The San Francisco call., 1910-12-18

And then comes the part % Verno9(
Brewster's story that he dwells upo1R
more happily, for, though the trip was
a test of almost superhuman endurance
for him. it was a record OF such un-
falling hospitality along his way that
it seemed as if to atone for the cruelty
of the country the people were kind
beyond measure. No royal guest in a
friendly land, no political idol on tri-
umphal tour, could have been made
more welcome in roadhOuse, native hut
or miners cabin than this hapless vic
tim of the northern storm. and Pete
Munson, the prospector who had gen
erously volunteered to take him to his
destination. Their weary dogs were
cared for willingly. the men were given
the best that these Isolated places af-
fOrded. and money was refused In an
igloo near Bluff they were obliged TO
remain a day and a night because Of
another blizzard in which they had
been caught. and here an Eskimo
woman and her children ministered to
the stricken traveller with all OF the
gentleness Of a race in which gentle
ness is one OF the pronounced charac-
teristics. and she too would take no
pay, though it would mean many little
luxuries. They managed to leave
gold piece where she would find IL later
and again began their long journey
Gangrene had set in~and at Chintk Mol
lie, the native wife OF John Dexter. a
prominent American settler, sat the
night through beside Brewster, doing
all in her power TO give him comfort
And the name of Mollie Dexter. re-
spected from one end OF Seward PENN
sula to the other is enshrined in one
more heart with the gratitude that
draws no color line. In the meanwhilsi
the news of Brewster's rescue had
arrived in Nome. and with the ever
ready sympathy OF this remote mining
camp on Bering sea there were many
offers of assistance. Mccarthy. a we'll
known mining man. sent his mag gnih-
cent racing team of malamutes to carry
Brewster from solomon to Cape Nome.
where he was so weak that only a rest
and the watchfulness OF the women in
the rOadhouse made 1t possible for him
to rally.
The route was difficult. II was neees-
sary TO go slowly. and the stencil from
the rotting flesh of his hands and feet
was almost unbearable in the sleep
ing bag in which he was forced to re-
main because OF the bitter cold. From
Cape Nome TO Nome he was in charge
OF Pete Bernard, a hardy French Can
adian with his sturdy "huskies." ard
through another blizzard. blizzard
fierce that it seemed imnOssi BILE TO face
it with the heavy burden IN the sleo-
Pete mushed steadily on. fighting mii~
after mile for the life OF the man whose
only hope now lay in his chance OF
immediate medical attention.
At noon on January II. 1910. nearly
month after he had left his cabin
on Flat creek Vernon Brewster ar
rived at the Holy Cross hospital ia
Nome. where the skill Of the surgeons
and the care of the Sisters finally re-
suited in his recovery. His praises
are unstinted for the hospital where
he spent so many weeks. for his doe
tors and nurses. and the departures
under United States Marshal Pows>s
and his deputies. where he was grant
ed so many courtesies. For his friends
in Nome, the strangers who had be-
come friends through his mlsfortunes
and for the Good Samaritans of the
Trail, his gratitude and his apprecia-
tion are unbounded. He is not the
strong. active man he was for his
mutilated feet and Scared hands bear
witness 10 his desperate fight Of Is
days against death in the arctic snSsEE
but he lives today and proves orHs
more that
This is the law of the Yukon. that oal1r
the strong shall thrive
That surely the weak shall perish and
only the Fit Aurviva.