Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-02-14


more exciting contest than the dcl
races Of northern Alaska. True, th,
entire course is net visible from ans
oac position and the finish is Otter
devoid Of an exciting climax Yet
this L. no deterrent 20 racing fandom
and the start Of every race Il che
scene Of excitement, while the entire
population turns out at the finish %
hail the victor and console che loser.
Announcement shat the fist team wiil
start at O'Clock In the mornlng j.
tho signal FOR a general lighting mp
of houses and roering out Of beads.
When thc buglc pfoeiaiha the start Of
the first team, the streets ere
tbfoneod about the judges stands
and every available balcony j. fairly
alive with humanity. For the trial Of
strength aud endurance IL on, the
prize Is thousands Of dollars and many
bets on the race are recorded
Greatest Of all the races Is the An.
Alaskan sweepstakes, fl2 miles 10
longth over difficult trail. Across
the penlhsala from Nome 10 Candle,
from Bering Sea % the Arctic Ocean
and retsrn. the trail leads through 4
canyon and over mountain. tortuoua
course frnught wiih unexpected and
unseen dangers al every turn. The
racers know nothing Of the weather
that viii greet shem at each new
stretch o. track. To-day tho sky -
clear az Nome. tomorrow the city is
wrapped In a blizzard, The start may
b. made under sunny skies, while 20
miles ont the teams may be forced 10
seek shelter from the binding storm.
Tho snowsiidc comes unannouneed,
buylng dogs and driver or sweeping
them into tho canyon far below, from
whence ascent means the loes Of hours
u time. II not serious injury. snow
blindness may visit dogs 30 that they
.annot keep the trail or, their feet
nay be torn by the sharp lee. Any
~ q hundred disastrous events may
lappea % rob contestant OF the
coveted prize
For days before the appointed start
'ookmakera are busy recording bets
"a the race. Saloons which. ia the
ar north. are more like elabhousea
han anything else, are the scenes Of
'reat excitement and tho telling OF
aics by veterans OF the trail Every .
aan has his fayorise aud the relative
ncrlts Of huskics. wolves aud mama :
ates play no small part ia the gon. :
Fal discussion as 10 the outcome On :
he part Of the racers themselves, the I
oniost represents far more than mere
pced. The experience, endurance and !
aiek wit Of the men count heavily. :
lille tho selection OF dogs Is a mat. a.
sr Of weeks. CANNES are selected
nd tried. rejected or set aside Cor y
nrther trial Another team is brought :
u and put through n system Of eull a
* until the required number Of =
urdy creatures, selected FOR strength, q
ICED and endurance. ~ definitely do q
rmined Then follow trips over the "
all, trials Of speed on short courses b
"a tests Of strength on difficult u
AIDES. until. when the day arrives. e
eh eostestant enters with tho best IA
atcrial that his experience has been q
10 20 select. dl
Every freeeution l. used TO protect at
e life and health Of tho dog. Tiny "
occasins are carried 10 place upon ~
'unded feet; dark or green colored
IDS are At hand 60 protect the dogs re-
om snow. hlindnesss beef. mutton al
d soup serve 20 nourish and Ia
reagthoe these Intelligent creatures y
whom 30 much money Is staked. ne
" the winter trail Is dangerous aud "a
o many precautions cannot be taken. ol
tea dogs and driver are found starry. re
Z and nearly frozen within mile
their own camps. In one OF the
eat races gale drove driver aad
! team out upon nering Sea. where W.
~ were compelled 20 spend tho ",
zht Ia driving storm. Brown 5 on
sdhouse e. known AZ the House OF 10
Thousand bow vows because the
tire upmber Of entries Ia one OF
. races WIS compelled BY a hliz. O.
"a 60 stop Tor IS hours az bis sta
a. Yet. it IS beran.e the most OAR
, eoarsgo Is required for these coa
g. that they commend 50 much 10. boz
est Tho world sdmifes such feais ha|
sterling manhood fir
rhe rHee from Nome 10 Candle aud mo
nrn was inaagurstsd IN 1Das. 30 20,
Zee of the great expense involved ons
tho extreme hardship OF the Of
ire, support for che venture Was an,
y AZ first There Nerc ten entries slo
ihis rsec. which proved one 81 the
= exciting ~ the SERIES. The teae,s \
10 started two hours apart. which ahl
} fouud 20 be a mistake oa account 81
the great variation iu tae westhes. dry