Iditarod pioneer., 1917-01-13
HOW INTERNATIONAL" SOUP
 CAME TO BE THUS NAMED

When the thermometer indicates any where between 50 and 60 degrees below zero. and travel IS at a standstlll, and skin ners," mushers and prospectors congregate around stoves awaiting a break in the weather, everything seems conducive to story telling and some good ones are occa- sionally pulled off" The following, re- lated by we'll known miner, relates to cook named Louis, 8 Frenchman who IS not troubled with extreme modesty, and the facts of whose story are not vouched for. Louis, who was cooking at a placer camp, unbosomed himself thus to the miners assembled in the mess house one evening:
 Did you ever hear how my Interna- tional soup happened to be so named? And not waiting for an answer, he resumed:
 "In lS7- l was chef on the steamship Zante running between Liverpool and New York. The berth was 8 good one, and as was allowed full sway, l was ln the height of my glory. Taking a-prlde in my culinary efforts, and always having discriminating and appreciative clientele, never was man happier in his chosen profession than l. It was my privilege to evolve soup which
 
 He was an epicure of some note, and his e;ble always was one of the strong cards in attracting passengers to the vessel. The recipe for this soup I have always carefully guarded, and even to this day none knows its ingredients except myself. But my secret was in such danger at once time that 1t be- came the subject of diplomatic crisis in which three nations were involved, and at one time it looked as though hostilites might grow out of the incident. It hap pened in this manner:
 We had left Liverpool with full pas senger list. The weather was glorious and the table was wei patronized throughout the voyage 1 excelled myself in preparing the menus, and my favorte soup gained new laureEs The captain was radiant and the passengers were full of praise for the gallant captain, his ship and his chef.
 But there was a cloud on the horizon, had intended to lay of at New York for couple of trips by way of vacation. The captain had not been apprised of this until the day before we sighted Sandy Hook. Then he came to me and reproached me for leaving him in the middle of the season. I was obdurate, however, my preparations all being made and my substitute hired. Finally when he found he could not dis suade me from my course, he insisted that 1 leave the recipe for my famous soup with him for use by my successor during my ab- sence. This l declined to do, and after a heated argument the captain placed me in irons, keeping me in confinement until we reached New York. 1 refused to capitulate to him, and he refused to grant me my liberty until had given him the wished for recipe
 After reaching port, succeeded through shipmate who was fellow countryman in interesting the French consul in my case, and he immediately busted himself with the United States authorities. Proceedings were brought against the captain for my release, and after much difficulty 1 was haled into court and my discharge was ordered. This did not end the matter, however, for the French government had taken the matter up in the meantime, and an apology had been demanded from Great Britain the Zante was British ship for the affront to French citizen. The United States gov ernment backed up the demands of the French, and finally the apology was deliv- cred thus averting bloodshed
 T never went back to the Zante. and the captain reproached himself freely for his loss of my services as I learned after ward. That Is how it came to be called International soup"
 Roughnecks know that it is not wise to doubt the word of the cook and the story was received ill silence