The Nome nugget., 1924-03-08
WAS THE SHOOTING
 TSCALI.HD FOR

In an issue of the Nome Nugget
 of recent date an article was printed
 giving what we were informed at the time of that publication. the facts of the killing of two reindeer owned by the Biological Survey Sta tion and four dogs owned by Terri
 torial Senator Fred M. Aver. since
 the publication of that article there
 has been brought forth much discus- sion and what is said to be the true facts, or the other side of the case. are as follows:
 Senator Aver the owner of the dogs states that after the shooting of the dogs he made close survey of the surrounding country and he stated that he found evidence suffic- lent to prove to himself or any one else who would care 10 look into the matter. that the dogs were killed at least an hour after the attack on the deer was made.
 L. J. Palmer of the Bureau. ac- cording to all reports. left Nome ap- proximately 30 minutes after the reindeer team, which was driven by Hans Samuelson, left the barn. and Palmer carried q rife on his sled, said to be 3030 scalibre, and Sam uelson carried small calibre re- yolver. i, is claimed by at least three men. states MT. Aver. that the dogs which were killed met their death from bullets fired from much larger calibre gun than carried by Samuelson, information coming from reliable source was that
 Samuelson stated after the deer were dead, there's no use in kill ing the dogs now that the deer are dead" Other information was that Palmer stated when he heard the deer had been killed, that the dogs would be taken care of, or words to that effect.
 It is freely stated that conclusive proof has been unearthed that the dogs which were shot, did not re ceive an injury from gunshot dur ing the attack on the deer with the exception of one dog, which Samuel son it is stated. was successful in shooting with the revolver, the gen. eral belief is that the dogs were shot one hour after the attack on the deer. which. if that belief is correct, places the man responsible for the killing of the dogs in a very peculiar position.
 Senator Aver states that he has always been a strong advocate for the protection of reindeer from the attacks of dogs. and adds that had he been at the scene of the attack , he would have assisted Samuelson
 in killing the dogs in order to drive them away, had it been necessary to resort to such action. But states l that he does not believe the dogs
 were killed while attacking the deer. but states that he has proof
 which points to the belief that the dogs were killed while they were feeding of the carcass of the dead deer. left behind by Samuelson. Regardless of the fact when or
 how the dogs were injured. the
 party responsible for the act should
 have attended to the execution
 thoroughly and not left one or two
 of the dogs to drag themselves
 around over the frozen tundra in a
 wounded condition of such serious
 nature that it was impossible for
 the animals to reach their home
 barn. A wounded animal should,
 when possible, be finished and not
 left to die slow and agonzing
 death.
 Information and proof practically
 irrevocable that the first article
 written about this unfortunate in
 cident was incorrect as to all the
 facts, causes us to publish the
 above in the interest of fair play,
 while We are not apologizing for the
 first article. we deem it proper to
 state that the information was ob-
 tained from an interview with E.
 Forsling of the Biological Survey
 Station. at the time it was written,
 thr information was what he seem
 ed to think were the true facts of
 the case.