The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-25
A DOG TEAM.
An Augusta Jehu who Beats All the
Horses.
IKenrebee Journal

Talk of a ride behind spawned old Pega
sus, what would you think of an IS mile ride
behind four dogs attached to hand sled and
capable Of outrunning any horse? The facts
are these. Mr. +. ii. MCGEE, who Is en-
ployed at the Edwards Company's mill, Is an
old guide, who for years has camped aud
hunted all through the Dead river region.
Among other attractions about his camp
were lot of trained dogs, at one time he
had 10, which had been taught through love
for their master, and not by fear. to perform
all kinds Of tricks. These dogs, or some OF
them, had been taught to haul their master
In diminutive blackboard or sleigh, over the
country roads, Four of these he brought
with him to this city. Three OF them are OF
the mastiff breed, averaging about 90 pounds
each, the other bird dog weighing some 40
pounds. Sunday Mr.. MEG e took Mr..
Waldo Bridges Of BiddefOrd. who Is putting
In machinery at the mill, along side on the
little narrow hand sled. and with the four
dogs attached started for T0gus The aggre-
gate weight of the two men was about 275
Leaving here at 80 they reached Togus In
thirty minutes, including several stops.
Quite a crowd gathered at the bridge to see
them start. AT the VOID "go" the four
footed steeds sprung TO their collars and
the way they went spinning through the
bridge and up the hill on the east side
brought plaudits from the crowd. On the
way MI, Mc6te uIOpptu MS BlONcs anu nav
ing gone about quarter OF mile, stopped
his canine speeders and embarrassing the
bird do he simply remarked, calling the dog
by name, "l've dropped my glove, go back
and fetch it." Without further orders the
dog did SO. And the time Of the stop was
included In the thirty minutes from the city
TO TOgus. The strange conveyance brought
forth cheers from the veterans AZ the Home
| where stop was made. Leaving there for
Gardiner race was started with borse at
| tached to q sleigh and the horse was beaten.
Mr. Bridges says that at tunes ne never
| rode so fast down hill and up before Va DIS
| life. MeGee drove without relns or WHIP
| guiding Simply with the words, gee, paw,
| Sion %. When going their fastest the dogs
| would take long leaps, al together anu Win
| an, anv breaks At times II was a viii ex-
\ hiIaraiinp ride the sleet from the dogs feet
/ cnItiny t6e faces of the riders, who chung to
/ soch other aud the narrow rails VI the sled
| win grim tenacity. At Gardiner and also at
! HaIlowelI stops OF considerable length were
made. and yet the entire trip, halts and all,
| was made In four hours. During the ride
dogs played many of the pranks they had
| been taught.
| Alta word from their master they would,
| after being released from their harnesses,
| again take their places, slipping their heads
| into the collars Of their own accord, when
| they saw that their master was ready TO
start. Occasionally at starting Mr.. McGee
/ would call upon one Of the dogs by name and
tell him to start the load. This the dog
| would do. while his comrades would Toll out
| their tongues and never make move to assist
their harness mate. MIR. Bridges says he be-
lleves Oh, can make this SAME journey IN
two hours and q half. In few days tns
gentlemen contemplate Trip 70 winthrop