h'3 The Commercial Company The Formative years

MOLLY LEE

he demise of the Alaska Com_ tions from Kodiak to St. Michael and mercial War. The origin of his intercst in Company headquarters on the masts the of fleet of ships that Alaska is uncertain, but it may be that in ,s disastrous plied the northern waters was the re- he was alreadr. ai.vare o[ the impend- earthquake and fire of 1906 left a ma_ sult of months oF neeotiations. ln the ing iiquidation jor lacuna in the 19th-century of Russian-American history absence of so many vital documents, Company assets \.vhen he boarded a of the Norrh. When the ledgeis, co.re_ however, any reconstruction must be San spondence, memos, Francisco-bound ship in Nerv and files_the pieced together from a rvide array grist of York in September 1867. The Dresence of the historian,s mill_-*,ent up sources. Incomplete records also rnean of General Loveii Rousseau in smoke, so did the possibiliry anci Cap- of re- that some imporrarrt questions may tain Alexei constructing precise Peshchurov, the U.S. antl a and detailed never be. answered. Founded history in 1g6g, Russian representatives en route frorn of an institution that touched the Naska Commercial Cotnpany was Baltimore to Sitka for the transfer of the daily lives of most Aiaskans for al- an ourgrowth of Hurchinson, Kohl Naska into American most half a century.l During hands, suggesrs the first and Company. a consortium of West two decades this possibiliti,. Hutchinson might after the Coast businessmen formed purchased in Febru- have known Rousseau through his Alaska, the Alaska Com_ ary or March of that same year. Thus dealings with the U.S. Armv and, mercial Companv, in the if so, absence of ail the history of the trvo tirms is inextri- but the couid have learned of the Russian- most minimal of federal gover_ cabiy intertwined. nance, American Companv's liquidation served northern residents'as de from him.6 \\4rether bv design or coin- facto banker, postmaster, doctor, law_ Hutchinson, Kohi irsetl represenred a cidence, yer, and, occasionaily, jailer, Abraham Hirsch was also in addi- merger of, two conrper ine, uroups of aboard. tron ro carrying out its own trading businessmen whose sense ot survival and sealing enterprises. forced them sacriilce to in-rmediate Sailing into San Francisco Bay on Sep- seif-interest for longer-range benefits, tember Focusing on the formation 22, 1867, Hutchinson ser abour of Alaska to set aside cutthroat tactics in favor of Con'rmercial and finding financial backing for his the procurement and pooling economic resolirces and loss oI the pro_ scheme to acquire the Russian-Anleri- Pribilof sealing lease, this fessional know-how. Headed essav. differs from bl, can Compan.v's trade. Somehow, per- previousiv pub- Hayward Hutchinson and William lished .rccounts haps through his acquainrance u,iti-r in three ways. First, it Kohl, the two conglomcrrtes \\ ere dis_ Hirsch, he managed to get the ear suggests that two standard sources of on parate in nationalitv ar-rd background tr,vo the founding cf the of San Francisco's most prorli- company are inac_ but possessed oI a rvide curate range of skills nent businessmen, Louis Sloss and his in many important details.: that were to prove invaluable in the brother- in-lau, Lewis Gerstle. Like Second, it discusses events leading up years ahead. To understand the cir- Hirsch, Sloss and to the ibunding in greater Cerstle rvere part oi detail ihan cumstances of the .\CC's fotrnding the only. historically we the ciose-knit nationrvide network oi sound published must first examine the accourrt.' coalescence of German-iewish emigres. Lifelong And third, it makes use of the separate Hutchinson unpubiished and Kohl business partners, the two had been material either unknown gro ups. investors in an earlier take-over at- to previous researchers or not con_ suited tempt on the Hudson's Bay Companv's by them for this purpose. Hutchinson's associates, Louis Sloss, e.rpiring lease on the Alaska mainland. Lewis Gerstle,{ and Abraham Hirsch,-- How the Alaska Thus they were well aware of the lucra- Commercial Company were ali San Franciscans, originated was although tive potential olthe northern fur trade. neither d.irect nor Hutchinson himseli came ironr simple. The hoisting Balti_ It is even possible that they, roo, a[- of the red_and- more, where he had been white AC a wholesaier read,v had heard about the Russian- banner over company sta- to the Union Army during the Civii American Company's sale and had

Spring 1998 59 been looking for a way in. in Victoria, Leopold Boscowitz, a 1867, he not only filled the C...__ Victoria furrier, August Wa.ssermann, stantine's l-rold with skins but, in ar.:- p{ut.hinron's movements for the a San Francisco furrier,8 and Custave ticipation oI next summer,s I Inext two months have not been Niebaum. Of the [our, sealing, Niebaum, a built a makeshift house on the traced, but in early December, he and tbrmer employee oI the islariJ Hirsch traveled Russian_ and left behind an agent to watch to Sitka to bid on Rus_ America Company, over sian-American's brought the most his inrerests. remaining assets. critical experience Charming to the table. Born in and diplomatic, Hutch_ (then a part of Imperial Rus_ Niebaum's inson made good use of his introduction to Kohi and connec- sia, a situation giving automatic tions with peshchurov, Boscowitz took place eariier, either Rousseau and Russian crtizenship), in Niebaum had Victoria in 1866 who were still in Sitka. Through them, or in Sitka in the au_ gone to sea as a boy and to work for the tumn he quickly estabiished u .o.iiri of 1867, where the three at_ Russian-American Company at age profitable relationship prince".rj 16. tended the liquidation of Russian_ with By the time of the Alaska purchaie, Dmitrii Maksutov, the he American Company assets. Sometime last Russian was a highiy rrained navigator with governor of probablv l0 that fali, Niebaum asked Kohl and Aiaska- aided by vears' experience in the treacherous Boscowitz to recommend these connections, Hutchinson rro, a San Fran- northern waters. He also brought to able to outmaneuver cisco furrier to contact about his car_9o a flock of deter- the Kohl group -of firsrhand knowiedge ot of sealskins. Recognizing mined competitors in purchasing the the value the Alaska fur trade, the pribiioi Is_ F,ussian firm's assets. the skins and the potentiai ol a busi_ lands, and Alaska's native peoples.o ness relationship rvith Niebaum, rhe F{utchinson's booty tra,,o offered to put him in touch with included parrial Niebaum had spent the winter contents of Russian_American of August Wassermann. As a iurther in_ Com- 1866-67 in Victoria, where pany warehouses, the im- ducement they offered to a fleet of merchant pending go ro San sale of Alaska was big news in Francisco vessels, and a handful of trading immediatelv on Niebaum's posts the papers. Returning to Sitka scattered aiong the in the behaifto arrange the sale in advance.:0 coast of .tlaska spring oi 1867, he rook from St. prince the first step in Iv{ichael to. William a long Sound. and successfirl business .^.... In late November In an even bigger coup, by 1867, the three making several purchases of Rus_ shook though, he managed to ,rolk1rr"i, hands. Kohl and Boscor^,,itz left *ith sian-American Company property. the company's coveted pribilof He Sitka tbr San Francisco, and \ielaum island and four other former company sealing operations.T pribilofs, em_ for the Pribilois. Thev joined up aqain The a ployees pooled their resources and in Sirka pair of desolare, seemingll. insignifi_ on lanuarv 18, lg6g, iusr as bought the brig Constantine fronr c.ant outcroppings 300 Hutchinson was concludins hrs busi- miles north of Maksutov with the intention the Aleutians, of engag_ ness there. On |anuarr, l"l Hutchinson, in fact were ,s ing in sealing most and fur trading in-tlie Kohl, Boscowitz, valuable North American asset. and \laksutovri area of Kodiak Island, the A_leutians, Everv year they piaved tbund themseives bound ibr San Fran_ host to hun_ and the Bering Sea, dreds known as the cisco aboard the vessel. of thousands of fur seais, which, same Wesnvard. At the same time, Niebaum since the drastic depletion of sea ot- bought a load of sealskins from ters, possessed the most the -l-h. Hutchinson-Kohl rnereer prob_ sought_after company ior resale. The skins iur in the world. were I ably took shape durinq lhe r,ovage stored in the pribilott, and as part o[ south. The ship arrived in San Fran_ the sale, Maksutov gave in Niebaurn per_ cisco on February 5; b),fuiarch ianuary 186g, Hutchinson began mission to paul l, ivhen shipping land at St. to retrleve Niebaum sailed in rvith goods south to San FrIn_ them. his load of sealskins, cisco. The success of his negotiations discussions had proceeded rvith Sloss and Gerstle the far enough ibr the orhers to oftlr him pre*vious au_ It is likelv that taking delivery tumn can be inferred of the an equal share in the fledelirrs tlrm.r: from the bills of seaiskins ivas only part laciing of his agenda. On Vlarch 18, the for these shipments, which were Permission to land first shipping mani- addressed there aliow.d fests bearing the name Hutchinson. to Louis Sloss and Com_ Niebaum, who pany. was well aware of the Kohl appeared Clearly, a protitable alliance had on merchandise bound economic importance of the pribilofs, r3 been cemented. for S itka. to get rhe jump on the competition for the fur years seal fishery. later, he was The purpose The second group of Alaska Commer_ of Hutchinson, Kohl wa.s to recall that it was only because of his cial Company pnncipals consisted to operate and supplv the Alaskan of earlier employment with the company William Kohl, an trading stations purchased lrom the American ship that Maksutov allowed him builder, mariner, and protiteer r; g; Russians and to undertake sealing in living ashore. Reaching St. paul in Novemb"er the Pribilofs. Collectivelv, the flim,s

? ac ifi c,l.{ o rthw e s t elitarterly Russian-American Companv build- Foundation of daska Commercial Company ings and despite Niebaum's own house and agent in St. Paul, Hutchinson and Niebaum encountered stiff competi- tion that year. Two other sealing out_ fits, the Williams, Haven Companv of Nerv London and John Parrott of San Spring . 1867 Victori^a. B.C. Francisco, landed oi Fall 1867. Sitka about the same time, prepared to contest Hutchinson, Sept-Dec 1867 . San Frwc*co William Kohi Kohl's claim. After nearly coming to Leopold Hay,,rard Hutchinson Boscowitz blows on more than one occasion, the Gustav Niebaum l,ouis Sloss competitors retreated to different l,ewis Gersde rookeries. Dec 1867 . SanFrancLsco As it turned out, however, nbraham Hirsch (dropped out the competition hardly dented Hutch- before March 1868) inson. Kohl's profits. Even spiit three ways, the returns for the season were spectacular.

Tf the I868 sealing season gave lHutchinson, Kohl a raste of success, it also tbstered a healthy respect for the competition. The principals came J a*-March 18ffi . San Fronclsco awai, from the experience convinced that the only way to insure future prof- its was to secure an exclusive U.S. gov- ernment lease on the Pribiiof seal fish- erv. Once again, their strategy was to by Oaober -186B " Saa Francisco join tbrces with the competition. On October 10, 1868, a group of Hutchinson, Kohl investors filed for the incorporation of a new companv for the purpose of operating a sealing concern on the Pribiiof Isiands. The new company was to purchase the as- sets of Hutchinson, Kohl, which wouid Oaober 18ffi . San Francisco remain in existence until the promis- sory notes were paid off. Among the earl,v investors were principals in the \,\iilliams, F{aven and Parrott compa- seven orieinal 255s6i3165_Hutchin_ trading, and, most important, had an nies. The new fir-rrr, to be cailed the son, who brought in Sloss and Gerstle, pribilofs-ra established ciaim in the ,\laska Commerciai Company, would Kohi, Niebaum, Boscowitz, and Was_ prove p.owerful enough to secure the sermann (Hirsch had withdrawn ear- Laying claim to the Pribilof seal fishery coveted lease and to dominate north- lier from the Hutchinson group)_ was one thing, but impiementing it ern commerce for decades to come. were ideally suited to operate a fur and was another. In the spring of 1g6g, mercantiie concern on the oorthern Hutchinson, Kohl management sent For the next few seasons, Hutchinson, frontier. Hutchinson was an adept Niebaum back to the Pribilofs for this Kohl continued to operate the mercan- politician and money raiser; Sloss and purpose, and Maksutov escorted tile arm of the business and, with the Gerstle had access to considerable Hutchinson on a tour of the newlv addition of a Russian partner, to lease capital and understood the mercantile acquired trading posts ar Kodiak, the seaiing operations on the Russian- business; Kohi knerv shipping; Bosco- Unalaska, and St. Michael. Hutchin- orvned Commander Islands.ls To all witz and Wassermann knew Furs: and joined son then Niebaum in the intents and purposes, however, Aiaska Niebaum was experienced in northern Pribilofs for the sealing season. De- Commercial replaced Hutchinson, navigation, was familiar with Aiaska spite the firm's ownership of the old Kohl and went on to become the insti-

Spring 1998 6l tution that made its presence felt throughout Alaska for the remainder of the 19th century.

The newiy formed Alaska Commercial Company lost no time launching its campaign for the Pribilof lease. Late in 1868, Louis Sloss, the firm,s first presi_ denr, moved to Washington, D.t., to oversee congressional lobbying ef- iorts.i6 Genial and astute, Sloss, who had been a generous supporter of Ulysses S. Grant's successful presiden_ <.:j:ir-n, tial campaign, was also well connected a-- r:; politlcally.

Foriunatelv, ACC interests tlovetaiied ,,vith those of the sovernment. Con_ cern about the overharvesting of fur seals .,vas beginning to receive nation- rvide attention. During the season just past. the three competing sealing ven- \J tures thar joined forces in the company had taken the alarmingly high number of 250,000 animals paul shipioad on St. alone. -{ of fi-rrs and a house on St. Paul Isiand (likelv not so grand as this one sketchei by in 1869, Congress, out of concern for Henry wood Elliort) helped make Gustave Niebaum a partrier in the A.laska Com- merciai Companv. (L'niversiw A-laska the tuture oi the seal fisherv, placed a oi \{useum of Fine .{.rts Collection, Fairbanks) moratorium on fi:rther pribilof kills pending a thorough investigation. A lease, in fact Hapvard Hutchinson ex- seal fishery. However, unfortunate law passed later that spring designated erted influence that mav have been wording in the law was to have re- the Pribiloli a special preserve and criticai. In December 1868, after re- sounding consequences tbr .{iaska limited access during the 1g69 season turning from the Pribilofu, Hutch- Commercial. Contrary to srandard to Hr-rtchinson, Kohl and Williams, inson moved permanently to Wash- practice, bv which contracts ive:3 Haven. Whv the parrott group lvas ex- ington, D.C. Frorn rhirt date until his arvarded to the highest bidcier, the aci cluded is irnknorvn. death in }'885, he served as iniormai Ii- stipulated only that the biclder be "the aison between Alaska Commercial and best qualified."rB Though r.rndeniablv ;.rn outcome oI his lhe government. Like N{iller and Sloss, lobbving, the legislation was a token he had links to rhe Crant White House bidding opened, snorher comparecl io the exclusive leirse \ [ fhen Sloss that admirably sLrired him ior this role. V Y San Francisco group, he:ded bv had hoped tor. Earlv in ig70, suspect_ Furthermore, his Prrbiio[ sealing ex- Louis Goidstone, offered to pav the ing thar success might be more tbrth_ nerience, which the others lacked, government more per skin than Naska ccming if a gentile rvere applving the added to his stature r,vrth Congress. Commercial. The ACC's management pressure, he resigned as company Hutchinson acriveiv participated in responded swiftly, submitting a bid president and returned to San Fran_ the lease negoriations, overseeing the that argued persuasively for its qualifi- cisco. General ]ohn F. Miller, an Naska drafting of the 1869 biils and lobbying cations. It emphasized its ownership of Commercial investor and War Civil tirelessly on behalf of the ACC. the Pribiloi sealing plant and its years veteran who also had close connec_ of experience in the fishery. Further- tions to the Grant administration, in i870, the company's efforts finaliy more, in a move it would later regret, succeeded him. Miller departed imme_ bore fruit. In luiy, President Grant the firm offered to match any higher, diateiv for \V.rshingron ro rry his ",{n hand signed into law Act to prevent the competing bid as an added induce- with Congress.rT Extermination of Ftrr-berrring Animals ment. Such an olfer was irregular but rn Alaska." In essence, it empowered not illegal. Nonetheless, compounded Aithough Sloss and &liller have been the secretary of the treasrlry to solicit by the earlier "best quaiified" ciause, creciited',vith procuring the pribiloi bids f,or the operation of the pribilof that offer to match was to cause the

62 Qacific,Northwesteuarterly ACC an ongoing public relations nightmare later.re ing the tenLlre oi the iease, at least four RgSSGIYEATCAN P(!T88. congressional investigations of ACC activities were launched, On August 3, 1g70, the Treasury De- none of which turned up anv partment awarded the Alaska Corn- substantial evi_ dence of wrongdoing. 1g75, mercial Company an exclusive 20_year In the U.S. lease pribilof Treasury secretary ordered an audit on the Islands fur seal of fishery- company records but found The company would pay an no proof annual of fraud or corruption. rent of $55,000 und a hxed In 1g76, in re_ FOLIRTB LESSON. sponse to further price of $2.6 2Vz per skin. The criticism, Congress rargets of In the territory of -A.laska there are plenty the- of ordered a full-scale investigation. sealing operations_young, unat_ bears rnd thcy are also scen in many part. ot aft., . Their skios are valuable. protracted tached male seals-were "ery Buo., testimony investigators to be killed do not run a(ter men unless meu come too near humanely.2o them- found no evidence o[ misdeeds, The annual quota was .o.,_ 100,000, cluding that the anripathy leading a substantial reduciion of the to the investigation was generated take from each of the three prior years. by competitors' resentment The lease also laid out the company,s of the com- pany obligations to the pribilof aleuti, *ho s high profirs.r5 were guaranteed an annual ration of dried FII'TE LESSON. Even so, iumors of wrongdoing f;sh, as w.ell as hcusing, reprcsenis the per_ fuel, __ thi: l^S national emblem oi the L nrtcd Srates. ,, sisted. In his 1887 education, and health care.ri It is somerimes eiled the Star annual report, the Spangled Banoer.,, you will oee it flyiog from the territorial mmts governor of Ajaska de- of ships enteriog Lhe ports and harbocs Alaskx. of nounced A.laska The lease secure, ft is the banner under which you wi.il be Commercial, touch_ the fledgling com_ prolected pany for the future: ing off yet anorher congressional settled into its role as the major in_ vestigation. purveyor of fur seal peltry to ih. Once again, the company world's Between 1868 and 1890, the ACC was rvas fully exonerated. In the end, fashion market. Under the how_ watchful ubiquitous in A-iaska, as this page from ever, bad publicity took its eye of U.S. Treasury agenrs, toii. When The School and Family Russo-American the locally based Alaska Commerci"l Pribilov lease came up for renewal .;p_ Primer Specially Publkhed Lrse in Alaska resentatives for in 1890, Congress a,"varded it instead carried out the sealing op- by the Alaska Commercial Company (lg7l) to the Northern eration from start to t"inish, und.".t"l_ may suggest. Commercial Com_ pan,v, a San Francisco competitor.:6 i"q everything from driving the animals inland to the The ACC's reign as undisputed sover- killing grounds paid for Alaska only three to shipping years betbre eign oi the North w.as at an end. our rhe speciallv bu._ the lease rels -rd. was signed.23 filled with salted skins to San Francisco and thence to Molly Lee is curator of ethnology and London, cen_ It was not long before the ter of the fur industry.tl company,s historv at the Universitv of Naska Mu- spectacular profits were public knowi- seum and assistant professor of an_ edge. Almost immediately, the,-rwo envious thropology at the University of Alaska J-)urinS decades the lease competitors, very likely J,_-/ was the Goldstone Fairbanks. This essay is based rn effecr, the A.laska Com- investors on her who had been passed over Ionger one, "Context mercial Company was immensely and Contact: The rvhen the lease was awarded, mounted I-{istory profitable. Investors realized and Activities of the A]aska un uu"r_ a. full-scale whispering campaign. age.dividend cf siighrly j0 Commercial Compan,v. 1867-1900,', in over percenr Charges ran the gamut of from unethicai Catalogue Raisonni of the Alaska the par value of the stock. Moreore., practice Com- in obtaining the lease to ex_ mercial Company stockholders were not the only Collection, by Neison benefi_ ceeding quotas, tax evasion,2a and During those mis_ H. H. Graburn, Mollv Lee, and fean_ :i"li.j. same years the treatment of the Aleuts. U.S. Loup Rousseiot (1996). Treasury netted a total of at least She thanks $10 million for rental and Graburn, John R. Bockstoce, and pelt fees. The whispered charges against Ironically, Alaska Richard A. Pierce for their invaiuabie this figure exceeded by $: Commercial million quickly led to official in- help. the price that Congress had quiry, duiy covered by the press. Dur_

I. The stock certificates and minute books rhroughout its stored in the Alaska Commercial 9wnlrlhiR life_span, see Regions Departntent, Frank H. "Who Elme: R.asrnuson Company-s Sloss, Owned the AIaska Librarv, tireproof sale survl\re, as do the University oi AIaska Fair:anis. ::: records Conrmercial Companv?,' p.^Je, Vol. 6g of one of the companv,s four ,tlaska bv no melns compl(te as fo dite ;: :::j:-: ( I 977), I 20- i0. Records from the districts. For a detailed account ofACC Kodiak rtauons represerrted. For rrr o...e:,.:t... 3, .i Statron on deposit at the Alaska and poiar collectio n, see We n dei l H. Csrriii. .=.-.;_..:,:

Spring i99S

-r:-::-.---*--yrrkar- _*.*__\l,_

Commercial Company Records, .r86g-19.1 j: AchLeyements of the lews and Juclaism in loss of $10,000 in furs and other Register ( Fairbanks, 1972). Correspondence Cali.fornia, bv A. W. Voorsanger (San ' merchandise. Apparently the ship was between the ACC and the Smirhsonian is Francisco, 1916); Frederic Corcion O'Neiii, carrving cargo beionging to several parties scattered among numerous record units Ernest R.ueben Lilienthal and His Family (possibiy Niebaum's partners in rhe deposited ar the Smirhsonian Irrstitution IPalo A]to, Caiii., 1949); and lVellington C. Constantine investment?). One ol the Archives, chietly RU 26, 28, and j0 (Offlce lVoife, ed., Men of Cnlifornia (San shipon,ners, a Victoria man, larer clairned oI the Secretarv, Incoming: lg63-79, lg79_ Francisco, l90l). to have found his ior of rhc supposedly Iost 82, 1882-90); l3 (Oifice of rhe Secretarv, Abrahanr 5. Hir.sch apparentlv invested in the furs in Leopoid Boscorvrrz's back vard. i Outgoing: i865-9ir: j2 rOlfice oi rhe initiai purchase of rhe Russian-American have been unable to substantiate !lr,irray's Assistant Secrerafy, incoming: jj lg50-77); Companv hoidings but, lor reasons accoun t. and 189 (Office of the Assistanr Secretar,v, unkno\vn, dropped our by ihe rime I3. Sloss and Pierce, 4; Unired Srates Cusrorns Outgoing: 1850-7; and 1860- 1908); 69997 Hutchinson, Kohi rvas founded. House, Records of Arrivals, lOffice of rhe Regisrrar, Accessions IShipping] ro 1976: 6. Elliotr memo; 44th Cong., lst Sess., 1g76, 1848-190 l, Bancroft Library. I834-1958);7002 (Spencer F. Baird papers: House Report 623, pp. l-143 (Serial 2674) 14. Sloss and Pierce,5-6. I 833- I 889 ). For an overview of the record (hereaiter cired House Report 623); Sloss 15. Hutchinson, Kohl then subcontracred rvith unirs and a briefdescription oftheir .rnJ Pierce, l. According ro Muriav, J8, Alaska Commerciai to conducr the sealing contents, see GtLide to the Smithsonian Hutchrnson rveni \vest as privare 5ecretarv operations in the Commanders. Creene,.{; Archives (lVashington, D.C., I 993). io Ceneral Rousseau, a detail I have been Sioss, "Of Shoes and ShiDs anci Sealing," in The inaccurate versions oi Hutchinson, unable to substantiate elservhere. Only on Nlonday: Papers Deiivertd bet'ore rhe Kohl's iormation originated with the pribilof 7. Apparently rhe saie of rhe sealing Chit-Chat Club, ed. Frank H- Sloss (San account ciictated bl Henrv !V. Elliott to interests rvas arranged through ir separate Francisco, I 978), 73-86. .lurlge larnes Wickersham almost jC vears nesor iario n.\\'h l i hc Piil;rlD i holdrn gs were I 6. According to a Sloss iarnily siorr, Lou is ;rfter rhe iact; see Henry W. Elliott, set aside, horr, Huichinson lvas able to Sioss, rvho enjoved piaving cards, jokerl Nlemorandunr of Sreps Taken b,v acquire them.,rnd rvhethe:- backroom before leaving tor Washingron ihar *,hen ht Hutchinson. Kohl and Co. to Cet neqotiarions rvere iavolved are unknorvn. got there any senator ,*ho rvante,l io plav Possession oi the Good Will and personal 8. Accordinq ro an unconfirmed iards rvith him wouid be ailorvec to *in; ,t. Properri. oi the Oici Russian-American sIor.,',\Vassermann had achieveci renorvn in Levison, 67. ComDany of A.laska (i9I6), Alaska San Francisco rrhen, during a citnvide rat I 7. Alaska Commercial Co., ' Alaska i: r Seal" Historical Librarv, funeau (hereaiter cited inresration. he broughr in a shipmenr of (rnanuscript, 1870), Bancroii Librarr.: as Elliotr memo). EIIiott's knowiedge oi the aile.r cats for resaie. Johnston, i5; Sloss, "Who Owneci ihe events \vas secondhand at best- His flarved 9. Erskine, 5- 11; Gustave Niebaum, ACC?" 12i. reconstruction lvas later perpetuated in "Statements on .{laska Fur Interests and i3. 16 Star. 180-82 (1870). Sanruel P. Iohnston, ed., A/n-s&n Commerrinl the Transfer oi Aiaska to the Unired Srates, 19. Mack. i.1-i3. Ct n t p,,,t,.. l.y6.g- I 9 j, (Sirn Frrncis.o, e+rrl, I VVirh a Biograohicai Sketch" imanusciipc, lC. For a vivid description o, rhe ilnnLrri antl Lois D. Kirchener. Flag over tlLe Nortit: i 8E5 ), Bancroli Librarv; Sloss, i 2 1. siaughter, see Libb.,' Beaman rvirh Seriv Tlre Storr irl tlle t\brtlrern Commercial "Sealing 10. Gusrave Niebaunr in Alaska' )oin. L;bby: The .\lnskar. Dinrte,.:,:,i !,,tt;,; Contpany (Seartle, 1954), both rvidelv i manuscript, t tiSl), 62-64, Bancrori cl Llbbv Beaman. j8z-9-1850 I Bc.sion. i98l) tiisscminrted.;nd :isc in Wilson Fiske "Statenrenrs Lrbrarr,: Niebaum, on Fur and Emma \'lclnrvre, 'St. Grc.r-qe s Erskine.'Captain Jane \iebaum of Alaska,,, Interesis," I i I :, -i, {l- 2, 5; Sioss and Pierce, lsland" ( manuscript, 1 E74), Ba;rc:c.ri Ero/trrers jou'rtal, \bi. (1962), 42 5- [. 5. Librarv. PeIer !{rrrray. in TheVagabond Flett: A I l. I{urchinson. Kohl aiso rvished to establish a 21. Islands of rhe Seals: The Pribiioi: Chrottrcle ol'the Narth Pacific Seating peltrv ooeratron trn rhe Commancier (Anchorage, l98l;; lienrv 3.,:ol:..i St /roorrcr Ira,re ( \iictoria, 8.C., l g gt o ftirs Isl.rnds.:he "t'. ), onlr 'rtrcr l,-rr,eel breeciing Nlo no gr ap h o n r h e S e a I - ! s i arrri-i .r r'.-r.tn-;r,:. .r.nother vrrsion oI the compan,v's lounding gror.rnC. Since the Contnranders had not U.S. Commission ui F:slr rnd i:\:1.:..s thlt.ruperrs to be inirccr,rrate in rnlnv been included in rhe Aiaska Purchase, rhe Speciai Buiietin i76 i\\iashinqron. D.C.. tletirils- Uniortunarely, his meager citarlons irrm ne:detl a iiu.ssialr partner in the I 882 ). make it diificult to rrack down his sources. venture. \laksurov rgreed to serve in this ll. Greene, 5; Ilack, l3-10- The reacier should compare lohnston lnd capacitv tnrl r.,rr.r L.robablv en route to San l-r. \1ack, l4-15. Kitchener's versions rvith Frank H. Sloss Francisco lor ne.lotiJtions. Later, the 21.,{ccording to the ethnoiogrsr \\'ilii.rnr L)aii. end I{icharrl A. Pierce, "The Hurchinson, irrirngemr.nt pror.ed unsatisthctory, and the ACC avoided rhe skin tax by movins Kohl Storv: .\ Fre,sh Looir." VOL .:3 PIIQ, Slois irJvel..i iori.irssia ro engage solrle.lne pelts taken lir other iocarrons io Linaiusk.r il97 lr, l-6, rvirich gives rhe mosr accr.trlre else. r'1ack.,16. because skins shipped irorn ther.- lo account l)i lhe events. I huve -Sln drarr,n on it il. At some carlir'r .l.tte Niebar.rm bought out Francisco were nor iounted ofllci.rilv; i)ell extensivelv here. the other Con:ttlnttne investors. Carl and to Spenser Baird. Nov. l+. 18;1. irox 1S, iiL For biographical iniormarion on Stoss anc.l Osei Asche, ,\rtrorr Bc,litz, anti John 7001, Smithsonian Insrirr:tion Ar;hives. Ccrstlr-, see Niark L. Gersrle,.,Menrories,, Hanson. Accortiirrq, io Nicbaurn, they lVhether Dall knerv the ficts itr r',ls nrereir (typescripr, l9{3) .rnri Lrruis C. Creene. rvlnted orrlv ru hLrnt rntl rlsh in Alas'ka.rnd repeating hearsav is unknorvn. "310 Sansonre Srreet" (typescript, { l9J2?l), had no inrerest in getting invoived in a 15. House Report 67J, p. I and passinr: r\lack, both in rlte Brncroti Lrbrary, B.rkeley; complex business operarion with the San 5l-56; Alfied P. Srvinetord, Annmrl Rtptsrt Aiice Gerstle "Family Levisoo, Francisco consort ium; see Niebaum, ior Alaska for 1887, 50th Cong.. I sr Sess.. Rcminiscerrtes' { lq^,7), Regionll "Sealing Orei in Alaska," 5j; and Biil of Sale, 1$E/, House Exec. Doc. l. pp. i19-i.) Hisrorv Ottlce. B.rncroti LiLraryl jrcob It. Brig Con-srrrrrrire. Lrox 44, Wiliram H. Dall (Serial 254 I ). Levison, rllenrone.; /or,Vty Fnnrily (San Papers, RU 7071. Smithsonian Insrirution 16. Swineiord, 719-22: Fred Bruenrnter. Francisco, l9li); Gerstie Mack, Lewis rrrr,l Archives. Vlurrlv states that, during "Flonre oi the Seals," Cnnndinn Harrtuth Ccr-sri6 15.w York, I95 j): Niebatrm's trip south, ihe Corrstrrnrrrre rvas Geographical lourtnl, Vbi.88 {April 197+), Martin A. lvlever, "The Jervs in Caiifornia,,, dan.raged off Vrn.ouvcr lsland and that 12.-21. in lVestern Jewry: ).tt Accortttt ol'the Hutchir:solt, Kirirllarcr tlled a ciaim ior the

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