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Correspondence concerning the commemoration of Nile Kinnick, 1941-1997

1988-11-19: Page 03

they encountered. Incredible!
That expedition started with the firts Aleutions, Attu, I think,
where they found people living.  Then on to the next one.  Seeking the
Sea Otters for their highly desirable furs.  Then back home, to be
followed by other similar expeditions.  After many years like this they
reached Kodiak and stayed there for headquarters.  Other Russians were
leaders, and the last one who stayed on the job for maybe 25-30 years,
was Baranov. and he ruled most of the time at Sitka where they had
a good sized town, oposed all the time by the Tlinget Indians.  The
Russians subdued the Aleutians and actually enslaved them to catch the
otters; but the Tlingets wouldn't bow, but retreated to the woods,
waiting to gather enough men to fight back.
In that earlier story was written by a Canadian, I believe, and he
said the Russians finally sent an exploring mission down as far as San
Francisco, when the Spaniards already has a mission.  But the R. Group
didn't stay long.  You remember there is a small river north of SF that
has the name Russian River, possibly aimed at that expedition.
Now this story by Michener, as I believe his other tomes have too,
has a lot of fictional characters. MaY that is why the World-Herald
lists this book as 'fiction'; lots of conversation by these fictional
characters.  It all makes a good story, but I like my history to be
more real.  And sometimes Michener brings in some fictional characters
that I have thought are strictly unnecessary.  I began this book to read
again about the early days of Alaska. The Russian period ended in 1867
when Russia sold all of Alaska for a bit over $7,000,000, because Russia
wa s involved in a war with Turkey and having need for funds.  Most in
the US thought Sec'y State Seward was crazy and wanted nothing to do
with Alaska.  Then there was total and complete confusion for weeks
and months when the Russians departed quickly and there was government
there to take care of things: no rules, no laws and no one to execute
either.
Rut I guess everything worked out alright, finally.  But I am
leaving the last half of the book unread.
Your musings have touched me and I love them. Matters always
interest me, family matters the most.  How wonderful that you could
all get together this summer. Keep it up. It gives wonderful opportunities
for all the younger members and are important in helping to
mold the habits and thinking of the younger ones.  I think of the many
summers when each Sunday after and evening included a multi-family
meeting and dinner at Grandpa and Grandma Clarke's. Truly wonderful!
Eli and I took a run out to Wyoming in mid-September.  All at once
I said I would like to take one more look at the many places that I
remember with a strong feeling from the Land Bank dyas.  So we drove
to Cheyenne, thence west on a side road from Laramie over
the Medicine Bow Mts and up to Rawlins and west to Little America and
up to Kemmerer for the second night.  Then to Star Valley along the
Idaho border to Jackson Hole.  And there I had the only disappointment.
Jackson has grown so much and is so crowded we took a quick look and
drove north to Moran Junction and east to Dubois for the night.  That was
(skipping Yellowstone) over the Rockies to Dubois.  Then down to Riverton
and north to the Big Horne Basis and into Cody where we did all the big
and wonderful musems for A FULL DAY. Then aver the Big Hornes to Sheridan
and south to Buffalo and east to Gillete and on to Sundance for the
night.  There we decided on a change; instead of the Black Hills we drove
south to Highway 20 at Lusk and east to Ainsworth in Nebraska, and home
the next morning. I liked it.  Excellent weather and fine highways all
the way.

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they encountered. Incredible! That expedition started with the firts Aleutions, Attu, I think, where they found people living. Then on to the next one. Seeking the Sea Otters for their highly desirable furs. Then back home, to be followed by other similar expeditions. After many years like this they reached Kodiak and stayed there for headquarters. Other Russians were leaders, and the last one who stayed on the job for maybe 25-30 years, was Baranov. and he ruled most of the time at Sitka where they had a good sized town, oposed all the time by the Tlinget Indians. The Russians subdued the Aleutians and actually enslaved them to catch the otters; but the Tlingets wouldn't bow, but retreated to the woods, waiting to gather enough men to fight back. In that earlier story was written by a Canadian, I believe, and he said the Russians finally sent an exploring mission down as far as San Francisco, when the Spaniards already has a mission. But the R. Group didn't stay long. You remember there is a small river north of SF that has the name Russian River, possibly aimed at that expedition. Now this story by Michener, as I believe his other tomes have too, has a lot of fictional characters. MaY that is why the World-Herald lists this book as 'fiction'; lots of conversation by these fictional characters. It all makes a good story, but I like my history to be more real. And sometimes Michener brings in some fictional characters that I have thought are strictly unnecessary. I began this book to read again about the early days of Alaska. The Russian period ended in 1867 when Russia sold all of Alaska for a bit over $7,000,000, because Russia wa s involved in a war with Turkey and having need for funds. Most in the US thought Sec'y State Seward was crazy and wanted nothing to do with Alaska. Then there was total and complete confusion for weeks and months when the Russians departed quickly and there was government there to take care of things: no rules, no laws and no one to execute either. Rut I guess everything worked out alright, finally. But I am leaving the last half of the book unread. Your musings have touched me and I love them. Matters always interest me, family matters the most. How wonderful that you could all get together this summer. Keep it up. It gives wonderful opportunities for all the younger members and are important in helping to mold the habits and thinking of the younger ones. I think of the many summers when each Sunday after and evening included a multi-family meeting and dinner at Grandpa and Grandma Clarke's. Truly wonderful! Eli and I took a run out to Wyoming in mid-September. All at once I said I would like to take one more look at the many places that I remember with a strong feeling from the Land Bank dyas. So we drove to Cheyenne, thence west on a side road from Laramie over the Medicine Bow Mts and up to Rawlins and west to Little America and up to Kemmerer for the second night. Then to Star Valley along the Idaho border to Jackson Hole. And there I had the only disappointment. Jackson has grown so much and is so crowded we took a quick look and drove north to Moran Junction and east to Dubois for the night. That was (skipping Yellowstone) over the Rockies to Dubois. Then down to Riverton and north to the Big Horne Basis and into Cody where we did all the big and wonderful musems for A FULL DAY. Then aver the Big Hornes to Sheridan and south to Buffalo and east to Gillete and on to Sundance for the night. There we decided on a change; instead of the Black Hills we drove south to Highway 20 at Lusk and east to Ainsworth in Nebraska, and home the next morning. I liked it. Excellent weather and fine highways all the way.