Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-12-31
AN ADVENTURE
IN LABRADOR.


devotion, but also a strong body and
brave heart. If to these is added sense
of humor so much the better is she
equipped for her manifold duties.
During the winter of 1902 a passing
Eskimo brought word to the Moravian
mission at Main that scarlet fever had
broken out at Okak and that the mis-
sionaries there were entirely out of medi-
cine
Accordingly MIR. Franz of Main, who
had had some medical training, started
north at once by dog sledge, taking with
him Mr.. Kent, a young English mission
airy arrived but few months before.
AT the last moment it was decided to
take also Mrs. Kent, as she had been
a trained nurse before her marriage For
the first part of the journey Mrs. Kent
enjoyed herself thoroughly. In the dry,
clear air temperature of 90 degrees be-
low zero was not at all unbearable.
Wrapped from head to foot in furs,
she sat in the doorway of her komatic
box or for short stretches joined her
husband and Mr.. Franz in running on
nights spent in malodorous Eskimo huts
On the second evening, writes a CORE
spondent of Everyland, the travellers
were treated to the finest display of
northern lights that they had ever seen.
But Mr.. Franz was not especially en-
thusiastic He said it meant STERN. and
sure enough, the next morning was gray
and threatening Mrs. Kent heard tho
men discussing the prospects.
"But you say we should reach Okak
by ~ urged her husband, "and if they
are without medicine there one days
delay may mean half dozen deaths"
Il know it, and I'd take the chances
if it were not for your wife You don't
know what a snowstorm on the Kigla-
peits means. If we lost our way she
would never see Okak"
That settled the matter-with Mrs.
Kent In moment she was by their
side
isn't it time to harness the dogs ?"
she demanded. Eyes, heard what you
people were saying. but them didn't
come to Labrador for picnicl At any
rate you might as well harness up, for if
you don't GO l shalt"
Till noon they travelled northward
under lowering sky. There was a smell
of snow in the air; though it was ac-
tually growing warmer; the chill was
so intense that even in two pairs of fur
mittens Mrs. Kent had to keep her hands
moving to prevent their being frost
bitten
About - the storm began-not such
snow as the English woman had ever
seen, but whirlwind of singing ice par
ticles which made sight and breathing
almost impossible. At that time they
were crossing & range of steep rock
mountains known as the Kiglapeits.
From the first hour of the storm the
choice of road had to be left to the dogs.
fortunately they had been on the trail
before and were strong and willing
team. There was one exception, a dog
called because OF his loating propensities
'kuJana," meaning Il don't care"
Once fierce gust blowing aside the
snow showed Mr. Kent a bottomless gulf
not yard from the side of the sledge.
Did you see that, Franz?" he called.
Yes. We are on top of the Kigla-
peits, with eight miles to 90 before
dark"
At that moment the sledges showed up
and they saw lazy kupana hanging back.
a dead weight on the other dogs. Mr.
Franz raised his thirty foot whip and a
well aimed lash descended. The dog gave
a snarl and jumped to one side. The
sledge and box swerved. careened and
to the mems horror plunged over the
precipice, dragging the dogs with Il
After an interval it crashed on the rocks
below
Crazed at his wife's fate the voupo
Englishman sprang toward the edge bnf
was grasped by Franz. In their struocIe
the latter caught glance over fbe
precipice and cried out to Kent TO wait
There's a ledge below and sometime
black ON it,"
About ten feet below them a narrow
shelf not more than four feet vida Az.
tended along the face of the cliff On
the outer edge of this rested a bouldor
"edged In between this b0dlder and the
wall OF rock at the back LARGE blacl-
object lay half buried in the snow
Summoning all his will. MIR Kant
called his wife's name. There was a NJ
ment's agonized silence, then he head
mutlled "All right" e"'o
With difficulty the two men su,,,c,
themselves down to the ledge. Tberss
they discovered the black object 20 ~
the sledge bc2;, in which. on righting II
they found M'@, Kent, half smothered in
her fur wrappings, but unhurt
Giving to lack of experience Mr.. Kent
had dashed the box insecurely to tbo
sledse, so that the jar of striking the
ledge had broken it loose. To that fart
alone was due his wifes escape.
As Mrs. Kent crawled out of the hoy
they gazed at each other. speecbless.
then the woman's oyerwrought nerves
found relief in peal of laughter.
Forgive me, George. couldn't balr
It'll If you could only see your tusksin
Turning in bewilderment, Mr.. Kent
saw slow smile breaking over the fsce
OF MIR. Franz also. As often happens in
the north difficult breathing and Iong |
exposure 70 the cold had coated Mr.
Rents mustache with two enormons