Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-19
BY RUSSELL OWEN.


LITTLE AMERICA, Antarctic, July
18.-Half way over to the mess hall this
morning dark little figure was found
sitting in the snow. 1t was Igeie with
out his boots and his feet were cold, for
1t was so below zero. Iggie is the pet
name for Igloo. Comdr. Byrd's mascot,
and the most intelligent dog in camp.
When Iggie's feet are cold he won't
walk. This morning he had gone with
the commander to breakfast, had stop
ped outside for few moments to play
with the pups and then had apparently
been unable to break through them so
he could scratch on the door for admit
lance. The pups are so big now that
they are almost too much for him.
When Comdr. Byrd was on the ship
he was doubtful as to whether he should
bring Iggie ashore. He is very fond of
him, talks to him in his room and Iggie
has all the traditional devotion to his
master. The commander was afraid
that one Of the big dogs running around
might make a mouthful of Iegie some
day. He brought him to Little Amer
lea, however. and he has become the
pet Of the camp and by a miracle has
survived. Byrd has had 70 rescue hiM
many times. {
lggie Has Courage.
He got along we'll with the dogs OH
the ship. made friends with them,
chased them and even tried to figh:
with one or two which were several
times his size. For Iggie has as much
courage as brains and these. two quail
tiles have probably saved him. where a
less courageous and intelligent short
haired animal would have died long
ago.
Iggies first encounters were with pen
gums. They interested him greatly and
he would bark at them and rush them,
only TO be repulsed with a peck from
the penquin'S vicious beak or q Whack
with flipper. and a thoroughly in
dignant emperor penguin. weighing 10
pounds, can hit tremendous blow. Iggie
never caught one. but he had several
passages at arms with penguins which
convulSed the crew
Once on shore he began TO forage
around for more excitement. The dog
teams fascinated him. He would
plunge at dog team, jump into the
middle one and in an instant disap-
pear in confused scrimmage that
snarled traces and. upset drivers tenn
pers. At first every one expected to
see mangled and half-dead Iggie
pulled out from such melee but each
time a little white bundle of noise would
dash out of the center, barking madly
at the excitement he had caused. He
is mostly fox terrier although his an
cestry is mixed and his speed and
quickness saved him. Before a big
rnItid 90 q ot.it IN ln
was gone But he got several honor
able scars in this way from dogs which
could have killed him with snap of
their jaws.
Not Built for Cold Weather.
When the weather became cold, 80
or more below, Iggie lost his desire to
run around outside, particularly when
the wind blew He is not built to with
stand the low temperatures, although
Nature has tried hard to increase his
coat of hair to meet conditions. But
at best it was a cold little dog which
ran between the houses and scratched
frantically for admission. He always
scratches three times on the door and
then waits until some one has had
time to let him in. If there is no re-
Spouse in reasonable time, IGgie
scratches again, a little harder as much
do W say, SOIlc OIL, lcL d IcllOW ILL.,
it's cold out here" and in he comes,
tail wagging and showing every sign
OF gratitude.
One day Iggie was heard half yelp-
ing and half crying out in the tunnel,
making an awful noise so that those
inside thought he must be half dead
after a fight. 1t was very cold outside
and when a man ran out there was
Iggie sitting in the tunnel holding up
one cold foot and bowling with misery.
When he is out walking with the COM
mander he will suddenly lie down and
whine. holding up one paw until he
is picked up and rubbed. Then he will
jump down and trot gayly ahead again.
The commander, however, thought he
would try to protect Iggie. Men wear
furs and boots, why shouldn't Iegie. So
he had Alexander fashion a warm
wooden oyercoat for 1ggie, and Martin
Rome made him a set Of leather boots.
1ggie thinks his coat is the most dis
graceful garment ever made for dog.
1t Is brown and covers him all over,
even his legs are covered down to the
boots. Naturally 1t is little stiff and
Iggie won't bend his legs when he
walks, so goes along stiff legged, the
view from the rear being so ludicrous
that every one howls with laughter,
while Iggie looks around with a mourn
full and aggrieved expression. as much
as to say This is dirty trick even If
it is for my own good" When his
boots are first put on he won't move,
just stands as if anchored to the floor,
only turning a reproachful glance at
the commander. who calls to him ito
come take a walk" He has to be
picked up and then taken out doors,
where he walks reluctantly. but duti-
fully. When he gets back inside again
he looks around hopefully, as If to ask
some one to please take these con-
founded things off so can be self
dog again" There has been
a lot of fun over Iggie and his coat
and boots.
Iggie Loses a Boot.
One day he lost a boot. and. being an
intelligent dog, he let it stay lost. He
came in looking unusually animated
that day as II saying to himself that's
one gone But it did no good, for
Rome made him another. Sometimes
also he will simply refuse to bulge, for
he knows 1t is very cold. The COM
mander will call him. but Igfgie merely
looks up from a warm seat as il to say,
NO boss. go ahead. I am not supposed
to be a hardy explorer. The fire for
me- And that's all there is to it.
Iggie stays in. He has a fairly good
time, he wever, for he enjoys playing
with the pups, although they are now
so large that they can easily roll him
over in the snow, and when he has his
blanket on they grab hold Of it and
make him yank Indignantly to get
away. But his alertness keeps him out
of serious difficulty with them.
Ii. ~