C. Douglas Kroll

A short and straightforward account of the 1863 goodwill visit of the Russian Pacific Squadron to San Francisco. The Russians were concerned about another European war breaking out over their behavior in Poland, and the Russian admiralty thought that San Francisco was a better base for a raiding squadron than Vladivostok. In parallel, San Franciscans and Californians in general were afraid that Confederate raiders would sail into San Francisco Bay and shell the city. Squadron commander Rear Admiral Popov was a little coy about what he would do if the Confederate navy showed up; his orders from St. Petersburg were not to get involved but he privately told several local notables that he would intervene. In any event, no Confederate raider ever appeared (although reportedly Captain James Waddell of the Shenandoah did toy with the idea).


Popov’s crew did get a chance to help out, however, during a fire in the business district – every sailor that could be spared showed up with a leather bucket (they were put to work spelling the crews on the hand pumped engines instead of forming a bucket brigade). There is a persistent legend that six Russian sailors died fighting the fire; unfortunately “Friends in Peace and War” (the quotes are in the original title) doesn’t set it to rest. Contemporary accounts note that some sailors suffered injuries and author C. Douglas Kroll notes “While no documentary evidence has yet been located to establish it as fact, it has long been believed that six Russian sailors who were buried at Mare Island were sailors who died as a result of injuries sustained while fighting the October 23 fire”. Later, however, in a description of the 1994 goodwill visit by the Russian training vessel Admiral Nevelskoi it’s assumed that the sailors lost their lives in the fire. I personally think it’s unlikely; the mortality rate for sailors in 1863-64 was easily such that six sailors could have died from ordinary causes, and given the extensive coverage of the Russian visit in contemporary newspapers and the many balls and banquets held for the Russians I expect a fatality from fire-fighting, much less six, might have been noted.

As mentioned, perhaps a little long for something which is essentially a historical footnote; but written well enough to hold interest. Maybe three stars out of five?… (plus d'informations)