The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-12
ESKIMO LEADERS.
Peculiar Traits Of the Foremost
Dogs in the Teams.
An Animal That Is Very Seclusivo and
Wears Air of Vast Superiority
Among His Canine Com
paEiOuS.

The leader of an Esquimau-dos
team, says Mr.. Alfred Schanz, who ha.
recently returned from an exploring
expedition in Alaska, is dog Of much
consequence, and acutely aware of hi'
abilities and the privileges which
| should accompany them. He is the
| superior of his comrades, and he
| knows it. He eXacts from them sub
mission and Difference, and feels thai
| even his master owes him certain re-
spect.
This claim, according to the Youths
Companion, the master usually &C
knowledges to the extent that while
the other dogs are whipped for lazi
ness or misconduct, their leader, even
when in fault. is spared the disgrace OF
| physical punishment.
| 1t has become recognized tradition
among drivers that leaders shall not
be whipped, but they have no difficulty
in finding suitable penalties for a de-
linquent without doing SO. The most
| effective is to reduce the offender tenn
| porariiy to the ranks, and leading
dog taken from his honora bic position
is as miserable and abiect an animal as
can be imagined, nor will he ever be-
come contented until restored to his
leadership.
Among his mates the leader wears a
surly and exclusive air. He goes to
sleep curlcd up apart by himself, and
growls If approached. No inferior dog
Gares dispute with him any choice bit
OF food or sheltered nook to which he
may lay claim. His master often feeds
him separately, and encourages his
vanity for the purpose OF inducing him
to make greater efforts to maintain his
distinctive excellence. He is thought
to work harder and develop greater in
telligence when thus favored.
But good Eskimo leader is really
wonder, and fully earns his little in
dulgences. lie is guided in his work
neither by line nor whip, but by the
voice and motions of the hands. He
understands with marvellous clcarness
and quickness what is required of him,
and executes his orders with super
canine intelligence.
In suddenly hating rapidly moving
team, for instance, he knows perfectly
we'll that if he stopped in his tracks at
the word of command he would be run
over by the other dogs and the sledge,
while if he Slowed abruptly to one side
there would be snarl. He therefore
makes curve to right or left, and
halts with his face to the rear.
The other dogs swing around after
him in turn, and the sledge is stopped
swiftly and safely. but heading in the
opposite direction to that in which it
had been moving, while the clever
leader turns his bright eyes upon his
master, and waits alertly for the next
order to be given.
The endurance and fidelity of the
best Eskimo dogs are as great as
their intelligence. One of Mr.. Shanz's
leaders, crippled by short rations and
overwork, was reluctantly abandoned
by the party after refusing to submit
to the indigaity of being carried upon
the sled which he felt it his place to
draw.
On leaving him behind they flung
him, as chance for his life, the last
piece of fish among them, which they
could i'll spare themselves. Three days
later, while they were in camp at an
Eskimo village, this gallant dog,
staggering and with bleed
ing feet, rejoined his company, having
followed its trail in this pitiab bic condi-
ton for eighty-five miles. of which for
ty-tive consisted in crossing the frozen
surface of a lake in a poorga-a kind Of
winter tempest of wind, sleet and snow
more violent and dangerous than a