The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-05-28
ALASKA OF TO-DAY
VIVIDL Y DESCRIBED


facilities for entertainment Solo Is
played more than all other games
combined by men, while bridge is uni
Versally played among the women.
The non-respectable woman is COM
mon In every camp and settlement
ana differs in no respect from her
sisters in American cities except, per-
haps, that age and dissipation are
more marked on the Alaskan tyne.
Many seem To come from the States
after their presumed youthful attrac-
tiveness has faded.
The bad man" never had chance
In Alaska. In olden days, and at the
present time in remote districts, when
man starts out to be bad" miners
meeting assemblies and tries him and
turns him over to committee TO
lose In winter the committee gives
MIN a package Of food and starts him
on the trail, which is equivalent to
death from cold in practically every
instance. Few. indeed, have escaped.
"Soapy" Smith, our most famous
desperate, hourished at Skagway for
brief period some years ago. and is
supposed TO have lain In wait and
murdered few unsuspectng miners.
He was shot and killed while trying
TO enter and break up meeting Of
citizens. Fame has dealt too gencr-
ously with "Soapy." In point Of fact,
he was merely a cheap. tin horn"
gambler turned ruilian, never faced a
real gunman in his life, and would not
nave ranked above third rate muir
nnrnr bn a IL.
OF the American frontier. Marshall
Evans of Seward. unarmed, would
have arrested him. taken his gun
away. and made "Soapy'' call him
Boss" Mt any time or place.
Tho "Squaw Man" is common in
Alaska, and Is counterpart of tho
squaw man wherever he Is found. He
is one who has married or taken I'm
with an Indian woman. The largest
merchant in the territory is sguaw
man; SO are good many other use
ful and Influential citizens. The Gus
tom is beginning to be frowncd upon,
and will doubtless soon pass away.
The absence OF white women in an
earlier day was the chief reason for
the Introduction OF this custom. In
dians-in which term is included Els
KINDS and all other natives-Iiving as
wives Of white men are worthy and
faithful as rule. Social practices
which ostraCisc women in the States
are not regarded as immoral or even
improper by the natives of Alaska.
The "Musher" is a type peculiarly
Alaskan. although in some lnconsc-
quential details he resembles the
sledge driver OF Siberia and other
countries OF the extreme north. Strict
ly speaking the term means n dog
team driver, but all travelling by foot
In Alaska is known as "mushing."
The most indispensable mushers are
those who carry the mails in win
ter and those who transport COM
moditlos over the trails between set
Elements.
To perform these services teams
OF from four 10 eight dogs are used.
being harnessed tandem to light
sleds. Relays Of dogs are kept at sta
tons from rs TO 80 miles apart, that
being n fair days travel for a dog
team pulling loaded sled. The driver
rides only on down grades or when
travelling without a load. Dogs are
fed once a day-at night-on dried
salmon. They are invcterate thieves
and invariably try to steal some por-
ton OF another dogs meal. More
over. upon receiving his own portion.
most dogs will try to conceal II the
moment the masters eyes are turned
away, and then howl for his food with
every appearance OF having been ac-
tually overlooked
When sledge comes 10 stop the
first command TO the dogs is Down"
II permitted to stand the whole team
would be instantly fighting and the
harness become inextricably tangled,
Dogs take great delight in pulling
sled, and are always anxious 10 be
the leader Of the team. The slightest
Sinking by any dog is instantly de-
tccted by his team mates. and II the
driver does not at once correct ii moth
ing can prevent the other dogs from
attacking the delinquent and tearing
him TO pieces. All sled dogs are in
sanely Jealous, and any act OF fayorit-
ism TO one is bitterly resented and
never forgiven by the others. More
over, the dog 80 favored will have to
fight for his life at the first chance
the others have TO get at him. Indeed,
aside from his work. lighting Is the
only business Of sled dog. and about
the only pleasure in which he takes
delight. Practically all OF them are
vicious. and frequently dangerous to
persons who fear them-a thing they
seem able to detect at once. When
ont NJ hor0aGe tbay orn rba{pnd 49,.