Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-01
MANITOBAN's MOTLEY LOAD.
Lnplanders and Firms, Reindeer,
sleds, Harness and Moss-Rein-
deer to Rest a Day.

New York, Feb. 2S.-The arrival of the
Allen line steamer Manitoban at the Penn
sylvania railroad stock yards pier in Jer-
sey City caused an unusual amount of eX-
citement there to-day. The stock yards at
all times are full of hustle and endless
hustling, but to-day there was unmstaka-
bly, something out of the usual run OF
things occurring there. Never before has
any vessel brought to this port more in
teresting cargo of living freight than that
which the liner Manitoban landed to-day.
On board the big vessel, which left Alten.
Norway. February II, were ia Laplanders
and Firms, men, women and children to-
gether with 537 reindeer. 420 sleds, over 800
sets of harness and $500 bags of moss with
which the deer We're fed.
This molly group constitutes the govern
ment relief expedition to Klondike suf-
voyage of twenty-three days.
Al the Laplanders and many of the
flnnS We're dressed in the clumsy fur
tic regions. Everyone of them WED with
the others in wearing bright colored rib
bons. handkerchief. neck cloths and belts
green predominated. while purple blue, or
ange and other fiashy colors were every
where in evidence.
rest of day before starting them on
their long journey west. They will be un-
der the care Of the Laplanders and will be
permitted to roam about the stock yards.
Among the most interesting of the men
was Lap named Balto who accompanied
Nansen across Greenland. Through the in
terpreter. BALTIC showed a medal which was
presented to him by King Oscar III. for his
services on that occasion. Each one of the
Of the men can handle the little gray
ored animal, the reindeer, on whom they
depend SO much. These animals were To-
Gated in wooden stalls which were erected
aft the main deck and between decks There
were six or eight in each stall, and every
one of them had been dehorned that they
attrI,f = ~ tt,ttt AL, tv,t ,o;t
Prior to their being turned into the open
yards for days freeze, each animal had
to have halter made of stout thongs of
skin and put on Its head. The reindeer re-
sented this. and when a herder or driver
went into stall or pen to perform his task.
he generally had tough time Of it. He
generally tackled the biggest fellow first,
and rough-and-tumbling wrestling match
ensued. The remainder were let out into
the he. open yards: where they y playfuily
herders.
The two trains by which the whole ex-
petition will be brought west Were being
teen stock and five box cars for supplies.
two tourist cars. a cooking car and three
tomorrow evening and the comfort of the
passengers is being arranged for in the
meantime by F; "; Barksdale. of the
ColoneIs kimball and Weston, with Cap
tain Little. met the party on board the
steamer and had a long talk with DR..
JackSOn. Lieutenant DeVOTe DdQ not ar
rived from Washington, but he will accom-
pany the entire outfit to Seattle. A. J..
Rafferty,, A. w. Gumaer and l.. s. Kelly
well known in the West as yellowstone
Kelly, will have charge of the Laplanders.
When they reach Skaguay the party will
be split up into three divisions. Rafferty,
who knows that locality thoroughly, will
take one party to Dawson City, Kelly an
other to Cooks inlet and Gumaer the third
up the Copper river. They expect to reach
their destination in about six weeks from
now.