The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-20
BEHIND TEAM OF DOGS
d. C. BLANDY, OF BRAINERD, MINI,
CROSSES THE CONTINENT

CROSSES THE CONTINENT
left Minnesota in II Prairie Schooner
August % OF Last Year, Travelling
Over LOO Miles In the Mean
time-Eisht Dogs Drew Their
From the Tacoma Leader.
The BIandys have completed their
long transcontinental journey behind
team of eight dogs. From Brainerd,
Mimi, they have come to Tacoma
much in the same manner that the
earlier pioneers came to this district
But there was one important differ
ence. The earlier settlers came behind
oxen or horse teams, while the Blandys
were carried across LOO miles of coun-
try by a team of dogs, trained to the
work by D. c. Blandy.
They have suffered hardshiDs. been
lest in strange country. coasted down
the mountain side behind their team,
slept in the open air or in convenient
farm houses, and have experienced all
the difference in the climates of the
frigid Dakotas and the ever-balmy
weather Of Puget sound And it was
that last feature and not the Klondike
excitement, Mr.. BIandy says, that
drew him to the coast.
The progress Of the queer outfit from
its Minnesota home has been watched
with interest from the day the little
party bravely set forth, f1gurativeIy
burning their bridges behind them
There was no retreat for the family.
They had severed all ties that bound
them to the little town in Minnesota
and were entirely dependent upon
their own resources to make a new
place for themselves in the newer
West, where the fierce billiards. were
unknown and fruit trees bore Iuxuri-
ously.
''Klcndike or Bust was the sugges-
tive sentiment around which has been
woven a fabric of glory for a little
party, but Mr.. BIandly blows it aside
with breath. It was not the KIon-
dixie or the riches of any part of Alas
q that decided them to come to Ia
coma. They wanted to find brighter
climate and a richer country, where the
y
paid more handsome returns That
was the pursuit followed by Mr. BIandv
IN the East, and he intends to do the
same here unless he receives a good
oTfer from some one to go to Alaska.
Like most other men, he is willing to
go TO the klondike or any other gold
bearing region if some one will make It
worth while for him TO leave Tacoma
BIandy has already received an offer
TO operate dog train between the
passes and Dawson, but he does not
look with favor on the scheme. He
says that he viii probably sell his team
and sNSi his time in Tacoma training
dogs for Alaska service.
But whether it was Alaska or the
state of Washington that offered the
charms strong enough to turn their at
tentIon westward, the achievement of
the family is an uncommon one, and 1t
has only been wrought after sacrifices
that would have discouraged a less de-
tsrmined party.
The dogs which drew the prairie schooner
o. the BIandys TO Tacoma were trained by
NJ. Blandy. He was a poultry and egg
dealer of Brainerd for several years owning
a chicken ranch outside the city. A dog
fancier always, he bethought himself of the
utility OF that animal as means to be uti-
lied in his daily deliveries. He concluded
to train a team TO draw his Wa gOn and began
work year ago. short time later Brain
erd enjoyed the distinction Of being one of
the very few towns in this country in which
dogs took the place Of horses as draft ami
mas The orders received by Mr.. Blandy
were delivered by team of dogs They
were trained TO obey spoken signals and al
ways to drop to the ground as as the
wagon came TO standstiu. This last was
TO prevent their becoming too familiar with
chance acquaintanees on the streets
The leaders Of the present team are dogs
not more than a year old, and when the
trip was begun had not attained their full
growth. The harness that was first used
proved to be too small before the journey
enesd- Inc training was compl ted on the
road All the dogs IN the team save one
are cross between st. Demands and New
foundlands. The one exception Is a register
ers- Mr.. Blandy believes that the breed is
the one which is capable of the best work and
the geratest Intelligence.
The family left Brainerd Mimi on Au-
gnst % OF last year, and lost 90 days OF the
Intervening time in delays at various points
IAey started IN wagon somewhat smaller
tnah the PRAIRIE schoonerS which brought
the early settlers to this part of the country
but built on the same plan. 1t was so ar
ranged that a tent could be stretched over
al and the party could camp in the wagon
under shelter. Inside the wagon were pro
visions for week or more, complete camp
ing outfit, croSscut saw. axe and a number
OF other items believed to be necessary on
the trip Mrs. Josephine Blandy D. C
father made up the whole party. They travel
ed inside the wagon, making the dogs pull
them we'll as their freight.
The early part Of the Journey was without
any particular adventure. save for the usual
and expected number OF small breaks that
are nearly certain TO occur in similar cases
Time was lost in their repair, but beyond
that the breaks were not serious
It was not until the party reached North
Dakota that anything serious occurred, and
here Mr.. Blandy and his party nearly lost
their lives. A fortunate trade Of a dog pur-
chased for so cents fer a COW puncher's bron-
eho was the innocent cause of saving the out
fit, and probably the lives of its owners
Just outside Medora they found a small group
of cattle, which apparently paid no attention
20 the party as they passed but as the herd
caught sight Of the two dogs following in
the rear it Regan to grow suspicious and TO
follow the tran. Other small herds sa wv the
movement and followed Matters soon be-
came serious. Cattle penned in the travellers
on all sides, and Mr.. BIandy sought to drive
them away. He advanced toward them with
whips, but they paid no attention to him
Then he retreated and mounted his pony
tied to the rear OF the wagon. The pony
realized by instinct what was required of him
and he responded Immediately. With cow
herder's whip Mr.. Blandy beat the cattle
back and then turned them to flight man
on foot has no terrors for them but mount
ed on q trained bronco he was treated with
distant respect by the herds.
Over in Montana the party narrowly es-
capped being lost. 1t was fast growing dark
when they came 70 crossroad between
GIendive and Miles City. Without paying
particular attention TO the landmarks Mr.
Blaudy turned his team into road seldom
used and leading away from the place he
sought to find. It was some time before he
discovered his mistake and hours before he