Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-14
Dog Trains.

1t is well known that the Lake Superior min
eral region is situated in high northern lati-
tudes, and is inaccessible in winter for steam
boats, or overland by teams. The inhabitants
keep up an occasional communication with the
world by means of dog trains, which convey the
mails and light artic es of traffic. A correspon-
dent of the Cleveland Herald, writing from
Eagle river gives an interesting account of
this mode of travelling. After stating the diff
ferent routes to the settlements, none of which
present a beaten, or even well-defned track,
he goes on to say Such are the frozen spaces
over which score Of Indian halfbreeds and
their dogs carry and draw the letters and papers
destined for our amusement and our intorma-
ton. "A man carries from, so to IS pounds,
and walks 80 to so miles. His two dogs go
before him, with sedge or shed with fiat
board bottom, and draw $50 to 800 pounds.
This load, however, is not all letters and
packages. All men must eat, and an Indian
in particular. He must carry half axe or
Ratchet, plenty Of blankets, and something
for his dogs to eat, as well as himself. What
can be more desolate than such a journey ?
Yet many persons from here make the trip
every winter on business in company with the
mail.
Sometimes they have the trail of a previous
party, but the snow which falls almost every
day soon obliterates their. footsteps. Perhaps
there is line Of blazed trees which they follow,
but more often they are guided through the
forests by the make Of the ground, or by the
sun, if it should occasionally peep out through
the mists and snow Of wintry sky
Thus they 60, from the first dawn of day to
the twilight of evening, over lakes and noun
tains, through swamps and thickets, that in
summer would be impossible, but now smoothed
up level with snow.
The universal evergreen trees are bending to
the ground with load ofsnow on their branches
that frequently obstruct the way.
This dismal procession of Indians, white
men, and dogs, go in single file, few feet
apart; and forhours they travel on, at the height
of their speed, without a word or laugh.
1t is too much of task to clear away the
snow, start fire, heat the water, thaw the
bread, and prepare forest meal, to stop for it
at noon. But at evening, when the shades OF
hyperborean night begin to 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 there
| is water, and some dry wood for fire, and
there deposite their load of blankets and pro-
visions. They scrape away the snow with their
snow-shoes, down to the ground, thus making
WdHlIOSt dTOuHu IIlelu IuiSC VI ioul iCS1
Some cut wood for the night, others break
off the boughs Of the pine, balsam, or cedar,
and lay them down for bed. Another pro-
cures some birch bark that is dry, and some
dry sticks, and some striking fire by His flint
and steel, or his matches, has cheerful fame
with its graceful heat enlivening the place. 1t
is also necessary to build a lodge or house Of
boughs overhead to keep off the falling snow
under which they all gather and cook their
supper with great glee. If camp of Indians
has been passed during the day, there will be
seen some fresh venison, that will occupy the
best position around the fire, suspended upon
the sharp points of timber sticks, set in the
ground and leaning towards the heat. There
may be, however, only some salt pork, or ham
and -four, made edible by means of short
handled frying-pan and some water.
1t would astonish city people to see the guam.
tity of such materials that disappears on such
an occasion. The meal, or rather the feast, is
really intended for the whole of the next
twenty-four hours. When it is finished, the
party begin to unpack their feet and their
blankets.
The various articles that the feet are san
dalled in for winter are so numerous and so
peculiar, that | must defer the description
until another time
The blankets being well 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 contiguity, and goes to sleep. Long
before ay.light the inmates of this snow-bound
lodgings are in motion. The sounds that is
sue from it are English, French, and Indian,
and all grades of language composed of a
mixture of them all. The moccasins are taken
down from their drying-places, the hasty morn
ing repast, which was cooked the nigh, before,
is swallowed, the packs made up, the dogs har-
messed, and all made ready for start at the
first light Of day. What piteous howlings
these dogs set up as they are attached to the
train! The human part Of the calvacade sling
their packs, and all betake themselves again
to the dreary labors of the day.
1t is thus that this communication will reach
you, but before many years We hope to have
an open road from the settlements, and
beaten path over which there would be the
best of sleighing between four and five months