The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-06-26
TALES OF
A RACE FOR LIFE.


up to the head of the Kuskokwim
River, two miners were coming down
from the icy streams that wash the
yellow metal from these undefiled de-
posits of Alaska's frozen banks. They
had had an unsuccessful prospecting
tour. They had found good indica-
tions, but the money of the trip was
all gone and no provisions were to
be had. Then toward the lower
reaches of the river they had turned
their faces, where food could be Sc
cured. In the mountains they could
stay no longer The deadlock on trav-
ell had just been removed by the
bursting of the rivers from their
icy .fetters, and to drop down the
river was a pleasant matter, COM
pared to the many laborious days
spent in ascending, when nothing but
the hope of great success could spur
man to the dangers and perils of
such ventures.
Partly satisfied with the trip, they
were ready now to return. One day
was spent in making the land trip
to the main river, which, by the aid
of the dogs, could be done by each
packing a load. The dogs we're ac-
customed to this; but being under
fed at this time CT the year, they fe.t
the weight more than if food had
been plentiful. Prosrectors may
quarrel and separate, but one true
friend never leaves them, and that
is the dog. Whether food be plenti-
full or scarce, he is ever at his mas
ter's side to do his part, carry his
loads, or draw the sledges; and if
he cannot go in the boat, If it is
summer, he runs on the bank and
swims the icy streams if he can but
be with his master at camp.
Disappointed in the hope of gold,
and without money or provision, the
two partners and the dogs had
camped on the bank of the river,
and were now breaking camp in the
morning. preparatory to leaving for
the coast. BY an unexpected mishap,
one man accidentally shot the other
through the leg. The bullet shattered
the bones into many pieces. A few
other prospectors encamped near by
came to the aid of the distressed pair.
The nearest doctor was about 500
miles distant, with an ice-bound
coast between. Men of the wilder
ness do things when they need to be
done, and do not lose much time in
preparation. The limb was secured
as best they knew how, and the trip
begun with much haste. The oars
fell heavily, as the boat moved from
shore. Some things must be left
and among them the dogs, which
as was their custom, ran along the
bank, bowling, as the boat disap.
peared from their sight. No food
was left in camp and none could be
had in the forest. and their only
friends were leaving them in the
boat. The sick man required toe
much room to take the dogs in the
shiff;, though to leave them was dis
tressing, even to the suffering mas
ter. Presently the decision was
reached and the boat swung to
shore. The dogs were mercifully
shot
On the second day of the race for
life, to the joy of both, a steamer was
sighted. She was tied to the bank
and taking on wood for the trip down
stream. The friendly captain took
them on board. A few days more
and the steamer would be at the
upper mission station where word
could be had of the doctor. Finally
the cheering news came to the suf-
ferer: The mission is in sight" and
though the doctor was absent the
kindest skill and care of the mis-.
sionaries were expended for the in.
jured man. But he must go to the
! hospital, and so, from one boat to
another, the poor sufferer Travelled
until the coast was reached.
schooner in winter quarters was soon
put in readiness, and though two
weeks had elapsed since the accident
the race for life still urged on ener.
getically.
Then followed a dreary experience
of storms and fog and the crossing
of flats and rolling in the trough o
the sea, with misery and discomfort
too lengthy to relate. Not until {
week after taking the schooner die
they dare to round the cape, and theI
the heavy fogs bespoke ice near by
| The wind decided them to take theil
course for the Nushagak, but it dice
out before they rounded Cape Con
stantine, only to come up in south
easter, with q tide drifting shore
ward. Their position became mos
critical as the gale increased and tht
| anchors began to drag. To avoit
! stranding on the shadows, the sail'
were set, the chains slipped and tht
! craft headed straight for the cape
Soon a heavy bump was felt and thu
! seas rolling over the deck told then
they were near land. Presently th'
ebbing tide left them on dry land
Few had thought of anything bu
their lives. 1t was found that tn
terrible pounding of the littl
schooner had loosened the dressing
on the injured limb, and adde'
cruelty to his sufferings.
They were wrecked forty mile
from the hospital. The captain ant
another man started out to get help
and in forty-eight hours were at tn
hospital, footsore and hungry, bu
thankful to the people who ha
helped them on the way. Supt. Ber
glund, of the Alaska Fishermen
Packing Company, placed his steam
er at their disposal for the rescue
and in twenty-four hours more tn
injured man was brought to the hos
pital He was almost in a dying con
dition, for blood-poisoning had al
parently set it. His temperature wa
1O1. At the operation a captain VIII
was present said: why torture hir
further? 1t would be as well to di
one grave for all of the man as fo
part of him"
A few days afte- the operation