Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-07-14
Dog Trains.

IL n well known mat the Lake Nup'i"'
mineral region is situated In a high northern
latitude, and i, Inaccessible in winter Tor
steamboats,, or oScrlnd hy teams. Tho in
hlbi,anis keep mp an occasional eommunicl.
ron with the world by means of dog trains,
which convey the mails and light articles Of
traffic. A correspondent Of the Clravclaud
Herald, writing from Eagle river, gives an
interesting account Of this mode NJ travelling.
After stating and describing the iile-
reut routes to the settlement, none Of,
which present, beaten or well.defned track,
he coc, on to say. Such are the frozen spa.
ccs over which score Of indian hllf.brceds
and their dogs carry and draw the letters and
papers destined for orr Amusement, and In.
s,rueiion. 4 man carries from 80 To - lbs.
and walks 20 TO 60 miles. His two dogs Co
before him, with sledse or sled, with nat
board bottom, and draw $50 to 900 bounds.
This load however, is not all letters ard
packages. An men must eat and an indian
h particular. ne must carry h-' s7"t. -'-''
plenty Of blankets, aud something Cor his dogs
10 cl, as vel as himself What can be more
dc.olalo than such a journey Vet many
persors from here make the trip every winter
on business.
Sometimes they have they have ,hc trail Of
a previous party. bot the snow which falls
almos, every day, soon oblteraies their foot.
steps. Perhaps there is line Of barcd trees
which they follow, but more ohcn they are
guided through the forest by the make Of
the ground" or by the sun, should II occa'
sionally peep out ,hroug. the misi' and snow
ola winter SKY.
Thus they 60 from the fret dawn Of DAY to
tbs twilight Of evening over lakes and
mountains, through swamPs and thekcis that
in summer would be impossible, but now
smooihcd up level with snow.
This dismal procession Of indians, white
men and dogs, 90 in single file, few feet
apart. and for hours they travel on ai the
height Of their speed, without word or laugh.
IL too much Of task to clear away the
snow. start fire, heat the waier, ihaw the
bread and prepare forest meal, 10 stop Tor 1t
a, noon. Bu, a, evening, when the shades
Of hyPerbOrean night begin 10 gather among
the branches OF the trees, and the northern
winds howl more earnestly, the company
look about for shelter place in some ravine
where ihOre is water aud some dry wood for
fire, and there deposit their load Of blan-
keis and provisions. They scrapc away ne
snow with their snow.shoes, down to the
ground, thus making wall OF fros, around
them three or four fee, high.
Some cut wood for the night, others break
or the boughs Of the pine, balsam or eedar'
aud Law them down for bed. Another pro-
cures some birch baIk ,ha, is dry aud some
dry sticks, and soon, striking FIRE by his flint
aud steel, or his matches has a cheerful
fame with its grateful heat enliyening the
place. 1t is also necessary 10 build a lodge
or house Of boughs overhead 10 kee? of the
falling snow, under which they all gather and
cook their supper in grea, g!ee. II camp
of indians has been passed during the day.
there will be some fresh venlson ihl, viii
occupy the bcs, position around The fire, su''
pended on the sharp points OF Timber Sticks
set in the ground and leaning towards the
heat. There may be, however, only some
sal, pork, or ham and flour, made edible by
means Of shor.handlcd fryinS'Pan aud some
water.
II would as,onish city people 10 sec the
quantity Of such materials that disappears on
such an OCCASION. The meal, or rather the
feast. is really Intended for the next twenty
four hours. When il is finished the crowd
begin TO unrack their feet ahd their blankets.
The various articles that the leei are san
dalled in for winter are 80 numerous and so
peculiar, ,ha, I mus, defer the description
until another time.
The blankets being we'll spread, the FIRE
made for the night, the dogs fed and the
dishes washed, the crowd, animal and mortal,
indian and white, doubles itself together in
most friendly coniiguiiy, and goes TO sleep.
4 Long before daylieh, the inmates of this
.now.bOund lodging arc In motion. The
SOUNDS ,ha, issue from /, are English, French