Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-13

mile All-Alaska sweepstakes dog team
race, the climax Of the winters sport
/ events IN the north, each year brings
out the best OF the racing dogs in
Alaska, which are said by experts to
| be the best in the world.
The start ana finish of the race is
az Nome and the course extends along
the shore Of Norton Sound to Solo
mon. thirty-two miles east, and then
turns north over the snow-covered
tundra, through Council to Candle, on
kotcebue Sound, POS miles from the
starting point. At Candle the teams
turn back retracng their steps to the
finish at Nome.
Although much depends on the
careful selection and training of the
dogs, an equal responsibility devolves
upon tho driver.
There Is no limit to the number Of
dogs driver can place in his team,
but the rules Of the Nome Kennel
club require that every dog taken out
must be brought safely back either
riding on the sled or working in the
harness.. This rule Is to prevent driv-
ers from abandoning disabled dogs on
the trail, or leaving them at the re-
porting stations through which the
racers pass Consequently. the driv-
ers husband the strength of their
dogs carefully permitting them to
rest frequently at points along the
tran, and often cafrying two or three
tired dogs on the sleds, until they
have reganed their strength ana are
aole TO take their places In the har-
ness. Usually from eight to twelve
dogs are taken out. although in some
Instances, drivers have taken as many
as eighteen
In previous years, tho race always
has developed into u contest between
the siberian wola dogs and the Alaska
bred malamutes Both breeds have
ardent supporters but the champions
Of the Siberian wolves lay stress up
on the fact that Johnson's record was
established with a team Of Siberans
Many experts consider the Siberian
wolves the greatest racing dogs in
The world. They are a cross between
the 'hpsky' the Alaska working dog,
ana the siberian wolf breeders of his
stock make annual trips To- the Siber-
IAN coast to obtain material for their
kennels.
Althoueh the siberian wolf dog
lacks the speed Of the malamute, IN
durance Of his wild progenitor coupled
with the faithful intelligence of the
Alaskan dog. The remarkable endur-
ance Of the Siberans was demon
strated in 1914 when John johnson
.irove the last 1O1 miles of the race
without stopping To feed his dogs
The superior quality OF the dogs
developed IN the Nome racing kennels |
has been given world recognition |
vice In recent years. When Nilhial- |
muir Stefansson, the Canadian Arctic !
Nplofer QUILTED for his expedition |
y 1918. he obtained all his dogs at /
Nome, purchasing forty-eight OF the |
lest dogs In the kennels. Last year /
ne French government bought LOG |
loss here. for use by the army IN the |
Vosges The French governments pur-
'hase prevented 'Scottyp Allan from
in this years race Allan |
vas commissioned To select the dogs
md accompanied them to France, re-
urnng TO the United States too late
o reach Nome in time for the 1916
The winners Of the races since 1910
when johnson established the record
or the course follow.
l9l0- John Johnson. siberian wolf
logs lf,Ils20.
"Scotty" Allan. Alaska mala.
nutes, $4,000.
1912 "Scotty" Allan. Alaska maIa.
nutes S7.S2.00
lsiS--Foy pelzene, Alaska mala-
nutes, 75.tS.0O.
l9il- John Johnson, Siberian wolf
logs, 81 $500
t9l5--Leonard Seppala. siberian
'olf dogs, 7Ss44:37