Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-04-27

An Adventure with Esquimaux
Dogs.
The following extract from Haynes, IS
"Arctic Boat Journey" will be read with
interest at the present time, when the wri-
ter's proposed Polar Expedition is one Of the
topics of the day; He
1.-The dogs were fastened by their long
traces, each team being tied to separate
stake They were bowling piteously. Hav-
ing been exposed to all the fury Of the storm
with no ability to run about they had grown
cold; and, as their masters told us, having
had nothing to eat during thirty.sir hours,
they must have been savagely hungry. One
of them had already eaten his trace; but we
came out, fortunately, at the proper moment
to prevent an attack upon the sledges.
s.Leaying the hunters to look after their
teams returned to the hut. The binding
snow which battered my face made me in
seaside to everything except the idea of get
ting out of it; and thinking Of no danger, [
was in the act Of STOPPING to enter the door
way, when sudden noise behind me caus-
ed me to look around, and there close at my
heels, was the whole pack Of thirteen hun
cry dogs, snarling, swapping, and showing
their sharp teeth, like drove of ra,enous
wolves. 1t was fortunate that had not got
down upon my knees, or they would have
been upon my back. In fact, so impetuous
was their attack, that one of them had al
ready sprung when faced round. caught
him on my arm and kicked him down the
hill. The others were for the moment in
Inundated by the suddeuness Of my move
meut, and at seeing the summary manner in
which their leader had been dealt with; and
they were in the act of sneaking away when
they perceived that was powerless to do
them any harm, having nothing in my hand.
Again they assumed the offensive; they were
all around me; an instant more and should
be torn to pieces 1 had faced death sevc-
raj shapes before, but never had / felt as
then; my blood fairly curdled in my veins.
Death down the red Threats Of a pack Of VOL
fish dogs had something about it peculiar tn-
pleasant. Conscious of my weakness, they
were preparing for spring; 1 had not time
even to halloo for help-to run would be the
readiest means of bringing the wretches
upon me. My eye swept round the group
and caught something lying half buried in
the snow, about ten feet distant. Quick as
a flash I sprang, as never sprung before
or since, over the back of a huge fellow who
stood before; and the next instant I was
whirling about me the lash Of long whip,
cutting to right and left The dogs retreat
ed before my blows and the fury of my on
set, and then sullenly skulked behind the
rocks. The whip had clearly saved my life;
there was nothing else within my reach and
it bad been dropped there quite accidental
ly by kalutunah as he went down to the
sledges.
my principal object in mentioning this
little incident is to show the savage propen-
sity of these dogs, which are to the Esqui-
max more than the horse to us or the cam
Ell to the Arab Savage they are, however,
only when hungry. Tbe night without food
had developed all their latent wolGsh quail
ties. Reclaimed wolves they doubtless are,
and, as shown by the boldness Of their at
tack when my back was turned and when [
had nothing in my hand, and their timidity
when I had possession Of slender whip,
they have all of VOLTS cowardice. Their
masters keep them in subsection only by in
timidation; they will do nothing for man
they do not fear; and even the hunter who
has been accustomed to them for years, and
has fed them and driven them, has to watch
them closely when they are hungry. His
whip is then his constant companion. They
are capable of no attachment to their mas
ter, be he ever SO kind. except in rare ca
ses: and they will follow the man who last
fed them A little child OF disabled per-
son is never safe among them in times Of
scarcity"