Show DOGS V- V i. i wit K v a t k I I I t Emile lf WCO t n aYi 1 Winning Quebec ue eC Se ale and Two o Derby c By ELMO SCOTT WATSON T r IS a far cry from the zero sub-zero temperatures tern ten p and the snow-covered snow hills I surrounding Lake Jake Placid In northern New York to sunny California and the great stadium In Ia Los Angeles where the 1 1932 1032 3 Olympic games will be held this summer but there Is a a. connection between the two Starting In Greece more than years rears ago ngo Olympic games have been held at nt more or less regular intervals In many different countries during these 30 centuries but this year for tor the first time In history the games will Include Include In In- clude elude sled dogs races ObY Obviously It would be Impossible for tor the sled dog races to be held at the same time and place as ns the ot other er branches of Olympic competition So that Is why Lake Placid N. N Y L comes Into the Olympic picture It has one of the finest sled dogs racing courses on this continent and there on February G 0 and 7 the teams of huskies hus huskies kies tries driven en by their fur-clad fur will wm race 25 miles each lay day to win Olympic honors for the nations which they represent Previous to the races at Lake Placid elimination contests contests contests con con- tests are being held In various parts of ot the country notably In New England to determine the American representatives In the Olympic finals so these finals will see In the entry lists the names of or some of ot the greatest sled dog drivers ers and teams In the world pitting their speed and endurance against each other Outstanding among these will be such drivers ers as Leonard of Alaska a native of Norway Norway Norway Nor Nor- way but now a naturalized American citizen cItizen- the man who with his heroic lead dog Balto Dalto thrilled ned the world a few years ago when the they carried the diphtheria serum to stricken Nome Emile St. St Godard of Le Ie Pas Manitoba a young roun French Canadian who has won three world championships Frank Dupuis another Canadian Canadian Canadian Cana Cana- dian Arthur T. T Walden of or New Hamp Hamp- HampshIre Hampshire shire experienced c Alaskan sourdough mustier and for Commander Byrd inthe In Inthe Inthe the Antarctic Walter Channing of Boston Doston who has twice defeated teams from both sides of the border In the annual ra races es at Lake Placid Charlie Lyman the barber of LaconIa N. N H. H who has defeated veteran fur trappers and mall mail drivers of the Northland Norman Vaughan E. E Goodale and Fred Crockett the three Musketeers of the South pole and many others Nor Is sled dog racing a sport In which only men compete Although If it successful In the thc trials will represent his adopted country rather than his native land Norway will probably probably ably be represented by a former American the outstanding woman dog driver of ot the East She Is Mrs Kaare Nansen who before her marriage to the son of the famous Norwegian NOr explorer WaS was Mrs E E. P. P Ricker Jr a formidable competition competition competition com com- petition to the men In many an exciting dog race And a competitor from the West Vest may be beMiss beMiss Miss Ly Lydia ln Lyd Hutchinson whose fame Is Intimately associated with the fame of ot the annual American Dog derby at Ashton Idaho What horse racing Is to the people of ot the themore themore themore more moderate climates In North America sled dog racing Is to the people of ot the north where the snows are deep the winds bite cold and the Ice-bound Ice trails trans defy man and his bis principal beast of burden the sled dog to conquer them Part timber wolf part Dart Labrador husky the fierce shag shaggy y won their place In hIst history ry the tho Klon Iol gold rn rush MIh sli n a nt nf of A n cen nan 0 u v. v tury ago But Dut their usefulness by no means ended with the end of ot the gold rush Today In Inthe Inthe inthe the land which Yes lies north of ot 63 53 day In and day out these dogs Haul final provisions medicines freight and supplies They are an essential part pan of ot the fur trade for with their help the trappers patrol their mile mlle trap lines and bring back to civilization the tho furs which fashion decrees milady must wear The sport of sled dog racing Is comparatively ly new but It has grown in favor and In extent more than most people realize It began back In In 1 OS when the first of ot these picturesque sporting events was held over the mile wilderness wil- wil wilI I trail In Alaska from Nome to Candle creek and hack back Mans best friend had mad made lit t possible for tor the golden riches of ot Alaska to b be obtained so BO the first All Alaskan Sweepstake race was dedicated to the huskies Th The plan s h. h ti rt z k f wv t F II V. V V Vai Y ai c VS t t w 2 a dC Q r k Ld r was originated by a Nome lawyer er Albert Fink a dog lover and e. e experienced sourdough Assisted by a company of friends he raised a fund of to be awarded to the winners winners' and nd they spread the word of race of the century century cen- cen tury ury throughout the northland The TIle result resul was that hat Nome was packed with spectators and a n along long ong string of famous dogs and experienced experIence ready for the race It was won b by John who ran the miles across the bleak wilderness and back a after ler a steady grind I night and day In hours and 15 minutes minutes and and most of the way he had to fight one of ot the most severe ere Arctic blizzards known In the history of Alaska i Entered In the second race was a youthful hardware clerk whose name was destined in later ater years to a romantic place In the annals of the nor northland Scotty Allen In od odd hours at the store had managed to assemble a team of ot dogs of doubtful value as racers His entry was regarded as a Joke he was asked aske i how low he had got up the nerve to list them them but but Scotty won the 1000 1300 classic In 1910 he was defeated defeated de- de by Iron Man John Johnson who es es- tab a record never duplicated over that miles thanks to an exceptional team his rare skill and a good break In weather er John John- sons son's time was 74 hours and ana 14 minutes the tue fastest ever ma made c In dog racing In tn the north But Scotty Allen was not discouraged Back Backle he le came for another trial In 1911 and cut two hours off his previous record He is the only man man who ran in more than fo four r All Alaskan Sweepstakes the Sweepstakes the first second third and eighth and eighth and final final and and he won the distinction of ot always I finishing a race Irrespective of weather or condition condition condition condi condi- tion of his bIg dogs In 1915 Scotty took 10 4 Alaskan Alas Alas- kan an dogs to France for tor distinguished service he was decorated by the French government with the Croix Crob de Guerre The same world con conflict that claimed Allen AIlen drew rew the other men of ot Alaska and Alaska and the ranks of the racers became so 50 depleted that It was Impossible Impossible impossible Im Im- im- im possible to hold the ilie big race Thus the 1910 1010 event became the last During that winter a company of sourdoughs met In Le Lo Pas Man Dog race talk was revived It was suggested that Le Pas hold one and the date was set for late that winter over oyer a It mile mlle course from Le Pas to FlIn Flon mushroom mining town and back Few preparations were made the drivers used ordinary dogs they themselves were unskilled In the art of racing and a n bitter struggle le followed followed followed fol fol- lowed across that trackless snowy waste In quest of ot the prize and the title of champion champion- But Dut It turned out to be a singularly exciting race The winner had an nn accident that staved In two ribs but he hung on en until the finish From that day to this Le Pas has staged each winter one of ot the most thrilling races and has hns developed eloped some of ot the finest men and teams In the game most famous of whom Is their own boy St St. Godard Since that time the growth of ot the dog derby Idea has hns been rapid until now such races arc are archeld archeld h held ld In different parts of the United States States- Canada and Alaska Outstanding among them besides the one at Le Pas already mentioned Mrs Kaare Kaare Hansen are the annual races at Poland Spring Maine Laconia N. N H. H Ashton Idaho Prince Albert Saskatchewan Quebec and Fairbanks Alaska Alaka The American Dog derby at Ashton Idaho Is s run each year on Washington's birthday over overa a mile 25 course and nd attracts a large crowd of ot spectators from all over the Northwest Perhaps the best known of all aU the dog races races' Is Is s the Eastern International Dog derby held at Quebec du during ing the third week in February each year ear where re world championships are awarded tl he the e winners There assemble the winners of the theother theother other contests to race over o-er a course of ot about miles run In heats hents of 40 miles a day Quebec attracts the best Drivers and teams from all parts of America and rivalry runs high during the lie three da days das s attaining a fever heat on the last day of ot the Ule race The winner of the worlds world's championship In the first International was Arthur Arthur Ar Ax- thur T. T Walden of ot New Hampshire experienced Alaskan sourdough mushier who started trailing dogs logs across the frozen wilderness back In 1800 during the gold rush and who was with Commander Byrd In the Antarctic In l 1923 1023 23 the international was won by a French Canadian Jean Lebel of or Quebec much to the elation of the Ule Canadians Earl Dr Brydges of ot Le LePas LePas LePas Pas took the next championship and Into the tho arena of ot the 1 1925 1025 25 derby stepped young Emile St. St Godard still In his bis teens to begin his un un- record In dog racing He ITe Is now the only man who has won three championships Frank Dupuis won the tho 1920 race over oyer St SL Godard by a margin so narrow as to make the race one of the most thrilling and to establish a a. new time on the ilia trail St St. Godard won the 1025 1925 1927 and 1923 1023 races In 1929 1020 Leonhard entered with a string of seven seyen wonderful dogs doss This was the third year ear he ha had made a determined determined determined deter deter- mined bI bid to win the worlds world's championship and from start to finish ran one ono of or the most spectacular races ever er seen at nt Quebec Quebec Quebec-or or anywhere anywhere any any- where else Not only did he defeat St. St Godard by about an hour but he broke St St. Godard's own worlds world's record and again put the Americans Into the game Dupuis took second honors and St 51 Godard came trailing In third In the opinion atthe of at the Judges Siberians completed the 1 mile 3 GrInd rind fresher than any racers they had ever see seen seeb and they were awarded the condition prize something unusual In the annals of ot dog races Usually this award goes to some driver wh who trails In later Inter and who has saved his dogs In the mad dash over the snow It Is 13 such drivers and such dogs as these who will compete In the OI Olympic contests at Lake Placid within the next few weeks The sled dogs are arc trained for their life Ufe work Just as soon as aa they are able to walk they are aro tied up and soon acquire the habit of pulling At about sixty da days s 's of ot age they are given over to the care of boys who harness them to small sleds or wagons The do dogs s appear to be willing to do this play-acting play In the harness and come to enjoy the pastime Any number of ot dogs may be used In a team although 15 Is about the limit 0 Q by bT Western Union |