Historial Sketches and Experi
ences of Trail-Blazers Who Made
Alaska the Empire of the North
PIONEERS OF ALASKA i
EDITED BY
JOHN W. FRAME
President Anchorage Igloo No. 15
ALASKA'S EARLY
BAYS REVIEWED
FATHER KASHEVAROFF, IN
ADDRESS AT JUNEAU, TELLS
OF RUSSIAN OCUPATION.
Father IvashevarolT, the well known |
clergyman of the Greek church, in an
address before the Arctic Brother-!
hood in Juneau the other night,
brought some interesting facts in con- j
nection with Alaska-Russian history,
says the Juneau Empire.
oering s expeouion was m ju*i,
under the direction of scientists of
the Russian Academy, declared Fath
er Kashevaroff. They made the trip
across Siberia. The expedition was
ordered in 1S32 and started June 4,
18-F. The St. Faul was Bering’s
ship and the St. Peter was under
charge of Tch*ikof. Bering landed
July 18, in latitude 58 degrees 28
minutes, and Bering sea was named
after him. The St. Peter landed far
ther south, latitude 56 degrees, and
sent a boat ashore. It failed to re
turn. A second boat with carpenters
and fighting men was sent ashore and
failed to return and neither was ever
heard from afterwards.
War Canoe of Natives.
Shortly after that a war canoe of
natives was seen coming around the
point, but at sight of the ship retired.
As the St. Peter crew had been re
duced from 70 to 49 he did not dare
to send any more boats ashore. He
reached Siberia Oct. 9, 1841.
Bering was wrecked while return
ing and his death occurred on an isl
and, Dec. 8, 1841. The ‘ discoveries
were verified by Cook in 1878.
Four other Russian expeditions
were sent to Alaska to confirm the
Russian titles. One of these was by j
the Order of Katherine under Billings
in 1785, which was instructed to take \
possession of such islands and coasts
as -were found.
Second Expedition in 1803.
The second expedition in 1803 was :
in the interests of the Russian-Amer-I
ican company and outfitted two ships j
under Lisiansky and Kmsenstern. t
The third expedition was by the cele-i
brated minister, Count Romanerof, in
charge of Captain Kotzebue.
The fourth expedition was under
Captain Lutke, afterwards admiral of
the Russian navy during its second
trip around the world. The German
naturalist Kittliz had done much to
illustrate natural history of Alaska.
Many other expeditions were sent'
to Alaska under the very able navi
rrof o nrl ceionf lef o i m
der Cock in 1778; Captain Portlock,
English, in 1786-8; La ..Perouse,
French, 1787; Bodega, Spanish, 1775.
Danced at Inauguration Ball.
Captain Belcher, 1837, was at Sitka
at 'he time Baranoff castle was fin
ished and danced at the inauguration !
ball.
Pioneer hunters in Alaska were
Emelian Basoff, in 1743; Nevochikof
in 1815; Trapezniffoff in 1749; Glo
tof in 1759.
Fur companies were formed and
Gregory Shelikof in 1776 sent the
first expedition under John Golikoff.
In 1783 Shelikof, with his wife and
200 hunters accompanying him land
ed on Kodiak island. This was the
beginning of the settlement of Alas
ka. In 1791 Alexander Baranoff
came to Alaska for the Shelikof com
pany. Baranoff, the genius, the build
er, and by his disinterested devotion,
built up the country and had the de
votion of the administration.
Baranoff Died Poor.
He managed the affairs of Alaska
for over a quarter of a century and
died poor. His energy, indomitable
will, superhuman strength, strength
of character and ardor which nothing
nrould cool, neither the elements or
the savages, the loss of his ships, of
his stores, or sickness from lack of
food, treachery and mutiny of his em
ployes—these and other adversities
seemed only to bring out his strength
)f character. His administration,
lowever, was pronounced harsh and
lespotic.
Other administrators of Alaska fol
owed, among them Hagermeister, Ya
lofsky, KupreanotT, Wrangell, Euru
ielm, Etholin, Koskul and Maksoutof.
<
Under Russian rule Russian sub
jects enjoyed no protection of lives,
property or security. There was no
appeal from ©ppreafcion.
No Law and No Courts.
The administration and its agents
ieeided everything arbitrarily, and
everything was done in the “name of
:he Czar” without giving any account
:o the home government. There were
no laws or courts, everyone had to
nbev the iron rule of the agent of the
company. The condition among the
natives was exceedingly bad.
Later conditions at Sitka improved,
frade expansion called into being
shipyards, foundries, brick yards,
mills, schools and churches. Due to
scientific expeditions a magnetic sta
tion was established at Japonsky isl
and and geologists and geodetic sur
veyors located at Cook inlet.
That was the condition of the coun
ty at the time of the transfer. The
Russians had known of gold and coal
and copper, but they were mostly fur
rraders and paid very little attention
:o anything else.
Even after the transfer, the western
oart of Alaska continued under the
ron and arbitrary rule of the Alaska
Commercial company. The natives
ivere mere peons for exploitation by
:he company and its agents.
After the transfer at Sitka, there
vas seventeen years without civil law.
ren years later a representative to
congress was elected.
The first school was established at
Sitka after the transfer, March 20,
1868. There was no money for this
ind it was discontinued in 1873. In
L879 another attempt was made to es
:ablish a school by A. E. Austin and
laughter. The next year Miss Austin
opened a joint school for the whites
and natives. In 1881 A. P. Kashe
caroff opened a parochial school which
continued until 1884, It was not un
til 1885 that any serious thought was
ariven to educating the children of
Alaska, credit being due Dr. Sheldon
Jackson.
On March 2, 1885, the secretary of
the interior assigned the work for
making provision for the education of
children in Alaska to the bureau of
education. Much work was accom
plished under great difficulties. On
April 11, 1885, the secretary directed
the establishment of the office of the
“general agent of education in Alas
ka.” An appropriation of $25,000
ivas made for the purpose, for build
ings, salaries, and traveling expenses.
The first government school was then
opened at Sitka June 5, 1885, with
Margaret Powell as teacher. The at
tendance the first month was twenty
five—three Americans, ten Russian
children, and the remainder natives.
In the same year schools were open
ed at Hoonah, Wrangell, Haines, Jack
son, Kittisnoo and Unalaska.
Missionaries of different denomina
tions opened schools at Fort McPher
son, on the Yukon, at Bethel, and
Nushagak.
In 1877 Dr. Jackson, superintendent
if the Presbyterian mission for the
Rocky mountain division, having his
attention called to Alaska, visited the
southeastern part and established a
school at Wrangell, with Mrs. A. R.
McFarland as the teacher. Returning
to the states Dr. Jackson began an
active agitation, to arouse sentiment in
favor of Alaskan schools. He held
public meetings in many of the lead
ing cities. In 1883 he visited the
twenty-second annual meeting of the
National Educational association in
the United States, the Second Nation
al assembly and State Teachers’ asso
ciation of Vermont, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, each of which passed
strong resolutions asking congress to
provide a government school system
for Alaska. From 1884 Alaska real
ty began its career as a part of the
?reat American family.
(Continued on Page 8)
DOINGS OF IGLOO NO. 15
At the regular meeting of the Pio
neers of Alaska, igloo No. 15, on Fri
day evening last five new applications
for membership w^re filed and refer
red to the membership committee. No
I initiations were made, as there was a
J social dance, and refreshments to be
j served after the session of the igloo.
The sick committee reported the
| death of Brother George Rulapaugh
i Thursday evening at the hospital, re
sulting from ptomaine poisoning. The
: arrangements were made for the fu
neral services at the hall at 2 o’clock
he following Sunday afternoon. The !
following pall-bearers were appointed:
J. C. Davidson, Robert White, J. Carl
son, W. J. Babis, Frank Korth, and C.
3. Cone.
After the meeting was over the
floor was cleared and the members,;
with their wives, sisters, mothers and j
sweethearts, indulged in a social dance j
until called to the dining room where j
cake and coffee were served. But the !
sweet strains of music up-stairs has- j
tened them back to the hall and danc
ing continued until near 12 o’clock.
Vi
n
PTONFFR WOMFN flP TVOAfF
ANNE P. CASKEY.
Y.. ,
Anne P. Caskey was the first presi
dent of the Women Pioneers, Auxili
ary No. 3, at Fairbanks, Alaska. She
I is the wife of J. Harmon Caskey,
I publisher of the Fairbanks Citizen
,and came with him in the early days
to the northland. In all civic and so
;cial affairs in her home city of Fair
banks Mrs. Caskey has ever been an
i enthusiastic worker and efficient
leader.
The Pioneer Women of Nome have
| started a fund for the establishment
' of an Alaska bed in the Washington
! ward of the American Ambulance
hospital at Neuilly, France. All the
Pioneer women of the different igloos
throughout the territory are working
in support of the proposed bed, anc
are meeting with excellent success.
Vic Olson, one of the pioneer resi
dents of Knik, who has been spending
the past five months at the Hoi
Springs at Sitka is a guest of the Mor
rison hotel. Mr. Olson expects t<
start freighting with his dog tearr
next week between here and Sewart
; and will spend the better part of th<
i winter on the trail. He is one of th<
; real oldtimers in this section of Alas
ka and landed at Knik some four year:
ago from the interior, being one o:
the first to come through the Broac
Pass from the Fairbanks country. H(
expects to do a lively business on th<
trail this winter and to this end ha:
l procured one of the best and fastes'
! dog teams obtainable.
“Ilello, Ed!” greeted a man ovei
the desk of the Golden North hote
i
I at Skagay the other day in saluting
I Ed. Foreman, of that city. “Hello
; there,” answei’ed Ed. “I don’t believs
j you know me,” said the strange?
I “Your face looks familiar, but ]
j don’t know your name,” answered Ed
!“You don’t eh? Well you ought to
j for it’s Foreman” said the stranger
land the two brothers, after a separa
jtion of almost twenty years fell or
I each other’s neck and embraced as
j real brothers should. J. H. Foremar
jcame to the northland about twenty
| three years ago, and since that time
he has followed up all the big stam
pedes throughout the width ant
breadth of the great north. For th<
last eight years he has been locatec
in the Iditarod country, and has comt
out to see the great white lights. He
will remain in Skagway for some
time before going on to the states.
The Pioneer club room is now elec
trie-lighted and furnace-heated and is
a cosy place to while away idle time
A book case has been installed anc
its shelves are filled with books anc
the tables are covered with all the
latest magazines. The writing desl
also has the igloo stationery and al
writing materials.
PIONEER WOMEN OF NOME.
Pioneer Women, Igloo No. I,
(Nome) was organized October 18,
1912, with a cnarter membership of
thirty-six.
The first officers were:
Clymena WT. Diamond, president.
Helen M. Estey, vice-president.
Mrs. T. H. Evans, secretary.
Mary F. Pole't, treasurer.
Lydia E. Murane*, historian.
Jennie B. Stipex, Sergeant.
Ella C. Allen, Abbie H. Williams,
Ollie S. Coombs, trustees.
Charter Members.
Ada Blanche Peed, Para Ell°n
Schofield, Olive Story Coombs, Ber
tha White Thompson, Bell E. Mit h
C. Allen, Jessie Lbuttit ‘
Sloan, Julia E. Loman, Sarah A. Lo-!
| erpabel, Josephine D. Tyler, Ida;
| Freeding, Dora E. Frost, Jennie B. I
i Stipek, Brigitta Weiler, Gussie Mer
rill, Julia Campbell, Trenia Lehmann,
1 Anna K. Dessum, Lizzie Mielke, Ber
tha Ring (True), Margaret Dessum,
Abbie H. Williams, Mary F. Polet,
j Clymena W. Diamond, Charlotte
Ross, Anna Zehner, Carrie Iola Gil
more, Inez Cochran, Helen M. Estey,
Mary McGreal, Lydia E. Murane,
'Clam A. Ernst, Louise J. Young, Ida
Huff. ,
Elected Members.
Anna M. Casey, Lillie Bell Evans,
Mary C. Plien, Margaret Montgom
ery, Willa Caldwell, Agnes Carleton,
Henrietta Ford, Adelaide Hayden,
Anna K. Fromm, Susan M. Grimm,
Christine Gibney, Mrs. L. Stadie, Jen
nie A. Tiffany, Wadell Parry Peter
son, Augusta Clark, ArFene Wheeler
Ernst, Kathleen P. Kirk, Sarah Webb,
Leigh P. Kelling, Esther Birdsall
Darling, Alice L. Markham, Nora
Wagner, Olga Ledding, Bertha Laib
lin, Maud M. Adams, Grace, Jisher
Ross, Charlotte Warwick, Maxie Nie
bling, Mary Maynard, Jennie O’Far
rell, Rebecca Krakower, Louise Bru
ner, Rosa B. Hagan, Annie Ginniven,
Flora Peterson, Anna Williamson,
Ada M. Arthurs, Mrs. Nils Swanberg,
Mrs. M. E. Flowers, Della Chase,
Marion M. Frawley, Anna C. White,
Willimene Casey, Catherine Bongard,
Christine Kondela, Katie G. Oliver,
Emma M. Kell, Anna D. Mondini,
Minnie Dixon, Esther Heimlick, Stel
la Moller, Anna Rawel, Julia Staph
anson, Lena Mfettell, Christine Bra
ton, Kathrine T.' Kricek, Lena Stone,
Della Glass. %
Officers Year 1914.
President, Anna Zehner; vice-pres
ident, Anna Casey; secretary, Inez
Cochran; treasurer, Clara A. Ernst;
historian, Ada Blanche Harlan Reed;
chaplain, Henrietta Ford; sergeant,
Ida Huff. Trustees, Trenia Lehmann,
Ella C. Allen and Abbie H. Williams.
Officers Year 1915.
President, Anna Casey; vice-presi
dent, Mary F. Polet; secretary, Rosa
B. Hagen; treasurer, Mrs. Louis Sta
dey; historian, Ada Blanche Harlan
Reed; chaplain, Ada Arthurs; ser
geant, Louise Brunner; trustees, Lou
ise Young, Trenia Lehmann, and El
la C. Allen.
i
Officers Year 1916.
I President, Mary F. Polet; vice pres
ident S. Marie Grimm; secretary, Ar
i line Ernst; treasurer, Catherine
, Bongard; historian, Clymena W. Dia
mond; chaplain, Ada Arthurs; ser
geant, Anna Williamson; inside
,guard, Lizzie Mielke; trustees, Anna
I Casey, Louise Young and Trenia
i Lehmann.
Officers Year 1917.
President, S. Marie Grimm; vice
president, Lizzie Mielke; secretary,
Rosa B. Hagen; treasurer, Mrs. Lou
ise Stadey; historian, Ada Blanche
Harlan Reed; chaplain, Anna Mo
■ dini; sergeant, Stella Moller; inside
guard, Christina Koudella; trustees,
Marion M. Frawley, Anna Casey and
: Louise Young.
The Moose boys have installed a fine
; phonograph in their club room at Pio
neer hall and the latest music, just
from France can be heard each even
ing.
You never can tell. The girl with
a turned-up nose may not be the eas
iest to kiss.
—
If a body ‘meet a body
with a flask of rye,
If a body treat a body,
Hi, yi, yi!
1 ENJOY YOURSEEF
§ At The ft
| TEMPLE ROLLER RINK g
I AND GET YOUR SHARE S
| OF THIS HEALTH-BUILDING EXERCISE.
m Open Every Afternoon and Evening.
| 2:30 to 5 P. M. - - - 7:30 to 10 P. M. j
The House of Service
Sold in 26-piece
Sets
and Single Pieces
AMERICAN BEAUTY IRONS
CHAFING DISHES
PERCOLATORS
TOASTERS
LAMPS
POCKET HAND WARMERS
FOOT WARMERS
Something New—Be Sure and See
Them.
Our Prices
Are no higher than the other fel
low’s and when it comes to work
manship and quality we have him
la'shed to the mast.
The House of Service