Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-02

feet, and unless the ice packs between
their toes they have little difficulty on
the course, providing they are not
equipped with mukluks. Drivers quite
frequently stop their teams and inspect
the feet of their dogs, digging out from
between the toes any substance that
might have accumulated there.
Every so yards along the course, a
stake Haunting red flag is driven
into the trail. In some places this is the
only guide by which the driver steers
his team. The word trail" usually
means any recognized mode Of passage
by which a man can direct his team
through the icebound hills and forests
In the spring the trail is best suited for
driving. without trail the snow is
packed hard.
Every driver carries a long whip.
This he cracks over the heads Of his
beasts as they plod their way across
the Alaskan wastes. Never does he
strike his dog, for they are Of stub
born nature and four fifths savage and
wild. The necessity for whips comes
when one team passes another on the
trail. Then 1t is the natural disposition
of the dogs to battle. In such instances
the whip is the best means Of separat-'
ing them.
The drivers, In guiding their teams
over the trails, employ native terms
"Mush" means "go," Gee" turn to the
right, and "Haw" turn to the left. The
Siberians use the word Put" which
means, GO to the right" A cultural
sound, similar to the one employed in
endeavoring to attract ones attention,
stands for Turn to the left"
When the sky Is clear and the ther-
mometer registers zero, the ideal racing
day is assured. The dogs are fond Of
such condition, and 1t is on such days
that they do their best, averaging the
remarkable speed Of 15 miles an hour.
They have done 72 miles in five and
one half hours. The speed at which a
driver urges his beast is optional. He
may drive them to the limit or he may
permit them to assume fast trot which
they can maintain hour after hour. Be-
cause Of their speed and endurance
Amundsen has announced he contem-
plates picking Siberian dogs and mala-
mutes instead of the Greenland breed
for his next trip to the far north when
he passes through Nome next August.
"Scotty" Allan, King Of the Arctic
TRAIL" has three times won first place
out of five races, one second position
and one third. He has gone into the
business Of breeding racing dogs.
When a dog is too old to participate
in a race he is 'pensioned"-given a
home and plenty Of food for the re-
mainder Of his days. In Alaska dogs die
a natural death; they never are killed
by their masters.
Many big business firms Of the coun-
try contribute to the purses hung up at
these annual sweepstakes. All winter
entertainments are given in the towns
represented by dog team in the races.
the proceeds Of which help swell the
rewards. While the races are being
driven, business in the towns partici-
pating is practically suspended. Most
Of the establishments are closed and
no attempt is made to transact busi-
ness. Everybody has something wager
ed on the outcome-men, women and
children. Even the young women clerks
and telephone operators open their
purses and make bets.
Every holiday throughout the year
brings a preparatory race over short
course. From the first week in April
when the sweepstakes races are run
until the following April, everybody
looks forward anxiously to the biggest
event in the annals Of history. Thus
Nome, Solomon. Topcock and the other
representative Alaskan towns forget
their isolation. Hunting the walrus
the polar bear and the whale are tame
sports. They are for every day indul-
gence. But the All-Alaska sweepstakes
race marks the rejuvenation Of the
Chicago Tribune.