New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-16

ds in search Of the three lieutenants
of writing paper which he found some
where about the shack, threw another
armload of wood on the fire in the
middle of the room and calmly lay
down on the floor and went to sleep.
The women, after some two or three
minutes, cuddled up close to him, after
first having stood the board holding
the papoose up in corner. The
Tribune man suspected that he had
worn his welcome out and departed
Sparks From Fire Damage Tent
The camp had been established and
dinner was almost ready. While
Daniel Squirrels house had been rather
inclined to the flavor Of a stockyard, it
had been very much warmer than
our tent. The temperature suffered q
rapid decline that night, and when we
finally crawled between the blankets
| an innovation in shimmy shaking
| was inaugurated For two hours the
writer stood it without howl, and
then gave it up. While the rest of the
party slept the writer piled wood onto
, the fire and attempted to keep warm
sparks from the fire behaved them
selves, but when they landed on top
of the tent, the tent being canvas
started to burn, and it was with diff
Guilty that the correspondent aroused
the sleeping occupants in time to save
anything but the poles and the flap.
BY placing strips of canvas in water
the Indians patched the tent by freez-
ing the strips to the holes burned.
That night was forty eight hours long
and the most miserable ever spent.
Our start was delayed the next morn
ing, and during the day we made less
than six miles. At last it was decided
to camp and wait for the party. We
were nearly forty miles from the near
est telegraph instrument at the time.
A banner bearing the name New York
Tribune" was planted in the trail, and
at all times watch was maintained
over the river for sight of the ap-
preaching ballooni SITS. They never
came. Sunday night a feeling of de-
preston crept over the camp, which
was increased Monday morning. All
day Monday watch was kept over the
river, and Monday night was a very
miserable one for the writer. The
party if using the Abitibi River trail,
already was four days overdue and still
not in sight.
Camp Thrown Into Frenzy
Monday morning at $3.50 every men,
Der of the party was fully dressed.
Shortly before dawn the huskies start
ed to show signs of the approach of
something. At first the writer thought
roaming timber wolf was RESPONSE
| BILE. Nearly half an hour later D dis
tant shout was heard from up the trail,
nd 40r <n, Io%n IND
ner appeared with telegram. This
was one sent from Mattice by kindly
operator, in which he informed the
writer that Clark, an Indian runner,
had sighted the party twenty miles
from Mattice.
The camp was immediately thrown
into frenzy. The five Malumute dogs
were hurriedly fastened to the sled,
and he writer, after instructing the
Indians and French Canuck to remain
i'll camp until the dog sled returned
for them, departed. Lying fiat on his
stomach on the sled, the Tribune man
The fact that the trail was broken
! helped lot and the five dogs, with
nothing but 120-pound burden, went
fast. They ran unerringly through the
darkness. and within the hour that re-
manned before sunup they must have
made ten miles at least. All during the
morning the ride continued with but
two short rests. Less than five miles
remained before Clute would be reached
and a fast horse and cutter awaited the
writer there.
Correspondent Had Narrow Escape
At the beginning of the last five miles
difficult stretch of nearly three miles
had to be crossed. The trail at that
point led direct through the north
woods, and protruding limbs and fallen
logs made it one of the most difficult
experienced along the entire march.
Shortly after entering upon the stretch
the sled was overturned, but the dogs
continued to run. A long chain ON the
back of the toboggan passed beneath
the writer, and it was with difficulty
that he managed to mold onto it. Had
he missed that chain ne would have
been forced to negotiate five miles of
woods trail without snowshoes, the
snowshoes being dashed to the tobog-
gan. T,-e dogs would never have
stopped until they reached Cute The
writer was dragged nearly $50 yards
legs fastened aroundl a sapling and
stopped the dogs. The rest of the trip
was made without mishap and the writ
er arrived in Clute an hour later. The
trip from Clute to Cochrane was rapid.
and the Tribune man arrived there lust
as Clermont, the man who had taken
the right trail, stepped from freight
train, which had just arrived from Mat
tlce. A hurried transaction gave the
writer possession of Slermonts pic
lures, and after hurriedly developing
and printing them the writer entrained
for New York, arriving here twenty
four hours ahead of the rem inder of
the correspondents, and giving New
York the only pictures taken of the
bailoonists on the trail.
Says Writer Was the Goat
The experience was a trying one
and one that will not be forgotten soon
" any one concerned. In closing, too
much credit for landing the story and
pictures cannot be given to Clermont.
Basil Lake, the Tribune correspondent
who flashed the news of the arrival of
the balloonists to New York City thirty
minutes ahead of any other New York
correspondent, also must be given
credit. Lake was sent to Mattice by
The Toronto Star, but CALAMITY Agreed
to protect" The Tribune whileN the |
Tribune correspondent placed all on |
rnr1 ord tooL Ak;4sL: ~ |