Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10
The Last Of Peary's Pack
of rained Eskimo Dogs

lying it is a thick soft fur. The water
about the coast of Maine is very cold
indeed. hut never has one of these dogs
been seen to shake itself as the average
dog does after coming out of the water.
Apparently the water does net seem to
penetrate very far into their hairy coats.
Some scientists claim tat these dogs
are, ~ reality. direct descendant OF the
arctic wolf-they certainly look mighty
like ii when in motion. running or walk
ing with head at a low angie and thrust
forward-and this theory may be true.
but nevertheless with all their possible
wolf-strain they are affectionate toward
their masters. quite as much so as the
good old house dog in our own country.
But they fight vic'ously among them
selves at times, and when they do II 10
generally a battle to the death.
1t wasn't so very long ago that one OF
the pack-there were more in II then
gave birth to puppies. and the explorer
presented one of the newly born TO a cap
tain of small vessel on the bay The
seaman took the puppy to his home-his
land homeland before long the little fell
low grew into a sturdy dog. With age IL
developed an abnormal taste for poultry.
and took to stealing the neighbors
chickens. Having a vein of discrimna-
:
at all. OF course. complaints followed
from the neighbors. and it was decided
the dog should return to the pack OF the
island They put him there but the
others. either not recognizing him as a
kinfolk. or possibly not wanting him al
all. set upon and killed him. II was a
fight of one against many. and the end
came in just two minutes. The youngster
didn't stand a chance.
The love OF these dogs for poultry is
probably an acquired one-they certainly
do not get II i'm the north-but IL has
grown SO strong that some of the pack
have been known to swim from | pper
Flag to the mainland or some OF the
neighborins islands-a mile or a mile ana
half-catch a fowl. kill it and hike home
through the water with 1t. One of the
dogs-a fine fellow i'm appearance. but ex-
ceptionally weak in morals so far as
chicken stealing went-Inet his death last
summer at the hands of an irate farmer
aimed shot did it,
When stranger sets foot upon Upper
Flag IT Is not a great while before the
dogs know OF 1T. even though they be at
an extreme part of the island The news
that he has been scented is apparently
reported to Nalegaksoah. who takes mat
tiers in hand. He approaches the visitor
steadily for some distance. the others I'm
the background, shifts a bit. possibly lets
out deep growl. and tten stops short
and sits down on his launches, regarding
the newcomer intently. He is probably.
making up his mind whether Ii is friend
or foe. 1t is said that an animal. espe-
cially dog. can tell by the odor thrown
out by a human whether he or she is
friendly or otherwise. and possibly the
big fellow decides in just this way. At
any rate he gives some sort Of signal.
the others recognize it and come bound
ing forward. Nalegaksoah making Tie
advance in more dignifed manner.
After the ice has been broken. that is
after kindly word has been spoken or
a piece of meat held out, the strained re-
Iations are at an end. and they all act as
does the proverbial house pet.
The dogs live on meat or fish alone. hut
they never CHEW bones do dogs oi
other breed admiral Peary Told the re-
porter that IL is quite Impossible 10 figure
out the life tenure of the Eskimo dog
they Will. endure the most severe hard
ships and travel for long distances on
practically NOTHING j. cal. In fact. he
said he knew of one dog team that went
six days travelling for hours at a stretch.
without one ounce of food. They VIII
live for days exposed to the most wicked
weather, and on the other hand in COM
paratively plea SAINT weather, with good
food in abundance, will die quickly from
unknown causes Indeed, they are an
enigma in many ways
The intrepid explorer paid a great COM
pliment TO the Eskimo dogs and said that
without them he meter could have reached
the pole There may be larger dogs"
he said. land there may be handsomer
dogs but / doubt ii very much; there
may possibly be some other dogs. too.
that can travel just as fast and as far
when well fed. but there is no dog In the
wide, wide world that can work so long
in the lowest temperature and on An
empty stomach as the Eskimo dog