24 REPORT ON INTRODUCTION OF 



number, the attention of Baranof was directed to the new sources of 

 supply in southeastern Alaska. About the same time the Hudson Bay 

 Company was extending its operations eastward across the continent 

 to the coast, and American ships had found out the profitable fur trade 

 of the same region. Baranof, to extend his trade, hedge off the Eng- 

 lish, and place himself in easy communication with the American ves- 

 sels, from whom he could procure breadstuffs and other supplies, 

 determined to establish a settlement in the Alexander Archipelago. 

 After a long period of preparation he set sail on the 10th of April, 

 1799, from Kadiak in the brig Elizaveta and sloop Konstantin with 

 22 Kussians and from 500 to 600 Aleuts, with 200 canoes. At 

 Nutchek he was joined by Kuskof with from 300 to 400 Aleuts and 150 

 canoes. Rounding Cape Suckling 60 men were lost by the capsizing 

 of the boats, and soon after a number of others were killed in a night 

 attack of the natives. However, on the 25th of May, in a driving 

 storm of sleet and snow, the mountains covered with snow to the 

 water's edge, the expedition reached Sitka Sound and effected a land 

 ing at Bay of Starri-Gavan, 6 miles north of the present site of Sitka. 



Negotiations were entered into with Katlian, who seemed to be the 

 leading Sitka chief, and the land for a settlement was purchased of 

 him for some beads. Keeping one-half of the force at hunting sea 

 otters, the other half was set to work on the buildings, and soon the 

 sound of axes and the crash of falling trees proclaimed the commence- 

 ment of civilization in that region. The place consisted of 6 build- 

 ings, a stockade, and 3 fortified blockhouses, and was named Fort 

 Archangel Michael. In the spring of 1800 the force numbered 25 

 Russians and 56 Aleut men, besides women and children. At the 

 time of Baranot's landing the American ship Caroline, of Boston, 

 Captain Cleveland commanding, was at anchor a few miles off, trading 

 for sea-otter skins with the natives. Having established the Sitka 

 settlement, Baranof returned to Kadiak in the fall of 1800, leaving 

 Vassili Medvednikof in command. 



With the chief factor absent, and no doubt more or less oppression 

 on the part of the Russians, the natives abided their time. In the 

 spring of 1802 they gathered the warriors from all the surrounding 

 tribes, and on a Sunday in June, when a majority of the Russians and 

 Aleuts were off hunting and fishing, they made an attack on the new 

 settlement, which was quickly taken and burned to the ground; then 

 attacking the outside hunting parties, killed them off in detail, but 

 3 Russians and 2 Aleuts escaping to the woods. A few days latter 

 these were found and taken on board the Unicorn, an English ship 

 under Captain Barber, which was in the vicinity trading. Soon after 

 another English ship and an American trading ship arrived. By 

 detaining the native chief and others on board ship and threatening 

 to hang them, 18 women were ransomed, making 23 in all that were 

 saved. These were taken to Kadiak by Captain Barber. 



