The west shore., July 01, 1885, Page 203, Image 9

THE yEST SHORE.
203
those within from an outside enemy, and to also have all
within in range of the guns, thus guarding against possi
ble eruption from the interior. The stockade proper was
constructed as follows: A trench was dug two foot doep,
and every ten feet along the bottom a hole one foot in
depth was dug, in which posts about six by ton inches
in size were inserted, while between the posts, and on the
bottom of the trench, was a strong girder firmly mortiHod
into the uprights and fastened with a strong wooden pin.
'Slabs of varying widths, but all Iniing about six inches
thick, were then placed in an upright position between
the posts aforesaid, resting on the girder and firmly fas
tened At a distance of twelve feet up the posts there
was run another girdor, which, too, was fastened by large
pins, these resting on the slabs, which were slotted at
the top, into which a piece of timber was passed, after
which huge pins were driven down through the girders
and the timber in the slots and well into the body of the
slab. The main posts extended about throe feet higher,
a lighter girder being run near the tops, and botweon the
two lost mentioned there was a row of light slabs, two
inches thick and four wide, and pointed like pickoU. It
is therefore easy to conjecture that whon the trench was
filled up with tamped rock and dirt that the stockade was
almost invulnerable, when we oonsidor the implements of
assault that wore likely to be brought against it in those
days of rude weapons of war. Around the stockade there
were embrasures for muskote or cannons, of which latter,
it is said, there were several in the fortress.
On the northern side of the eastern angle a chnpcl
was erected and was used by the officers only. It was
surmounted bv two domes, one of which was round and
the other pentagonal in shape, while in one of them was
a chime of bells that were wont to peal only the matins
and vespers in rich mellifluous tones. On the west side
of the northern angle were the barracks, roughly con
structed, the framework being of large, heavy tiinlwrs.
On the northern sido of the western angle was a one
story building, showing a better style of workmanship
evidently officers' quarters while on the southern side
of the western angle was a worluthop for the various
branches of industry there prosecuted, and on the eastern
side of the southern angle was a row of sheds, probably
used as stables and forage stores. There were a number
of exterior buildings, and all in keeping with the houses
of the eaHanU alroady descril)od as existing at Bodega.
They were small and constructed from rough slata riven
from redwood. These hardy fellows were so rugged and
inured to the cold of the higher latitudes that they cared
not for the few cracks that might admit the fresh, balmy
air of the California winter mornings.
To the northward of and near the cluster of Louses,
situated on knoll, was a windmill, which was the motor
for driving a single run of burrs, and also for stamping
machine used for grinding teubark. This windmill pro.
duced all Uie flour used in that and the Dodega settle,
monta, while probably a considerable amount was sent
with the annual shipment to Sitka. This was probably
the first flour mill of any description north of the bay of
San Francisco. The stamp for crushing tanbark was
made of solid iron, about four inches square, hung upon
a orank ou the main shaft of the wind whoel. For sev
eral years after the Americans came into possession it
did good service, but not a trace of it now remains. To
the south of the stockado, in a deop gulch at the do.
bouohure of a small stream, there stood a vory largo
building, the rear portion of which was used for tanning
leather, whore they had six vats ooustruoted of the usual
redwood slabs and all the other necessary appliances,
such as acraiiers, mailers, eta, but these were large and
rough in make. The front half of the building was used
as a shipyard. Ways were constructed on a sandy beach
at this point lending into the doep water of the bight,
and upon them wore built a number of sea-going vessels.
These craft all did good service, and one of them plowed
the seas not long ago.
Tradition says that to the eastward of the fort, and
aoross the gulch, there once stood a very largo building,
which was usod as a church for tho common peoplo of
the settlement Near this place of worship the cemetery
was located. A French tourist once paid Fort Ross a
visit He arrived after dark, and asked permission to
romain over night with the parties who at that time
owned the Spanish grant on which Fort Ross Is situated.
During the evening the conversation naturally drifted
upon the old history of the place, during which he dis
played so grout a familiarity with all the surroundings
that his hosts asked if he had ever lived there with the
Russians. He answered that ho bad not, but that he had
a very warm friend in Ut Petersburg who had spout
thirty years in California as a priest of the Greek Church,
and that he had made him a promise upon his departure
for the Coast, about a year before, to pay a visit to the
scones of the holy labors of bis friend, and it was in com.
pliance with that promise that he was there. Among the
many tilings inquired alout was the church close to the
cemetery. All traces of this building had long since dis.
apearod, and the settlers were surprised to hear that it
evor existed. The traveler assured them the priest had
stated distinctly that such a building had stood there, and
also that a number of other buildings used as homes for
the peasant steod near it
The Russians had farmed very extensively at Fort
limn, having as much as two thousand acres under fence,
as well as large tracts that were unenclosed. Their agri.
cultural processes were as crude as their other work.
Their plow was very similar to the old Hpanlsh imple
ment, so common in California at that time and still ex.
taut in Mexico, with the exception that the Muscovite
instrument possessed a mould-board. They employed
both oxen and cows for draft animals, using the anti
quated Spanish yoke adjusted to the horns instead of to
tho necks. It is prolmble they used the ancient cart of
the SiMiniards, as well as sled. Their grain was out with
a scythe when it was ripe and then transported to the
threshing floor, which was constructed of heavy puncheons
elevated somewhat off the ground, and between which
were interstices through which the grain fulL The