The west shore., July 01, 1885, Page 204, Image 10

204
THE WEST SHORE.
threshing was done in this manner: A layer of grain in
the straw, of a foot or two in thickness, was placed on the
floor. Oxen were then driven over it hitched to a log
with row of woodn p" inserM & As the log
revolved theA pegs acted well the part of a flail, and the
straw was exjMxlitiously relieved of iU burden of grain.
It was doubtless no hard job to winnow the grain after it
wan threshed, aa the wind blows a stilt blunt at that point
during the autumn months.
The Russians also constructed a wharf at the northern
side of the little cove and graded a road down the steep
ocean shore, the line of which is still to be seen, as it
passed much of the way through solid rock. This jetty
was made fast to the rocks on which it was constructed
with long iron lxilta, a few of which still remain, but
notliing of the wharf is extant Those old Muscovites,
iwrhaps, made the first lumber with a saw ever manufac
tured north of the bay of San Francisco. They hail a pit
and whip saw, tho former of which can be soon at this
day. Judging from the number of stumps still standing,
and the extent of territory over which thev oxtendod their
logging operations, they evidently oonsumod very large
quantities or timber, the forest being only about a mile
disUnt from the shipyard and landing. The stumps of
treee cut by thorn are still in view, while beside them
from one to six shoots Lave sprung np, many of which
have now reached a size sufficient for lumber nnrimana.
This growth has been remarkable, and goes to bIiow that
It proper care were takeu each half century would see a
new crop of timber sufllcieutly lame for all tiractipjil nnr.
jxmes, while a hundred years would produce gigantic
trees.
As stated above, the cemetery lay to the eastward of
me ion and across a deep gulch, near the church for the
peasant There wore nover more than fifty graves there,
all traoea of which, exoept of a dozen, are now obliterated.
Each of those still remaining shows signs of having had
a wooden structure built over it One mannnr of n-
alructing thoae tombs was to make a series of rectangular
frames of square timber, each boinif a certain fl.,.
smaller than the one below it, which were placed one
alve another until an ajwx was reached, and the whole
surmounted with a cross. Another method
struct an oblong frame of heavy planking, the top being
wivereu wuu iwo ueavy planks placed so as to be roof,
shaiml Other wave had a simoln rml
, - - -- -"" uu
otliera, again, a cross ou which some mechanical skill was
displayed, while one has a very large round post standing
high above tho ueiijhborinii monument. TI.a -
all buried in graves dug due east and west, with their
neatu iu ma latter pmut While there are no inscrip
tions now visible ju.lk'inu from their IRA hum f Al.
pit couUiu the dust of little children. In an easterly
iuu irum uio posi, waa an orchard, of
which ouly a few applo and cherry treet remain, moas
covered and gray with age,
Let us now trace the cause that led to the departure
of these iutrudera from the vernal
U, ........ . . vouiuriua.
ia iUUxl that the promulgation of the Monroe doctrine
caused them to leave, but that is hardly the fact, for they
remained seventeen years after this policy was announced.
One thing, however, is evident that they did not depart
nt the request or behest of either the Spanish or HexJcuu
governments. It is almost certain that the Russians
contemplated a permanent settlement at Fort Ross and
Bodega. Of course, as soon as the Spanish authorities
came to know of their permanent location, word was sent
of the fact to Madrid. In due course of time a reply,
came ordering the intruders to depart, to which peremp
tory command their only answer was that the order had
been forwarded to St Petersburg for the action of the
Czar. Some time later, about 1816, a Russian ship-of-war
anchored in the harbor of Yerba Buena, and to the
commander the Spanish authorities complained of Kos-
koff, but nothing came of ii In subsequent years the
Mexican commandants organized several military expedi
tions for the purpose of ousting the aliens, but no real
step was ever taken. For more than a quarter of a cen
tury they continued to hold undisturbed possession of
the disputed territory, and prosecuted their farming,
stock raising, hunting, trapping and shipbuilding enter
prises; but whatever were the causes that led to it, there
finally came a time when the Russian authorities decided
to withdraw their colonies. They now made a proposi
tion to the authorities at Monterey to dispose of their
interests, including the title to the land, but inasmuch as
the Mexicans had never recognized such right or title,
they could not well become purchasers thereof. Appli
cation was next made to General M. G. Vallejo, but on
the same grounds he refused. They then applied to the
late General John A. Sutter, and persuaded him that
their title was good and could be maintained; bo, after
making out a full inventory of the articles they had for
disposal, including all the land lying between Cape Men
docino and Point Reyes, and one league inltfnd, as well
as cattle, farming and mechanical instruments, a schooner
of 180 tons burthen, some arms, a four-pound brass field
piece, etc, a price waa decided on. The amount paid by
Sutter was $30,000 in cash, and he became, as he thought,
the greatest landholder in California. The grants given
by the Mexican Government seemed mere bagatelles
when compared with this provincial possession. But,'
alas for human hopes and aspirations! In reality he
had paid an enormous price for a very paltry compensa
tion of personal and chattel property.
Orders were Bent to the settlers at Fort Rosa to repair
at once to the haibor of Yerba" Buena, and there take
passage in vessels bound for the northwest whaling
grounds. The ships sent to convey them from the settle
ment arrived at an early hour in the day, and the orders
shown to the commandant, Rotscheff. The bells were im
mediately caused to be rung in the chapel towers and the
cannon discharged, the usual method of convoking the
people for some speoial purpose. Everything was sus
pended just there; the husbandman left his plow in the
nalf-turned furrow and unloosed his oxen, never again to
yoke them, leaving them to wander at will; the mechanics
dropped hia planes and saws on the bench, leaving the