The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-03-29
RACE IN
NORTHERN ALASKA
DOCTOR ON DOG SLEDGES MAKES
RACE WITH DEATH In FAR
NORTH AND WINS.

| aASAOl d6C, fildohd.--tDy "A > -
More than LOO miles of Alaska win
ter snow trails were covered recently
/ by DR.. j. B. Beeson, an Anchorage gov
eminent railroad physician, by dog
team in what probably was one of the
longest professional trips ever made
by a doctor in response to a call from
sick bed. 1t was a race to save the
life of Claude Baker, banker OF
Iditarod, and DR.. Beeson won.
Once on the trip the temperature
dropped to fifty degrees below zero
and biting winds made going nard
part of the way for the relays of
"mushers" and dog teams who wafted
for Dr. Beeson every thirty to fifty
miles along the route. AT one place
the doctor had to climb out of his
sleigh and change places with his dog
driver, who had suffered an injury,
and, on another stretch the doctor
covered 512 miles with but one nights
rest in bed.
Off on the long trail, DR.. Beeson left
Anchorage January "a. When the call
came that Baker was dying, a govern
ment train was given the right of way
so it could rush DR.. Beeson to the end
OF the railroad to start him on his way
On the train with him was Bill
Corey, dog driver, with racing
team OF settlers and malamutes.
the dog team rushed the doctor A
few miles out the malmutes gave out
and the settlers finished the run.
An engine and caboose were wait
ing at Really, where they met the rail-
road again. To Nenana the doctor
was carried by the locomotive and
there he met the 'Scurvy Kid well
known interior musher At II
O'Clock at night the two set out IN
the trail north to the Yukon river,
with the temperature forty below. A
short distance from Nenana the
driver met with an accident and Dr.
Beeson took his first lesson in mush-
ing. Reaching a cabin 23 miles en-,
an Indian took him SO miles to the
next post. Here horse vas tried
but could make no time so logs were
pressed into service.
Arriving at Tolovana, on the trail
to the Yukon, late at night, the doc
tor changed drivers and left at II
O'Clock, going down the trail over the
ice of the Tanana river 1t was dark,
the wind was blowing a gale and the
dogs followed the trail by memory
Nearing Fort Gibbon, the driver went
into water up to his knees and at
Gibbon found he had frozen two tees
Dr.. Beeson gave him medical atten-
ton and then took TO a bed at 8
O'Clock at night. Arising at o'clock
the next morning he was off, with a
musher and thirteen dogs, FOR
Birches. From Birches another relay
carried him 40 miles to Cockrlnes,
where an Indian, seeing the sport
ing feature of the race, pilotad the
doctor over the 80 miles to Ruby IN
four hours. Similar relays completed
the trip from Ruby to Iditarod.
Going in, it took five days and ten
hours. On the way back the doctor
made the trip in fourteen days Hell
took a different route, part of which
was across a glacier, and was piloted
by Leonard Seppala, noted racing dog
driver.
DR.. Beeson, back at his desk here,
said the trip was just what he needed.
Arrangements were made ahead q
me along the line for drivers ard no
a man failed. 1t was wonderful, tbs
spirit of the mushers and their game
ness" he said. Il now have fine
gang of pals all along the line "A
change of climate was recommended |
by the doctor for Mr.. Baker