San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-09
HARDSHIP TALE
RELATED BY
JAP ANESE
Smith Trudges to Barrow
With Supplies for
Air Expedition.

WISEMAN, Alaska, April 9.-tP)
A tale of hardships experienced by
Alexander Malcolm Smith and his
party who are struggling northward
across virtually unexplored wastes Of
Northern Alaska with supplies for
the Point Barrow base of an Arctic
air expedition of Captain George II.
Wilkins, was told here today. James
Minano, 70-year-old japanese, who
has lived north of the Arctic circle
nearly all his life, travelled with the
party from BEETLES for 200 miles north
ward along the John river and re-
turned to Wiseman. Smith turned
Minano and a number of natives
loose when food ran short. Minano
was without food for three days be-
fore reaching BEETLES and arrived there
exhausted and famished. He came
here today.
He said the party encountered nu-
merous snowstorms and the tempera-
ture averaged zero. All were wet
during the days and enjoyed little or
no COulOTJ Ut HlguI.
is MILES A DAY.
Fifteen miles a day was averaged
along the John river. which runs
northwest into the Anaktuvak. large
tributary Of the Colville river.
After leaving Fairbanks, food for
the men and dogs was taken at Bet
ties. Flour, bacon and ham lasted
hn
sisted of bareback. corn bread, peanut
butter and black coffee.
The weather improved after the
party crossed the summit Of the
Brooks mountains, but the tempera-
ture dropped and averaged II degrees
below zero. with strong easterly winds.
The lowest temperature recorded was
81 degree below zero.
After crossing the Brooks range,
however. better time was made as the
hard packed snow held up the sleds.
LOSE TWO DOGS.
Wild game was expected for dog
food, but none was seen, not even
snowshoc rabbits, which are usually
common in the Arctic.
No one rode 4 step rs the rapidly
ebbing energy of the dogs was needed.
Smith lost two dogs from his team
after reaching the summit. One of the
animals dropped on the trail from
starvation and Smith pronounced it
dead. Later the dog. which had come
to life and seemingly returned to the
haunts and habits Of his ancestors.
the wolf. appeared and attacked
team which was bringing up the rear
Of the division of dog trains. \ driver
shot the animal.
Minano declared there was no fire
on the trip except in the cooks tent
where cOrnbrpad and coffee were
made. Immediately after the meal
was served. the fire would be extin-
guiShed, due to the scarcity Of fuel.
the waste lands being virtually bar
rem Of any combustible fuel.
PARTY SPLITS.
After four days journey beyond
the summit, the party split when it
was seen that all could not reach
Point Barrow alive.
Koyukuk and Yukon district natives
were sent back. RatiOns were divided
and each man was allowed ten pounds
of bareback but no feed for his dogs.
1t wns thus that Minano left for his
long trek back to BEETLES.
Smith pushed onward and what was
left Of his party are frantically try.
ing to reach Jones Island. in the Arc
tic ocean, near the mouth of the Col.
willie river, where food for the starv.
ing dogs may enable the expedition
10 proceed the remaining 40 miles
TO Point Barrow.
Minano was shipwreckcd 30 years
ago near Point Barrow, while work.
ing on a whaling vessel and has lived |
north Of the Arctic circle ever since. !