The Alaska sourdough. [volume] (Douglas, Alaska) 1911-1911, 1911-11-07
smith shop. ship yard and foundry

y
with your hands," thus did Baranoff
address the men of learning who reluc
family went to work at anvil and bench.
A protest, of course, to such treatment,
went to Russia; but it received deaf
ear, as the revenues, resultant OF Bar
anoff $ work, were pouring into st.
Petersburg; and Alexander was involv-
ed in expensive and troublesome CONT
mental difficulties. Baranoff, was there
fore given his own way in the far off
possessions. Condemned he has been for
such an action; but Baranoff's motive
reaching in it's effect to the good of
Russia and to the advancement of civ
ilization Men had been. sent to him,
convicts, exiles, vagabonds and others
of the lowest types who had continual
ly outraged and incensed the natives
to a just feeling of retaliation. Against
this state Of affairs Baranoff contended
until he decided that he must have
better element in his colonies, even if
it be necessary to resort to the subter
fuge he did
The influence of the new corners was
good upon the morale of the colony;
and after they had become "reconcil
ed to their fate' they made good men
to send in charge of auxiliary posts,
and their descendants, today, form a
part Of the best element in Alaska.
1t seems as though a story of such a
man as Baranotf would not be complete
without chapter introducing the vii
liam, the plotter with his attempted
murder Such there was in Baranoff 8
life when in 1909 plot was discover
ed whereby he was to have been killed
by some convicts who had been sent
to him. The plotters were arrested,
convicted, and sent back to Siberia
from where they were paroled.
It was under the patronage Of Baran-
off that Kuskoff, in 1911 located at Be-
dega Bay, and founded the colony at
Fort Ross the following year.
Believing himself to old to continue
the strenuous life he was leading, Bar
anof at the age Of sixty three, realized
that the years of hardship had left
their indelible mark both on his mind
and his body; and he became DESTROYS
Of returning to his old home in Russia,
where he could spend the remainder of
his days in rest and quiet.
In 1909 he requested that he be re-
lieved Of his duty in Alaska. Twoyears
passed, however, before Koch was sent
from st. Petersburg; but he died at
Kamchatka enroute to Alaska. Baranoff
was then to Russia and to the Russian
American company, the right man in
the right place. and although, in all
probability, effort was made to ind
some one of his ability to relieve him,
it was not until two years after the
ucdtH VI IAOCn, CHdC DdiAoNOloA war
ordered to Sltka TO succeed the first
governor Of Alaska. Fate seemed
against it, when within sight Of Sit
ka, the ship upon which he sailed was
wrecked and Barncvoloff was drowned
The Napoleonic wars were then in
volvingf: Europe, and Alexander 3
dreams of education and enlis Etenment
were disturbed. Baranoff and his sit
ueti ion in. Alaska became for a time a
natter of. secondary consideration i'll
St. Petersburg; and it was not until
1913 that the ship. Kutsuoff arrived
safely at Sitka with Captain Hagen
eister, who relieved Baranoff. Bara-
noff was very much offended by the
orders which were brought. by his sue
cesser. Although, materially, they
amounted to-. the. same thing, Baranoff
believed that the orders should have
been his from st. Petersburg to turn
over his office to Hagemeister instead
Of, as they were, to the latter to re-
lieve Baranoff of the duties Of his Of
fee. Baranoff was then seventy-two