THE “HUSKIES” DERBY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17027, 28 April 1923, Page 3

THE “HUSKIES” DERBY.

FOUR HUNDRED MILE RACE IN SNOW. One of the strangest " Derbies in the world is held in Alaska every year ir. the spring. Thus is tlie y All-Alaska Sweepstake,” and consists of a 412mile race for teams of Eskimo dogs, or “huskies.” as they are usually called. The competitors are called upon to “mush” or drive their dogs all this distance over rough, barren country, with a few frozen fish as food for the dogs and snow-water tea for the drivers. Some of the drivers, in their anxiety to win the race, forego all sleep, while others content themselves with on hour’s doze. £'2ooo FOR THE WINNER. 1 The race is from Nome to Candle and back, and £2OOO in cash and a loving-cup await the winner. The first race was held in 1908, and fourteen teams took part. Each team started off to the crack of a revolver, there being an hour's interval between the start of each team. The weather was perfect, but some seventy-eight mile* down the coast the teams ran into a blizzard, and all except one decided to take shelter. It is a rule of the race that no dog must be abandoned for any reason, and should one or more die they must be brought back to Nome. The driver who went on was blown with his pack out on to the ice of the Behring Sea, where he spent the night. Another driver perished in the blizzard, and v.as found dead the following morning. MODIFIED CONDITIONS. Next year the conditions were modified, and the interval between each team's starting off was reduced to fifteen minutes. Among the competitors was the Honourable Charles Maule Ramsay, brother of the Earl of Dalhousie. Ramsay started twelfth. It was blowing a gale that day, and his dogs became unmanageable. To check them he overturned his sled and threw himself on it. Unfortunately. the tow-line snapped, and Ramsay returned to Nome with only his sled. His dog« were there before him ! A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE. The following year Ramsay entered three teams of Siberian trapper dog*. One h« drove himself, one he gave to John Johnson, a Finlander, and the third was di’iven by a Swede. Charles; Johnaon. There was great excitement when it was announced that Ramsay had reached hnlf-wav and was going at speed. Wise acres said he was driving his team too hard. But for once they were wrong, for the young Englishman finished second. The Finn driver carried. off first prize, having completed the 412 miles in the record time of 74 hours 14 minute*. Ramsay was only seventeen minutes behind.