Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1916-07-21
GOT PRICED STOVE
ESKIMO EARNED POSSESSION
DEAREST TO HIS HEART.
Big Steel Ships Range Subject of HIs
Adoration--Hs igloo Now Easily
the Warmest In All the Terri
tory of Alaska.


Penaski was an old Eskimo who
ruled in feudal fashion little settle
ment about 30 miles away, between
our winter quarters and Port Clarence
He had wild yearning to possess our
stove. 1t was a big steel ships range
that weighed 400 pounds, which. by IN
finite labor, we had brought up the
Cruz-g a-ma-pa river by flatboat.
When you consider that the Eskimo
gets along with one fire n day In the
middle of the dirt floor Of his hut,
the smoke of which goes out through
a hole In the roof, and the rest of the
time relies on hermetic sealing and
animal heat. you will see that It was
noble and worthy desire. Further
more, penaskl knew an Eskimo down
the coast toward Nome who boosted
of owning a little cast iron heater: he
wanted to outshlne that fellow.
Penaski was rich according TO his
own standards. lie Ind n homemade
still made of a coal-oIl can and a gun
barrel, In which he made "tunguk"
from a mash of -four or rice. That he
sold 10 his neighbors ut large profit.
He had four wives. a good dog team
and plenty of furs and fish.
When the end of winter drew near
the stove became an embarrassment to
us. Our claims lay so miles farther
inland, and IL was hard TO get proyi-
slons In TO them. If We carried our
big range over We might not be able
10 take anything TO cook on IL. We ap-
preached Penash on the matter. After
some negotiation he agreed 10 earn
the stove by transporting seven loads
OF provisions over the divide By dog
sled.
Bright aud early the next morning
there was a bowling of dogs aud
chatter OF voices. aud into our camp
came all the inhabitants and dogs Of
the little village. They loaded up and
started, 30 pounds to the dog. The
trip was n weary one 10 me. but to
the Eskimos. gorging on our grub. 1t
was n glorious picnic. They would
travel only as fast as I would lead.
The slower we went the better they
W IAI IL tAAfs ~
snowshoes. and led the way.
By the second night was worn out.
So was Penask: but at every stop he
would come mp and start an eager Jar
gon. He would hold his hands I've
feet apart. ! would nod. Then be
would indicate the height aud breadth
Of the stove with his hands. ] would
reassure him. and he would start on
with fresh yigor.
The third day wns ike q nightmare
10 me. vas dazcd with fatigue Ey-
cry time we stopped 10 rest / threw
myself down on a sled. seeing nothing.
hearing nothing. knowing nothing. Ey-
cry time We started again I moved stiff
fly, like an automnton. About midday
we reached our goal. unloaded md
started back.
We returned light and quickly. On
the fourth day We pulled into camp In
the half light Of midnight Penasii
demanded instant payment. We
dumped the fire Into the SNOW and de-
livered the goods. The Eskimo dashed
two sheds together. hltched on all the
dogs. loaded on the hot stove and
started of bowling and shouting. for
their village. 30 miles away. The last
we saw Of our mammoth cooker IL was
taking a flying leap down a fen-foot
bank. and dragging all the Elkimos
with IL.
Alaska Joe was over that way the
next winter. He told me that penas-
kis igloo Is the wnrmest In all Alaska.
and that the Eskimo sits day and night
with his aged limbs crossed aud his
rheumy eyes half shut adoring his
Gfnra - thfea.ra Naspa