The Tupelo journal., 1917-02-23
GOT PRICED STOVE
ESKIMO EARNED POSSESSION
DEAREST TO HIS HEART.
Big Steel Ships Range Subject Of His
Adoration-His lgloo Now Easily
the Warrnest in All the Terri
tory Of Alaska.

PenasN was an old Eskimo who
ruled in feudal fashion a little settle
ment about 30 miles away, between
our winter quarters and Port Clarence.
He had a 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,
the smoke of which goes out through
n hole in the roof, and the rest of the
time relies on hermetic sealing and
animal heat, you will see that it was u
noble and worthy desire. Further
more, Penaski knew an Eskimo down
the coast toward Nome who boosted
of owning a little cast iron heater; he
wanted to outshine that fellow.
Penaski was rich according to his
own standards. He had a 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 to his %neighborS at a 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 60 miles farther
inland, and it was hard to get provi-
SionS in to them. If we carried Il
big range over we might not be able
to take anything to cook on it. We ap-
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 a
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 u grub, it
was a glorious picnic. They would
travel only as fast as l would lead.
The slower we wen the better they
liked it. We had to break trail by
s~nowshoes, and / led the way.
By the second night 1 was worn out.
So was Penaski; but at every stop he
would come up and start an eager JAR
gen. He would hold his hands five
feet apart. l would nod. Then he
would indicate the height and breadth
of the stove with his hands. 1 would
reassure him, and he would start off
with fresh vigor.
The third day was like a nightmare
to me. l was daZed with fatigue. Ev-
cry time we stopped to rest / threw
myself down on a sled, seeing nothing,
hearing nothing, knowing nothing. Ev-
cry time We started again 1 moved stiff
fly, like an automaton. About midday
we reached our goal, unloaded and
started back.
We returned light and quickly. On
the fourth day we pulled into camp in
the half light of midnight. Penaski
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, 30 miles away. The last
we saw of our mammoth cooker it was
taking a flying leap down a ten-foot
bank, and dragging all the Elkimos
with it.
Alaska Joe was over that way the
next winter. He told me that Penas-
kis 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
sstove.-Chicago News.