Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-07-13
GOT PRICED STOVE
ESKIMO EARNED POSSESSION
DEAREST TO HIS HEART.
Big Steel Ships Range Subject of HE
Adoration-His lgIoo Now Easily
the Warmest In All the Terri
tory of Alaska.


Penash was an old Eskimo who
ruled in feudal fashion little settle
ment about 80 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-ga-ma-pa river by flatboat.
When you consider that the Eskimo
. gets along with one fire a day in. the
middle OF. the dirt floor of his hut,
1.-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 a
noble and worthy desire. Further
more, Penaski knew an Eskimo down
the coast toward Nome who boosted.
of owning little cast iron heater; he
wanted to outshine that fellow.
Penash was rich according to his
own standards. He, had ashome-made
still made Of a coal-oil can and gun
barrel, in which he made '"tunguk"
from mash of flour or rice. That he
sold to his neighbors at large profit.
He had four wives, 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 60 miles farther
inland and it was hard to get provi-
sions in to them. If we carried our
big range over we might not be able
to take anything to cook on it. We APP
preached Penaski on the matter. After
some negotiation he agreed to earn
the stove by transporting seven loads
of provisions over the divide by dog
sled.
Bright and early the next morning
there was a bowling of dogs and q
chatter of voices, and into our camp
came all the inhabitants and dogs Of
the little village. They loaded up and
started, 80 pounds to the dog. The
trip was a weary one to me, but to
the Eskimos, gorging on our grub, it
was glorious picnic. They would
travel only as fast as 1 would lead.
The slower we went the better they
liked it. We had to break trail by
snowshoes, and / led the way.
BY the second night I was worn out.
So was Penaski; but at every stop he
would come up and start an eager jar
gon. He would hold his hands five
would indicate the height and breadth
of the stove with his hands. / would
reassure him, and he would start off
with fresh vigor.
The third day was like nightmare
to me. was daZed with fatigue. 'Ev-
cry time we stopped to rest 1 threw
myself down on sled, seeing nothing,
hearing nothing knowing nothing. Ev-
cry time we started again moved stiff
fly, like an automaton. About midday
we reached our goal, uHloaded and
started back.
We returned light and quickly. On
the fourth day we pulled into camp in
the half light Of midnight. Penash
demanded instant payment. We
dumped the fire into the snow and de-
livered the goods. The Eskimo dashed
two sleds together, hitched on all the
dogs, loaded on the. hot stove and
started off, bowling and shouting, for
their village, 80 miles away. The last
we saw of our mammoth cooker it was
taking a flying leap down ten-foot
bank, and dragging all the Elkimos
with 1t.
Alaska Joe was over that way the
next winter. He told me that Penas-
ki's igloo is the warmest in all Alaska,
and that the Eskimo sits day and night
with his aged limbs crossed and his
rheumy eyes half shut, adoring. his
stove.-Chicago News.