The west shore., July 01, 1885, Page 202, Image 8

202
THE WEST SHORE.
THE RUSSIANS AT BODEGA AND FORT ROSS.
IN January, 1811, there arrived in the quiet waters of
Bodega Iky a strange-looking craft bearing a burden
"f hnmnn froiirliL Thev were niun with untembt hair
and shaggy beards, with frames of iron and a physique
At a 1 1 a - . ... . . . ..
mat torn oi tnoir being mured to a life of excessive toil
and exposure to the rigors of an inclement climate. To
them, as they entered the beautiful cove on that midwin
ter's day, the surrounding country Boomed a veritable
paradise Accustomed as they hud been all their lives to
oe naught but the (loop snow lying ovor the face of the
earth at this season of the year, the sight of the vernal
hills glowing in the bright sunshine placed before them
a picture, tim most lovoly that had ever greeted their
gam These brawny strangers were Russians, and had
come from Sitka for the purose of establishing a mili
tary jxwt and a rondor.vous for a band of trappers, also
pruKining to farm extensivoly, using their products for
supplying the colonies in the far north. The number of
men was seventy-twenty Russians and fifty Kodiac In-dians-undor
the loadorship of Alexander KoskofT, a man
wn a wooden log, and to whom on this account the na
tive Californians annlied the niltnmA nf p;, a tu
To Bodega Bay they gave tho name of " RomanzotT," and
im uie stream now known as Russian River they called
"Slavianka." '
Knowing full well that they had no just title or claim
to tha land, thoy framed a pretext for
stating they had leen refused a supply of fresh water at
.um uona oan francisco), to strengthen which thov
asserted that they had purchased all the land lying adiii
oont to the bay from the aliorigines, a claim which was
ultimately extended until it covered all the land lyinn
between P,t Royo. and Point Arena, and for a distance
of nine milos nlaml A. . matter of fact the Russians
could not purchase any of this land from the Indians, for
tult re"'? fWB7.of 1,18 California,
i " 71 ; H,nroioro " has iioon truly remarked
of them tha m they came without invitation, and occu
imnl the land without the permission of the ownorsX
may w.th every justice, be cnllod the first squattor in
Cali orma. They went to work with a wS, however
whether hoy hod any right to the soil r U S
V M into the interior of the country, about U
.U. from the bay, and there founded a settlement
As soon a. the first crop had matured and was readv
for shipment, it became noce that they should have
XvT V Uy L0r6 -i could SS
Accordingly . budding for this purpose was erected,
rery strong ad durable, LToul TpTbaUy
Uuding now but for the fact that a land-slide .we th!
wt of it into the bay aome years ano. Z .
other building near L one ff Mff
kind of boarding house, but it u nnl a
the fact Uiat iU fxisto Z fi.iT '
It u not ,bl, to giv. the exact original number of
their houses in this locality, owing to these having been
all demolished and not a vestige remaining of them to
tell their story, but it is undoubted that there were a
considerable number. These buildings were small and
rough, the boards being hewn from redwood logs. They
were each strong enough for a fortress, and were prob
ably built to serve the double purpose of shelter from
storms and protection from an enemy.
When Koskoff and his company established them
selves at Bodoga he found most strenuous opposition
from the Spanish authorities of California, who looked
upon them as interlopers, and were ever ready to embrace
any and all opportunities to drive them off. Open war
fare was threatened, and the Russians had every reason
to believe that the threate would be carried out There
was another enemy to ward against the Indians over
whom the Spaniards, through the missions, had absolute
control, and it was apprehended that this power might be
used. Several expeditions were organized by the Dons
to march against the Muscovites, though they all came to
naught The Russians would doubtless have been very
well satisfied to have let the Spaniards alone if they
would have reciprocated the courtesy; fearing, however,
to trust them, the new-comers soucrht for a Wtinn vhP
would afford them natural protection from the foe. Pass
ing up the coast thirty miles, thev came to the level nnrl
extensive tract lying adjacent to the present Fort Ross.
Here they found everything they could desire. Vast
iiieauows stretcned to the eastward, affording pasture to
flocks without number. There stood
The formt primewl s tin murmuring pinM and tha hemlock.
Boarded with mow ud in garment green, indiatlnot in tha twUurht
Thore was a beautiful little cove in which vessels might
he in safety from the fury of the northern storms; near
at hand was an ample stretch of beach, on which their
staunch though crude
easily launched npon the mighty deep; no more propi
tious place could have been fonnd nlnnrv Mm anfivA anof
me location once chosen, they set to work with a will to
uieir new Homes. A site was chosen for the
stockade near the ocean's shore, and in such a position as
to protect their vessels lying in the little harbor from
those inimical to them. Tho
cation is interesting. The plat of ground enclosing it
y urogram, to teet wide and 312 long, and con
taining about two acres. Tl. . j
near y upon the cardinal points of the compass. At the
north and south angles there were constructed an octago
SL , Btriea Li8h- "! counted with six
mTi . 7" 111680 were built exactlr dil and
were about twentv.fmii. : j:. m, '
j , : " u "'ameier. rnewaiiswere
52w sS : ?- to
ai . ., - vuiiiuoi nuu ii aa a smoii nag-
WT . A the apex. The stockade approached the towers
in such a WBV tlmt. l.1 .a
k1.iq.. i xi . ""j-"tui oi mem was within Uie en-
IZlt 8 f6' Ml ouUide Tbe entrance to
uiem was thmnrrl .mn .i
mKr.Un. i i?. uoorB on 1118 lnBde, there being
embrasure, both inside and out, arranged so as to protect