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In The News
The ALASKAN is herewith presented to the good people of Alaska in the
hope that it will be found to supply, temporarily, at least, a long-felt
want. The qualification of the hope expressed is born of the wish that
it may not long continue as the sole newspaper representative of the
Territory, but that it may have the aid and co-operation, in the near
future, of others of like ilk, equally as earnest in the advocacy and
defense of the best interests of Alaska and its people as the ALASKAN
will every strive to be. [excerpted in part from the first issue, 7
November 1885]
The Alaskan.
By The Alaskan Publishing Company.
Sitka, Alaska Territory
Saturday, November 7, 1885.
Volume I, number 1
Page 1.
Territorial Government.
Governor -- A.P. Swineford
U.S. Judge -- E.J. Dawne
District Attorney -- M.D. Ball
Clerk -- A. T. Lewis
Marshal -- Barton Atkins
Commissioners -- J.G. Brady, Sitka; Henry States, Juneau; Chester
Seeder, Ounalaksa; ------, Wrangel.
Deputy Marshals -- John Stevens, Sitka; John McKenna, Juneau; two
vacancies.
Interpreter and Sepcial Deputy Marshal -- George Kastrometinoff, Sitka.
W. Clark, Attorney-at-law. Sitka, Alaska.
C.F. Jones, Billiard Saloon, Sitka, Alaska.
M. P. Berry, Attorney-at-law. Sitka, Alaska.
John J. McLean, Attorney-at-law, Sitka, Alaska.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
R. Albertstone,
Dealer in groceries and provisions,
First building northeast of Club House, Sitka, Alaska.
All kinds of fresh meats, poultry and game, in its proper season
Also
Boarding by the day or week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sitka and Juneau Breweries,
Abraham Cohen, Proprietor.
Pure beer, made, and on sale at wholesale,
Expressely and exclusively for
Medicinal, Mechanical, and Scientific Purposes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge Dawne and District Attorney Ball have gone to Wrangel to open and
close the U.S. District Court. Yours for 30 days.
Governor Swineford has taken possession off the dwelling formerly known
as the "Commanding Officer's Quarters," for his office and abode.
Henceforth, "The Executive Mansion."
John McKenna is the newly appointed Deputy U.S. Marshal stationed at
Juneau. In this appointment Marshal Atkins has secured a reliable
officer, and added to the business circles of Juneau a good citizen as
well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Sitka, "Steamer day" is an important institution. The Government
contract with the mail steamer stipulates that she shall remain at least
twenty-four hours after arrival, in order that correspondence, official
and otherwise, may be answered. Business transactions culminate, and
notes of hand mature, on "steamer day." In order to serve the
convenience of attorneys, clients and witnesses, courts adjourn to
convene on steamer day. The latest is a wedding card recently issued by
one of the first families:
"You are respectfully invited to attend the marriage ceremony of our
daughter _____[blanked out]___ to Mr. _____[blanked out]____; at our
residence in Sitka on next steamer day."
On her next arrival the ship's gun should be doubly charged. It will be,
if Capt. Carroll is aware that such an important event awaits his coming
for its consummation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mr. Densmore, a miner from Juneau, has been prospecting in the Yukon
country during the past summer, and, while here on the last steamer,
reported that he had found placer claims which pay from fifteen to
twenty dollars per day per man. He ran out of provisions, and so found
is necessary to return for a fresh supply which he will take back in the
Spring. While on the Tannannah [sic] river he met the exploring party
under command of Lieut. H. T. Allen, U.S.A., they having crossed over
from the head waters of the Copper river with the intention of reaching
the Yukon and following it to its mouth. While it is pleasant to know
that they succeeded in reaching the headwaters of the Tannanah before
winter set in, their many friends will be sorry to hear that they are
suffering from scurvy, Mr. F. W. Flekett and Sargeant Robinson being
very low, while Mr. Allen comparatively well.
When Mr. Densmore left them they were constructing a boat preparatory to
going down the Tannanah and Yukon rivers in company with two other white
men who had joined them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CURIOS.
Dr. Martin, of the Navy, has gone to Juneau to prescribe on the U.S.
Steamer Pinta. Worms?
It is due to Lieut. Barnett to say that the perpetrator of these items
has no connection with the fine collection belonging to that gentleman.
This acknowledgment is made in order that mistakes may be avoided.
Josh Billings says that he has been for forty years, struggling with the
conundrum: "At which period of life is a man the biggest fool." It is
very evident that Joshua has no correspondent on the North Pacific
coast, else he would have learned that it was when occupying the office
of U.S. Consul.
Kal, the Indian convict, is at present writing the sole occupant of the
Alaska penitentiary. He is in for ten years, and his confinement costs
about six dollars per day, that being the present cost of maintaining
the prison. Not being an out-and-outer, Kal has no desire to break out.
He would be more likely to breat kin if he once got out.
The rumor current about town on the last departure of the Steamer Idaho,
that the Rev. Sheldon Jackson and ex-District Attorney Haskett had been
assigned berths in the same structure, was not true. Such disposition,
owing to the crowded passenger list, was contemplated at first, but
coming to the knowledge of Captail Carroll, distinct mutterings relating
to the dangers of dynamite were audible, and arrangements were made to
place the gentlemen in separate rooms. Captain Carroll is a humane, as
well as vigilant officer.
A couple of lusty Indian boys were recently arrested for fighting in the
street and when arraigned before Court Commissioner Berry were found
guilty and rent up for two days at hard labor. The following day they
were at work digging a trench with two of Governor Swineford's Indian
police as guard over them. They had been at work but a short time when a
halt was made and a consultation held between prisoners and guards,
which resulted in the guards continuing the work, while the prisoners
were complacently seated watching its progress. The Governor says that
the capacity of these boys for full, intelligent American citizenship is
unquestionable.
R. Albertstone has erected a new building for a meat market, next door
to his store on Lincoln street.
Judge Dwane has appointed Major Berry a Court Commissioner, with the
powers and jurisdiction in such cases made and provided; so, in the
absence of our regular magistrate we are not without the machinery for
brining offenders up with a round turn.
The good order of the town of Sitka is preserved thro' the efforts of
the Indian police, whose duties are confined to the Indian village
exclusively. During the past two months only two arrests have been
required, though several disputes have been amicably arbitrated and
settled by the Indian Commission.
J.C. Brady, Esq., went to Portland and San Francisco on the last
steamer, and will probably not return till next month. Rumor has it that
he seriously contemplates putting a line of boats on the route between
Sitka and Juneau via Wrangel and Killisnoo. We hope rumor for just this
once is not seriously at fault.
The Governor has appointed John M. Vanderbilt, Esq., Justice of the
Peace at Killisnoo, and "Saginaw Jake," an intelligent, well-disposed
American citizen of the native persuasion, constable at the same place.
It is not expected that these officers will have much business other
than the arrest and punishment of hoochenoo makers, to break up the
manufacture of which vile compound a determined effect will be made.
Lieut. Barnett, Commander of the Marine Corps stationed at Sitka, has
gathered a museum of curios, which are tastefully displayed on the walls
of his apartment, the whole forming an attraction that would be a
bonanza in any of the cities of the States. The collection would
constitute an exhibition unique, and without a "chestnut" in it, to the
eyes of an eastern audience.
Master Charles McFarland's adult and juvenile friends attended a
birthday party to which they were bid in his honor, quite generally, on
the evening of the 28th ult., and were most agreeably entertained. The
youthful host was made the recipient of many handsome presents, and the
guests, after doing ample justice to a bounteous spread, tripped gaily
the "light fantastic" to the music of Rugg's string band till the seemly
hour of 12, and never missed a note. As entertainers the senior
McFarland's possess the happy faculty of being able to make each
individual guest feel that he'd rather be there than in almost any other
place, however enticing the latter might be. It's such occasions as
these that help make living so near the setting sun something else than
"a wearisome existence."
Lieut. Bolles, lately of the steam gunboat Pinta has gone to Washington
on leave, and does not expect to return unless it be with some other
ship. He says the place on the Pinta that knew him once will know him no
more forever, unless he gets an order more imperative than he'd like to
have it.
Now then, good people, what are we going to do about these abominable
sidewalks? Is it to be a subscription, in the absence of any power to
compel owners and occupants of premises to make necessary repairs? Or,
will we have a series of entertainments, the proceeds to be devoted to
that purpose?
Accident. -- A marine named Frederick Jackson, while out at Indian
river, on the 30th ult., accidently shot himself in the right hand, the
ball tearing the second finger completely off. He was coing home at the
time, and was carrying his gun, reversed, on his shoulder, with his hand
over the muzzle, when the hammer caught, it is supposed, on a twig and
was raised so as to discharge the cartridge when it fell again. Dr.
Read, tho' very ill himself, in the absence of the naval surgeon
rendered all necessary surgical aid; but owing to his feeble condition,
the wounded man suffered much more and longer than would have been the
case had the naval, or some other surgeon not himself disable, been
within reach. However, Dr. Read did the best he could, under the
circumstances, and the wounded man has cause to be thankful that Dr.
Martin's enforced absence did not leave him without any surgical aid
whatever.
Mr. A. A. Standwalt, with "grub stakes" to last at least a month, and
having with him two men and a native guide, left on the 30th ult. on a
prospecting tour to Whale Bay, which is on the west shore of Baranoff
Island, about 30 miles southeast of Sitka. The native professes to have
found somewhere on the shore of this bay a very large gold bearing
quartz ledge, to examine which is the special object of the expedition.
The existence of this ledge has been known for some time to others than
the native in question, but whether the rock carried gold in paying
quantities is a mottled question, which it is the purpose of Mr.
Stanwalt and those associated with him to solve. He will trace the ledge
inland so far as possible, and bring ________ ______ ______ parts of it
for examination and ______ the ALASKAN will report the result of ______
the examination as soon as may be possible _____ the return, to the end
that if there be
anything of value in that section all may have an equal chance at
whatever part of his party may leave unclaimed. The Indian asserts that
the ledge _______ clear _____ the island -- which at this point the
______ thirty to forty miles wide - and the [the rest of this is
unreadable....].
Page 3.
A Good Move. -- The Fire Brigade, through Captain Wilde's motion and
execution, has established a reading-room at the engine house, where
will hereafter be found all the latest newspapers and periodicals. The
room is open every day, and as we understand it, all are welcome to call
and read to their heart's content. Those having reading matter to spare
should willingly and cheerfully contribute it for the benefit of the
many who will patronize this free reading-room.
Before coming here we were positively assured that this was not, and
never could be a cattle country. We come and find more horned cattle
running at large in the streets of Sitka than would be tolerated in any
town of ten times its size in the best farming regions of the east or
west. Not a farming nor a grazing country! The fragrant cow-slip which
blooms and blossoms perennially, even in the graveled streets and on the
parade ground of Sitka, gives a flat contradiction to the assertion.
The monthly arrival of the mail steamer at Sitka town, causes commotion,
"a hurrying to and fro," not equaled since the night before the battle
of Waterloo. The ship does not appear in sight until reaching a point
about four miles away, when she is at once sighted by the eager
watchers, and the frantic cry, "Steamer!" "Steamer!" "Steamer!" is
speedily conveyed even to the remotest locality, almost as speedily the
turmoil forms into procession and the lanes and by-ways leading to the
landing present a splendid imitation of Fallstaff's famous command of
raw recruits.
Here's one enterprising public-spirited native Alaskan, to a dead moral
certainty. The Agent of Education having agreed to open a day school in
the Indian village, if a building could be procured, and there being
none that could be rented, James. Annahootz, nephew of the head chief,
will erect a building for the purpose, and has already commenced work.
James is a "good Indian," and evidently appreciates the fact that though
"a little education is a dangerous thing" not education at all is worse,
and that in the ease of his people the maxim of "where ignorance is
bliss 'tis folly to be wise," does not apply.
Bishop Seghers, who left here by the last steamer after a month's
official visit to this portion of his diocese, arranged all the
necessary preliminaries looking to the erection of a church edifice here
in Sitka next year, if indeed, work is not commenced before spring. He
purchased several lots, on one of which there is a building now being
fitted up as a residence for the priest, who is expected to arrive by
the next steamer. The Bishop's plans include a church not only, but a
parochial school, as well, which last will be placed in charge of a
corps of Sisters of Charity. When the new priest arrives, and until the
church building is completed, services will most probably be held in the
U.S. Court room.
Thomas Mooney, Esq., came over from Juneau by canoe, arriving here last
Monday night, having been nine days in makeing the 150 miles. He comes
to remain, and will erect a new building opposite to Alberstone's, which
will be occupied by himself and partners as a drug store.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTICE OF SEIZURE
Custom House, Sitka, Alaska
Collector's Office, Oct. 26, 1885.
Notice is hereby given to any person claiming
1 btl. claret Wine
1/2 bt. Whiskey
2 kegs Whiskey
Seized at Juneau, Alaska, October 12, 1885, for violation of Sec. 1565
of the revised Statutes of the United States; to appear and file his
claim to the same, with the Collector of Customs for the District of
Alaska, within 20 days from the date of the first publication of this
notice.
PETER FRENCH,
Collector
First publication, Nov. 7.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THEODORE HALTERN,
Dealer in General Merchandise,
Sitka, Alaska.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SESSIONS HOUSE,
Mrs. M. S. Sessions, Proprietress,
Sitka, Alaska Territory
Boarding by the day, week or month, at reasonable rates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
H. C. REED, M.D.
Phyciaian and Surgeon,
U.S. Marine Hospital Service,
Sitka, Alaska.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MARY CAPLAN,
Sitka, Alaska Territory.
Dealer in groceries, provision, dry goods, hats and caps, boots and
shoes, tobacco and cigars, clothing, notions, fancy goods, etc., etc.,
etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[For the Alaskan.]
The Presbyterian Mission of Sitka began in the Spring of 1878 by the
arrival of the Rev. John G. Brady and Miss F. E. Kellogg -- missionary
and teacher.
"I hired some Indians," Mr. Brady wrote soon after, "and we all worked
hard to put the upper floor of the soldier's barracks in trim for our
church and school services. Mr. Whitford, who bought nearly everything
which the soldiers left, sold us twenty benches, a stove, cord of wood,
two brooms, and a box of chalk. The Russian priest loaned us a
blackboard with half-inch cracks between the boards. These things
together with two tables, make up our list of furniture.
The school opened on Wednesday, April 17, with fifty present, and after
asking God's blessing upon this beginning of a work, which will surely
prove to be one of the most interesting in the history of Missions, we
began with A. B. C."
The interest of this school was sustained throughout the summer and
autumn of 1878 when, owing to the marriage of Miss Kellogg, and her
removal as the wife of the Rev. S. Hall Young, to his field at Wrangel,
it was closed. Some time after Mr. Brady also resigned his post and has
since engaged in mercantile pursuits.
In 1879, Mr. Alonzo E. Austin who, though a merchant in New York City,
had for many years been intimately connected with the "Camp Mission" as
a co-laborer with his father-in-law, the Rev. Amzi Camp, was led through
broken health to seek the benefit of change by a trip to Alaska.
Acquaintance with Mr. Brady led him to Sitka. The habit and the love of
working for the betterment of the people, led him into Sunday School
work here, and, as his health improved, to undertake at the request of
citizens, a day-school for whites. This he opened with sixty pupils.
In Jan. 1880, appointed by the Board of Home Missions, came the Rev. G.
W. Lyons and wife as Missionaries to Sitka, but owing to ill health they
soon returned to California.
During the same year Mr. Austin's family joined him, his daughter, Miss
Olinda, bearing commission from the Board as teacher to the Indians
____________ thus Miss Kellogg's school was re-opened, and with even a
better outlook.
First Capt. Beardslee, then Captain Glass, gave the weight of his
influence and the force of his authority towards the improvement of the
natives and the building up of the school. Soon Mr. Austin's school
numbered seventy, and the Indian school's attendance rose to two hundred
and seventy-one. Mr. Austin accepted a Missionary teacher's commission,
(resigning his former school to the care of his second daughter), and
began regular Sunday services for the Indians.
In Nov. of 1880 some of the eager Indian boys begged the privilege of
living in the school room, that they might get away from the noise and
drunkenness of their native homes. They would take care of themselves,
they said, hunt and fish for their food, and exercise for warmth. So
urgent were they, and evidently so in earnest to change their ways for
better, even at the cost of brute comforts, that Mr. Austin consented to
take them in -- although no provision had been made for a boarding
department.
The next spring, however, Capt. Glass came to their aid. The old Army
hospital was fitted up for this self-formed Industrial School. Officers,
marines, missionaries and the boys themselves, entered into the work
with enthusiasm. Then came the work of laying in food for the coming
winter. Hiring a net the boys caught and salted an abundance of salmon.
The Hospital grounds made a good garden from which they had many
vegetables, and the close of 1891 saw Mrs. Austin and family in their
new home with thirty happy boys.
In the 1st month of the new year this building was destroyed by fire --
the missionaries returned to the barracks, they boys were domiciled in
an old stable, and the school went on.
Of course the smoke of this conflagration was wafted eastward.
Sympathizing friends came to the rescue. Among others, Dr. Sheldon
Jackson labored for the building of a better house, and mainly by his
efforts money was raised for this purpose.
He reached Sitka in Sept. of the same year, bringing with him the
necessary materials. Remaining a month he had the pleasure of helping to
begin the house which has since been occupied by the boys' dormitories
and the Mission family.
This building is 100 feet long and 50 feet deep, and occupies a
beautiful site overlooking the bay, on the Mission far of 160 acres,
which claim was presented by Mr. Brady, it having been first taken up
and partially cleared by himself.
In the new building the school prospered, girls also were received into
Mrs. Austin's care, and the boarding pupils numbered eighty. Some of the
boys became quite proficient in the use of tools, under the instruction
mainly of Mr. W. B. Styles, who had married Mr. Austin's second
daughter, and who became a member of the faculty.
In the summer of 1884, Dr. Jackson returned to Sitka for the purpose of
erecting a still larger building to accommodate the girl's dormitories,
teacher's apartments, kitchens, dining rooms and school room, for which
purpose he had, through untiring efforts, raised the necessary funds.
In the following autumn, Mrs. McFarland, whose Home for Girls at Wrangel
had been burned, joined the force at Sitka, together with her assistant,
Miss Rankin, and a part of their family numbering twenty-four girls.
The new building is just to the eastward of the first one, connected
with it by a covered walk. It is 130 feet long by 50 feet deep, and
contains twenty-seven rooms.
In 1884 a native church was organized and Mr. Austin was ordained and
became Missionary Pastor. As the work was thus enlarged additional
helpers became necessary, and at present the force consists of:
Rev. A. E. Austin -- Missionary Pastor;
Wm. A. Kelly -- Superintendent Industrial Training School;
T. Heaton -- Carpenter;
Mrs. A. E. Austin -- Boys' Matron;
Miss Kelsey -- Girls' Matron;
Miss Kate Rankin;
Miss Margaret Dauphin;
Mrs. T. Henton, and, temporarily;
the Chilcat missionaries.
The rule is for pupils to spend three hours of each day, except
Saturdays and Sundays, in the school-room, where they are taught the
common English branches, and three hours in the departments of work --
cooking, laundry, sewing, baking, carpentry, and wood getting. To these
other trades will be added as rapidly as possible such as shoe-making,
boat building,________ [rest of sentence blackened out by an ink spill]
_________
It is proposed also, as the first pupils are approaching the time when
they may desire to set up their own little households, to build for this
purpose a model village of model cottages, on the school farm, which
shall be under the care and supervision of the faculty.
Mrs. Eugene S. Willard.
November 5, 1885.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From reliable sources we learn that quite a number of miners will winter
on the White and Stewart rivers, where they are panning out from $25 to
$30 each per day. Thos Boswell, Jeremiah Berthold, Frank Moffatt,
Richard Paplin, Peter Welberg and Francis Fraser are located about 60
miles above the mouth of the Stewart, and are making the amount stated
above with rockers. Hugh and Albert Day, Isaac Powers and Stephen Custer
are at work on a bar 16 miles up the Stewart. J. P. Chapman, Chas.
Powell, Hen. Matson and ------ Franklin will winter on the White some
distance above the mouth, where they will trap and hunt until the
weather is again favorable for prospecting and mining. Joseph Ladeau,
Michael Hess and Thomas Williams are at the
mouth of the White, where they will also hunt and trap during the
winter.
The White river takes its name from the color, or rather lack of color,
of its water. The New Racket, a small steamer plying on the Yukon, as up
the Stewart river the latter part of August, and landed $1,500 worth of
provisions for the party of six, first mentioned above. Another steamer
called the Yukon came up as far as Fort Reliance; both are owned by the
Alaska Commercial Company.
It is sincerely to be hoped that these hardy miners who have penetrated
so far into an unexplored wilderness may find gold enough to enrich
themselves to almost any extent within the limit of a reasonable wish.
They well deserve all they find, even though the sum total mounts way up
into the millions.
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