Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-02-14


more exciting contest than the dog
races Of northern Alaska. True, the
entire course is not visible from any
one position and the finish is often
devoid of an exciting climax. Yet
this is no deterrent to racing fandom
and the start of every race is the
scene of excitement, while the entire
population turns out at the finish to
hail the victor and console the loser.
Announcement that the first team will
start at o'clock in the morning is
the signal for general lighting up
of houses and a peering out of heads.
When the bugle proclaims the start of
the first team, the streets are
thronged about the judges stands
and every available balcony is fairly
alive with humanity. For the trial of
strength and endurance is on, the
prize is thousands of dollars and many
bets on the race are recorded.
Greatest of all the races is the All
Alaskan sweepstakes, 412 miles in
length over difficult trail. Across
the peninsula from Nome to Candle,
from Bering Sea to the Arctic Ocean
and return, the trail leads through
canyon and over mountain, tortuous
course fraught with unexpected and
unseen dangers at every turn. The
racers know nothing of the weather
that will greet them at each new
stretch of track. Today the sky is
clear at Nome, tomorrow the city is
wrapped in blizzard The start may
be made under sunny skies, while 20
miles out the teams may be forced to
seek shelter from the binding storm.
The snowslide comes unannounced.
burying dogs and driver or sweeping
them into the canyon far below, from
whence ascent means the loss of hours
OF time, if not serious injury. Snow
blindness may visit dogs so that they
cannot keep the trail, or, their feet
may be torn by the sharp ice. Any
of a hundred disastrous events may
happen to rob contestant of the
coveted prize.
For days before the appointed start
bookmakers are busy recording bets
on the race. Saloons which, in the
far north, are more like clubhouses
than anything else, are the scenes of
great excitement and the telling of
tales by veterans of the trail Every
man has his favorite and the relative
mcrits of huskies, wolves and mama.
lutes play no small part in the gen.
eral discussion as to the outcome. On
the part of the racers themselves, the
contest represents far more than mere
speed. The experience, endurance and
quick wit of the men count heavily
while the selection of dogs is mat
ter Of weeks. CANNES are selected
and tried, rejected or set aside for
further trial. Another team is brought
out and put through system of Gull
ing until the required number of
sturdy creatures, selected for strength,
speed and endurance, is definitely de,
termined. Then follow trips over the
trail, trials of speed on short courses
and tests of strength on difficult
grades, until, when the day arrives,
each contestant enters with the best
material that his experience has been
able to select.
Every precaution is used to protect
the life and health of the dog. Tiny
moccasins are carried to place upon
wounded feet; dark or green colored
wells are at hand to protect the dogs
from snow-blindness; beef, mutton
and soup serve to nourish and
strengthen these intelligent creatures
on whom so much money is staked.
For the winter trail is dangerous and
too many precautions cannot be taken.
Often dogs and driver are found starv-
ing and nearly frozen within a mile
of their own camps. In one Of the
great races gale drove a driver and
his team out upon Bering Sea, where
they were compelled to spend the
night in driving storm. Brown s
roadhouse is known as the "House of
a Thousand Bow-wows," because the
entire number of entries in one of
the races was compelled by bliz-
zard to stop for Is hours at his sta
tion. Yet, it is because the most dar.
ing courage is required for these con
tests that they commond so much in
terest. The world admires such feats
Of sterling manhood.
The race from Nome to Candle and
return was inaugurated in 1908. Be.
cause of the great expense involved
and the extreme hardship of the
course, support for the venture was
slow at first There were ten entries
in this race, which proved one of the
most exciting of the series. The teams
were started two hours apart, which
was found to be mistake on account
of the great variation in the weather
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