The evening times., 1898-10-08
New York Cotton Market.
DOGS FOR HORSES.
A Man Drives Them From Minnesota
TO California.
(From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.) }


Mr.. and Mrs. BIandy are a Minnesota
couple who have just made q most re-
markable journey. Leaving their home
at Brainerd, Mimi, one year ago, with
their baby boy. then four years old, they
have Travelled by dog team clear 10 Cali
fornia. and are now in camp at Sweet
briar in that far-on State
The Blandys wanted 10 make trip to
the Pacific coast. They wanted To so
leisurely, so as to see the country. Econ
omy was an object, as was also an op-
pOrtunity TO earn something en- route
So Mr.. Blandy and his wife decided 10
travel by dog team.
Dogs are used in the arctic regions"
argued Mr.. Blandy, why not in the
temperate ZOne?"
No one advanced conclusive reasons
against his novel project. and Mr.. Blan-
dy proceeded to tit up his conveyance.
This consists of a small spring wagon
with one seat and covered with canvas
the whole outfit weighing 2l0 pounds with
the baggage of the travellers. Mrs. Blar-
dy and her baby occupy the seat. while
Mr. Blandy sits In front on a roll of
blankets and a tent, from which perch
he drives his dogs. These are six in
number huge CrosS-bred ST. Bernard and
Newfoundlands, powerful of muscle, and
kind OF disposition. In the rear of the
wagon is a rack of shelves containing
dishes and provisions, while pots, kettles
and an oil stove are hung from hooks
above the rack. The back end of the
wagon is made to let down and, support
ed by stick, serves as a dining table.
When seen by Il representative of the
San Francisco Call in the camp at Sweet
briar, Mr.. Blandy had a tin can and a
paint brush in hand and was going the
rounds among his dogs. painting their
feet with tannate of glycerine to pre-
vent sensitiveness. Il learned this az
college" Mr.. Blandy will tell you, when
l engaged in athletic sports and nv feet
became sensitive When travelling over
rough roads he makes applications of
this preparation every evening to insure
his animals against suffering. and the
faithful creatures seem to like the opera
ton, for they look at their master with
gratitude and affection.
Those dogs are far ahead of any
horses, Mrs. Biandy said. emphaticaIIv.
when some one suggested that Shet and
ponies would be preferable. WHY, dogs
will carry you through the snow To a
safe, warm place and horses would give
out on you. And didn't We tIave! 10
miles on the railroad? Horses couldn't
walk ties and carry YOU over long tres
ties mile and three-quarters in length
as our dogs did L wouldn't take fftv
horses for one of our dogs. Would /.
bl ute. ana Silt pdlIeu q great shaggy
yellow dog on the head.
When the Blandys set out from Brain
erd, Mimi. with their queer rig and S25
III cash to attempt this unusual under
taking many people declared ii was i'm
possible. No wagers We're made, no time
limits were given. Mr.. and Mrs. Blandy
simply started out to DO what they were
confident they could ACCOMPLISHMENTS
to be drawn across the continent by dogs
for the purpose of seeing the country,
earning their living as they progressed
And so they pushed along. following the
Northern Pacific Railroad, and not being
pressed for time, they travelled at u speed
that was convenient to the character of
the country they crossed-never travelling
less than ten miles day. reaching a
daily maximum of ffty-two miles tat
one time covering eighty-siX miles in two
days., and stopping in towns to sell pic
lures or pick up few dollars by paint
ing advertisements on the canvas of
their wagon.
The Blandys always leave towns amid
a roar of cheers and laughter When they
are about to start Mr.. Blandy walks
among his dogs. and. STOPPING down, ad-
justs all their feet so as TO prevent the
ENHANCEMENT of limbs in harness, quickly
steps into the low wagon, seats himself
on the bedding and tent and. with lines
in hand he calls to the dogs. and they
are off.
There is nothing slow about these dogs