The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-01-03
THE WOLF DOGS or
THE YUKON COUNTRY


Strike, Jump Away and Never Cult.
Strip man Of all metalic substance,
lock him in a bare room and leave
him there with only tin cans Of beef
and he would doubtless starve.
Put a I.abadcr husky or an In
dian malamute in the same position
and II would grow fat, as long as the
beef held out.
This is rather q surprising state
mcnt, but II is positive and well
known fact that Alaskan sled dogs
will open any tin can with their teeth,
when hungry enough, and on short ra-
tion mushing trips the driver has 10 be
Ms careful with the canned goods as
with the bacon.
/ WAS much interested in the dogs
of Alaska and | never missed an op-
portnnity TO observe them or TO talk
with some old dog. beater who knew
them.
And one day | saw n fight. | had
often heard Of the ferocity with which
these beasts go to each other, but |
had no idea | would witness scrap,
for it was summer time, and the
beasts were on their long vacation.
In the summer the dogs are chained
IN groups or teams. Most of them
are provided with kennels, where they
can escape the pests and the rains,
but in the day time they usually sit
or lie on the top Of their dog houses.
A dozen or more were in one family
group just outside Of town and used
TO watch them at feeding time.
One day AS ! was observing them a
big shaggy husky came down the path
/ don't know whether he had escaped
or whether he was allowed TO run
loose.
As he passed the kennels every dog
set up n howl, pulled at its chain
and tried TO get at the invader.
The free dog gave no attention to
the din, he walked on as unconcerned
as an Indian returning from salmon
eat. But when he had passed them,
like flash he turned and sprang at
tho nearest dog.
And / wondered if this particular
dog tauntcd him with nasty name as
a last challenge, one Of those taunts
that ro one in Alhgka will stand for,
but as ] was not familiar with dog
dialect, could only surmisc.
And what vicious scrap.
The Alaskan dogs don't get hold
and stay with it until death, as bull
dogs do. They fight according to Mar
quis Of Quoonsbury, no hitting in the
clinches, no fouling.
The big husky rushed to his chained
antagonist For second the two
dogs eyed each othcr-then a strike
and getaway, quick as the wink Of
an eye. The most of the trail dogs
are part wolf and they fight like their
ancestors--strikc like a steel trap and
jump away. But once at it they never
quit. There is no mercy shown byI
beast or man in Alaska fights.
l watched the contest for several
minutes before the din of the chained
dogs attracted attention and the own.
ers came and stopped the combat. The
free dog would rush in, snap his jaws
and blood would spirit. Once to avoid
a rush he jumped too far and came
within reach of the chain of another
dog. Snap, and his hip was laid open
with an ugly wound, but the wounded
dog never looked at his second an
tagonist. His mission was to kill the
first dog, and they would have fought
20 the death II the men had not beaten
them apart with clubs and stones.
Huskies are recognized as the best
breed for shedding, but the Indians
want the malamutes--half wolf. II
had often heard it stated that the an
restry OF dog could be determined by
the way in which he howled. Let a
steamboat whistle and every dog will
chorus in, according to the music he
inherited. The "just dog" will bark,
while the wolf breed beasts let out the
long, lonesome howl of their fore
fathers.
The trail dogs Of Alaska don't want
any petting or familiarity. They are
wonderful in their affection and fidel-
ity, when they know who the boss is,
but they won't make friends with
strangers. They are supremely indif-
fcrcnt 10 any advances. They want
you To leave them alone, and wise
will.
White men drive from seven TO nine
logs on an outfit depending on the
|oad and the trail. They harness them
spread out 70 they do not
interfere with each other. The load
. from 100 TO $50 pounds to dog.
Indians will drive a team Of mala-
nutes 10 miles q day. White men
Al y a