Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-07
BYRD DOG TUNNEL
FIRST OF ITS KIND
Room Under Snow Warmer
Than Surface and CANNES
Are in Good Condition.
BY RUSSELL OWEN.


tsy Redo to The r s.sg and the New York
LITTLE AMERICA, Antartica, Sep
tember There is place just west OF
Comdr. Byrd's camp where from under
the snow come mufIied subterranean
sounds as il from a menagerie. There
are banks and far-away howlS, some
times the snarls of animals trying to
get at each other. But on the surface
there is nothing to indicate that there
Is an animal within miles, at least there
was not until yesterday.
The noises come from the dog tun-
nels, which radiate from a big square
snow room, where seals are chopped.
ana yesterday ventilators were opened
in the roof of these tunnels to let In
light and air.
The digging necessary to reach the
tunnel roofs gave an idea of the big
amount OF snow which has fallen and
drifted this Winter, for there was not
more than a foot and the snow was
packed into solid mass that would hold
q heavy weight.
Eager for Canine Denny brook.
which for months have lived in these
dark caverns during the Winter night,
being taken out at intervals for exer-
else, began to bark and howl and jump
around in intense excitement.
They had not seen light in their cold
quarters for so long that they all wanted
TO get out and run and resume their
favorite recreation of flghting. II they
all got out together now there would
probably be the bonniest dogs I'm Donny-
brook that ever was seen and a few
Of them would never haul another
sledge.
There is no more interesting place
IN camp than these dog tunnels. Dogs
have never been kept this way before
and the method has been very success
ful. The temperature has always been
many degrees warmer than the surface
temperature and they have kept in good
condition, nearly every one Of them
being heavier than when they started
their Information.
Two or three weeks of exercise when
IL Is a little warmer and they will be
in splendid shape for the trail. They
are exercised now at intervals when the
weather permits, just enough to keep
them healthy.
N0IeS Eaten 10 Drink" Snow.
The main entrance to the dog tunnels
Is through the chop house." as 1t Is
called, where until recently the seals
were cut up. It is q big square room
with a large entrance covered with
canvas. The huge seals. averaging
more than 500 pounds each, are let
down into this room, and when they
slide thev slide hard. They are as
rigid as iron in the intense cold, and 1t
takes all a mans strength to cut them
up.
From this room run the tunnels in
g.
sunk in the snow walls. They have
eaten big holes In the sides to get
drink. for they have no water, and
sometimes one will make such o huge
hole by eating and digging that in a
tug of rage at being confined he will
pull his crate out of the wall, blocking
the passage. Then he is found the next
day sitting some distance from his hole.
diseonsolately wondering where to 90
next.
A glimpse into these holes when they
are only Illuminated by lantern held
In the hand is like gazing into bears
den.
DSscsnAing Int the Deg Den.
shadowy creatures. ell teeth and
claws. leap forward and upward, paw
ing at the air. They look twice as big
and ferociouS as they do outdoors. like
two If they had an opportunity.
Back of the first one, seen fairly
we'll in the lantern light. are others.
only dimly outlined and there is
rafting Of chains and snarling and
sharp barks as II q regiment Of fierce
dogs were striving to tear themselves
loose.
And vet one can walk through the
tunnels. patting dogs on the head as
rtnh
against one. Occasionally q dog will
nip some one. but not often.
They are we'll trained to leave their
food alone until it Ia thrown to them
also, and q bucket of seal meat can
be put down in the tunnel and not
q dog will touch 1t until his share
is tossed in front Of his box. Then
they "wufI" it, and If one can get
. piece from q neighbor he will grab
It and growl over it with gusto.
They are chained just far enough
apart 30 that they cannot ight with
serious results, although sometimes
= dog will get loose, break a chain
as II It were string and walk down
the tunnel looking for trouble.
So long Is q loose dog stays In
his own tunnel he is safe. but II he
gets In another tunnel with another
dog he Is apt to have leg chewed
OH. 1HGy ere NBALCNS Va bhIC oO"e
cry barroom school, these.
Mardy Puppies in Nursery.
The maternity ward is OF the chop
house and In 1t most of the pups are
confined ut present because they are
getting big enough to tight. At GER
tain times they are let out for exer.
else and roam over the camp like q
pack of baby wolves.
The puppies of the latest brood
are still running loose In the tunnels,
for the big dogs will not bother such
small dogs. Their mother took q dis
like to her quarters one day, how
ever and moved the whole brood to
IN empty box. where she thought they
would be warmer and more comfort
able
These dogs, born at so below zero
and raised in o temperature that av-
erages about 80 below, are the toughest,
hardest little rascals that ever ran
on four legs. This particular litter is
also g handsome group of dogs. as they
are black with white markings
These dog shelters are unique In
many ways and are probably as good
a way of sheltering animals as could
be found on the Barrier, where it is
possible to excavate any kind Of struc-
ture in the hard snow.
(copyright, 1898. by the New York Times
rfshts for, publication reserved throughout
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