Iditarod pioneer., 1915-12-25

upon the man who dehes weather conditions and harcIships compared to which the published eXperl- caces of the so-caled Arctic explorers make but tame reading These men often encounter priva- tons and hardships which, were they published to the outside world would create amazement And yet they are taken as matter of course by the men who have learned to combat storm and cold in the interest of the demands of civilized community that it be kept in touch with the world; and this IT spite of the fact that the letters and newspapers must be conveyed over hundreds of miles of ice and snow, over mountain passes and Wnd-swept tundra, across dangerous streams and treacherous snow drifts
 It IS not that the residents of Alaska are an un- appreciave people that the praises of the mail car rier are not more often sung rather IS 1t due to the fact that we are a somewhat undemonstratve peo- pie, taking for granted the heroic that are undertaken in our behalf-but still impatient at any criticism or lack of appreciation from outside sources There IS little doubt that should occasion arise which would precpitate criticism upon these men, as individuals or as class, the whole com munity would be arrayed in their defense We all
 emegnber with pride the deeds of strength and en- durance of our friends the mail carriers, and the
 many instances in winch individual carriers have de- fed death in its numerous forms III the deterr1na- ton to be true to the trust conhded ID them Tn the delivery of the precious mail matter under eny and all conditions Many a brave fellow has met death m this service and 1t IS sad to chronicle that even hs name has sometimes been forgotten. In some countries the deeds of these men would be the theme of poets and historians And it IS not at all unlikely that the inspired bard of some future ae shall yet s;ng the praise of these modest heroes in undyng verse
 A recent issue of the Nome Nugget contains a story of the adventures of mail carrier which may we'll take its place in the annals of the postal serVce as an example of hardships endured and difficulties overcome in the line of duty that will be an insplra- ton to many and which may do its share Tn securing for this worthy class of Uncle Sams servants the full recognition due them The story IS as follows:
 Fred Larsen mail who departed for Candle about experiences the trail that would furnish excellent ma terial Beach London being fraugh with ali the els of danger and hardship pictured in the tales of those writers A matter of fact Is little short Of wonderful that Larsen Is alive to tel the for Candle with reindeer teams intending make the round trip time to enable the CanGtes dispatch their mail Outside by the last trip o the Victoria but he doomed to disappointment and Tn addition nearly losing his life compelled to abandon the trp alter reaching Salt Lake, where he broke through the ce sled and all and wa5 saved from freezing death after getting out ot the water by timely of his partner who relieved him of his frozen clothes wrapped him robe before the Wln gale his flesh Owing the absence of shelter o any de crton in the locality Larsen compelled to return to the
 nearest cabin many miles away across barren windsep
 v of the most asoac character Before arriving shelter of any kind the sled which carried portion of the mal broke down and the mail scattered the country by the gale which had blown throughout the entire perod alter the carrier reached the Kuzagamapa divide Suffering lnde- scbay the gathered the mail and finally decided to give m the attempt to reach their northern destination That the man has suffered terrible experience plainly indicated in his a?- pearance Considering the of the hardhS he has been forced to undergo almost miracle that he able to re at all.