The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-02-05
GETTING R[ADYFOR
MONIES DERBY
PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY FOR
THE STRANGEST RACE In THE
WORLD-CONTEST is FRAUGHT
WITH TRAGEDY

NOME, Alaska, req. 0.-MenDeTS
81 the Nome Kennel club are already
getting under way preparations for
the most picturesque race in the
world, "the All-Alaska Sweepstakes. -
The race is an annual affair, inau-
gurated two years ago, and is start
ed on the first day Of April. 1t is
an lall-dog race, dogs being the only
animals who can cover the. course
laid out 1t involves annually the
services of hundreds of dogs and a
score or more of drivers, many Of
whom never live to return to the
starting point, and on last years
race more than 100000 changed
hands in wagers.
The course is 412 miles in length
The start is made at Nome, in Nor
thern Alaska, and the run is to
Candle, a mining town; thence to
Boring sea, and back to Nome.
First i'm 1908.
The first race took place in April,
1893, so that at the time of writ
ing only two of these strange Derbys
have been run. The first event,
however, was the result OF months
of effort.
The men who intended to enter
teams began to look around for suit
able animals, and on all hands the
respective merits OF the Eskimo,
tuskie, maIemute and halfbreed were
hot1y discussed. Fabulous prices
were often paid for likely animals,
as much as $500 and $4,000 being
willingly given for a team Of four
or five huskies and $1,000 for a
leader. From early morning until
late at night these animals were
taken out on the trails and put
through their PAGES.
The time made received due prom
inence in the Nome newspaper and
by the time the day Of the race
dewHed excitement was at fever
heat.
BOOkmakers Ready.
For days the bookmakers had
been busy, and the saloons were
filled with men watching the changes
q the odds given on various teams.
The arrangement, made was that
the first team should start at 2
o'clock in the morning, and the 9TH
ers-fourteen had entered-at in
tervals OF two hours.
At each departure there was great
enthusiasm, a blaze of club and
team colors, cries of goodwill,
breathless moments between the bu-
gle call and the drop of the flag.
and wild cheers that followed the
racers out of the little town, which
was en- fete in their honor.
Some twenty-eight miles down the
coast the teams ran into blizzard.
House of Bow-Wows.
The racing teams, with the excep-
ton of one, decided to put up at a
rest shanty known as Browns Road
side house. The driver who strug-
gled on was blown with his dogs
out upon the ice of Bering sea,
where he spent the night. Many
amusing tales are related of the dis
comforts experienced in the rude
shanty on that eventful day. Several
OF the hunks were occupied by rae
ing dogs, to the exclusion of some
of the men. The dwelling has since
been humorously dubbed 1.-THE House
of a Thousand Bow Vows"
The moment the blizzard had spent
itself the drivers dashed away to-
ward their distant goal again. 1t
was a hard-fought race and was won
by Fink's team, nine beautiful dogs
in trappings of crimson and gold, in
just under ninety-four hours. The
best actual running time, however,
en- route, was made by "Scotty" AL
len, whose squirt Of seventy miles in
hours and Sc minutes at the end
of this 412-mile race is still a mat
ter OF wonder.
Devoured by Own Dogs.
The first annual All-Alaska Sweep
stakes was marked with tragedy.
The driver OF crack team-caught
In a sudden fierce snowstorm only
a mile from his own camp-was
frozen to death. He was found late
the following day, partly devoured
by his starving dogs.
The last race was won by Scotty
Aliens team, which covered the
whole distance of 412 miles in 50
hours and minutes. Berger's
ieAn No. 2 finished second, II min
utes later. One OF the favorite
starters, upon within high bets had