Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-01-03
kUTOINC IN FAR NORTH
Travellers Advice on the New
York TO Paris Contest.
COMFORT FOR THE DRIVERS
Reindeer Clothing Suggested by Sam.
uel D. Williams as Very Warm, Light
and PraeticaI-Hospita!ity of the
Natives Not Exceiled Anywhere.


Natives Not Exceiled Anywhere.
IL have been reading the proposed
automobile race from New York to
Paris overland under the auspices OF
the New York Times and Paris Matin
with more than an ordinary amount of
interest, for | have been in that arctic
country quite a good deal and know
something of the hardships that will
have to be encountered" said Samuel
ID. Williams OF Portland. Ore, 10 II rep
resentative of the New York Times at
the Waldorf Astoria the other day.
"Such a trip appears to me to he per
fectly feasible. although it will entail
many hardShlps and necessarily much
SUFFERING unless great care is taken by
those sent on the expedition. Much
has been said about the construction of
the machines. the gasoline and lubri
ca ing oils that will not freeze and
such other things of Il mechanical ma
ture, and the comfort of the drivers
themselves appears to have been en-
tirely overlooked This is Il question
that should be taken up before the
machines are started on their long
journey. and in order that the drivers
may have the benefit of the experience
of others who have spent many months
in the arctic regions few suggestions
might prove beneficial
In the first place, It has been found
that in order to get the best out of the
situation and lie as comfortable as pos
sible under the conditions 1t Is best to
conform as far as possible with the
customs of those who have already
solved the problem of living In the arc
tic regions. In this connection 1t seems
that the value of reindeer skin cloth
ing has not always been known or as
fully appreciated as 1t should be in
arctic explorations.
"'The Eskimo Of arctic Alaska and
northeast Siberia use hardly anything
else, and nothing is so warm and light
as their dress. There are slight local
differences in the makeup Of their
dress, but in general the mems winter
clothing consists of a single pair of
close fitting trousers, with the hail
next to the skin for cold and the re-
verse for ordinary weather; pair OF
deerskin socks, with the hair next tC
the feet; pair of boots with the hail
| out, with heavy sealskin soles for hard
wear or deerskin soles for light wear
| two artigges. or shirts, one with the
hair next to the body and the Other
| with the hair out and both with close
| fitting hoods fringed with wolfskin tt
break the wind from the face and
nose, and pair of mittens
'These are all made of the summer
skins of the reindeer. and the whole
| outfit will not weigh more than ten
or twelve pounds Over the skin shir,
Is worn a snow shirt made of drilling
and sometimes pair of drill trousers
is worn over the skin trousers to keeI
the snow from driving into the hair
"a belt is worn around the waist out
side the shirt to keep the cold air out
or rather, to keep the warm air in
This is loosened when the person gets
too warm. With this outfit we'll sewet
and everything tight one can defy al
most any degree Of cold.
"The weight of ones clothing Is yer!
telling In the days and weeks of trav
cling through the snow and over tn,
rough, ice. and the lightness OF th'
deerskin is one Of its most importan
features The skins are beautiful!
tanned and are soft and pliable. Tit
heavy winter skins are seldom use,
for clothes, but make excellent sleep
ing gear, either as mats or blankets o
made VI. as Sleeping bags. Here ais,