Survey. Yer mac Timofeief and a band of Cos sack adventurers crossed the low barrier of the Ural mountains and began that series of Conguests in Siberia which was to make Russia an Asiatic power. While the western nations of Europe were exploring the east coast of North America and almost before they had obtained a foothold on its shores. the Russian Cossack had crossed northern Siber ia. and in 163S reached the sea of Okhotsk Step by step these Cos sack adyenturers made their way across the great lowlands of northern Siberia. travelling with horse by land and skin boats by water. The comparatively peaceful character of the natives and the absence of noun tain barriers greatly facilitated the work of conquest
 After reaching salt water it was but natural that the Cossacks should extend their explorations along the coast. In 164S Deshnef sailed east ward from the mouth of the kolyma on the Arctic. rounded East Cape passed through the body of water afterwards named Bering Strait and wintered at the Anadir river. More this exploration was extended by an other Cossack. Popof. who. in I'll, was sent to East Cape to induce the na- tiyes 10 pay tribute The warlike ChuCkchees, who inhabited that part of the Siberian coast. refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of Rus sa, but Popof brought back an ac- count of the Diomede Islands in Boring Strait and rumors of a con tinent said to lie to the east.
 In course of time news of this discovery was transmitted to St. Petersburg, and the reigning soy ereign. Peter the Great, was quick to realize its importance Spurred on. no doubt, by the knowledge he had of the discoveries and settle ments made by the western nations of Europe in the New World, Peter ordered the organization of an eX- |, ,.1, .-l, e statements and extend his eXplora- tions. Nitus Boring, Dane and fleet captain of the Russian navy, was placed in charge of the eXpedi- ton. Peter did not live to see his plans executed, dying soon after signing Bering's orders, but his sue cessor, the Empress Catharine, ac- lively carried out the purpose of her husband Bering's command, after crossing Siberia, built two small ves- sels at Okhotsk. In July, 172S, he sailed northward along the coast of Siberia as far as East Cape, passing through the strait which bears his name. From East Cape he stood to the northwest for a day and then returned to his port of authorization without having sighted the American continent
 While Boring himself believed that his short voyage definitely proved the absence of an eastern connec- tion of Asia with North America, yet so meager was his evidence that most geographers refused to accept it, and it was not until Cooks Voy- age. half century later, that con- vincing proof was obtained. Bering did. however, discover and name St. Lawrence Island, and may there fore be regarded as the first white man to look upon any part Of what is now Alaska.
 Three years later vessel in com mand of a Cossack, named GWos- def, one of small fleet sent to sub due the Chuckchees, was blown on 10 the American coast by a storm, probably somewhere in Norton sound The records of this voyage, vague as they are, contain the first refer ence to the mainland of Alaska bas- ed upon the actual observations of white men. In the following year l729D Boring made a second voyage which was even less fruitful of re suits.
 The interest excited by these dis coyeries led to the organization at St. Petersburg of another expedition of which Boring was again put in command. Such were the difficulties of travel that six years were spent in transporting the party and outfl' across Siberia, which at that time afforded nothing but game, fish, and furs, so that all supplies, including the ironwork and tools necessary for the construction of the ships had to be brought from Europe Finally, in TAI, the expedition sail ed from Okhotsk in two vessels, one commanded by Boring himself and the other by Chirikof. These soor became separated, and Boring, sail ing eastward, on July IS fell ir