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Balto Siberian Husky Sled Dog: 1925 Serum Run To Nome Alaska
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Published: June 28, 2007
Dogs can be more than just man's best friends or stinky, furry animals that eat their owner's shoes and make a mess of the carpet. In the case of the Alaskan sleigh-dog, Balto, saving the lives of disease-stricken children was his top priority. The famous Siberian Husky braved what many humans would not, and the legend has become an archetype of the loyal pooch.
In January of 1925, the youth of the city of Nome, Alaska, were swept with a diptheria epidemic.
The only cure for the disease was a serum in an Anchorage hospital, nearly 1000 miles away. At the time, Nome was completely isolated. In the dead of winter, the ocean was frozen over, the only plane disassembled, and the nearest rail station was 700 miles away. With several children already dead and more children increasingly ill, the town became desperate. The only physician in town, Dr. Curtis Welch, put out an urgent radio appeal for the serum. Without any other solutions in sight, officials decided to use an older approach: a continuous sled dog run.
Soon after, the 1925 serum run to Nome began. The first leg of the relay embarked from Anchorage. More than 20 mushers commanded the sleighs in total. Second-to-last on the relay was Gunnar Kassen, an owner of a team of Siberian huskies. after the hand-off from the previous team. Directed by his young lead dog, Balto, Kassen took the reigns for the final 53 miles, braving temperatures at 60F below zero and winds at 70mph. Kaasen, nearly blinded by a blizzard, put all of his faith in Balto. At times, the sled strayed from the trail and Kassen even missed the hand-off to the last team. The musher and his dogs trudged on and arrived just six days after the Great Race of Mercy began. With the serum delivered, the children's lives were saved and the further spread of diptheria was halted.
Reporters followed the progress of the team and the nation was gripped with emotion because of the dire situation. After the dogs returned, they were recognized as heroes and a year later, a Balto statue was erected in Central Park to commemorate the team's bravery. The dogs toured the US, but their heroism was soon forgotten. In Los Angeles, just two years after the 1925 serum run to Nome, a Cleveland businessman found Balto and his furry friends on display in poor health. Cleveland schoolchildren and local residents gave up their spare change to rescue the dogs and the team was brought to the Midwestern city. In 1933, Balto died and his body was stuffed, mounted, and put on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. His body is still there on display along with a 1925 film that includes footage from the original team.
The true legend of Balto lives on and in 1995, an animated film, “Balto,” debuted. Kevin Bacon lent his voice to the title character and Bob Hoskins, Bridget Fonda, and Phil Collins all contributed their voices as well. Few dogs will ever live up to the Siberian Husky, and the sled dog relay helped establish sled dog races that still occur today.
Sources:
"Balto.” PBS. 20 June 2007.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/sleddogs/balto.ht ml
Balto, the Wonder dog. RoadsideAmerica.com. 1996-2007 . Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. 20 June 2007. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/pet/balto.html
Full Cast and Crew for Balto. IMDb.1990-2007. Internet Movie Database, Inc. 20 June 2007.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112453/fullcredits# writers
In January of 1925, the youth of the city of Nome, Alaska, were swept with a diptheria epidemic.
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Soon after, the 1925 serum run to Nome began. The first leg of the relay embarked from Anchorage. More than 20 mushers commanded the sleighs in total. Second-to-last on the relay was Gunnar Kassen, an owner of a team of Siberian huskies. after the hand-off from the previous team. Directed by his young lead dog, Balto, Kassen took the reigns for the final 53 miles, braving temperatures at 60F below zero and winds at 70mph. Kaasen, nearly blinded by a blizzard, put all of his faith in Balto. At times, the sled strayed from the trail and Kassen even missed the hand-off to the last team. The musher and his dogs trudged on and arrived just six days after the Great Race of Mercy began. With the serum delivered, the children's lives were saved and the further spread of diptheria was halted.
Reporters followed the progress of the team and the nation was gripped with emotion because of the dire situation. After the dogs returned, they were recognized as heroes and a year later, a Balto statue was erected in Central Park to commemorate the team's bravery. The dogs toured the US, but their heroism was soon forgotten. In Los Angeles, just two years after the 1925 serum run to Nome, a Cleveland businessman found Balto and his furry friends on display in poor health. Cleveland schoolchildren and local residents gave up their spare change to rescue the dogs and the team was brought to the Midwestern city. In 1933, Balto died and his body was stuffed, mounted, and put on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. His body is still there on display along with a 1925 film that includes footage from the original team.
The true legend of Balto lives on and in 1995, an animated film, “Balto,” debuted. Kevin Bacon lent his voice to the title character and Bob Hoskins, Bridget Fonda, and Phil Collins all contributed their voices as well. Few dogs will ever live up to the Siberian Husky, and the sled dog relay helped establish sled dog races that still occur today.
Sources:
"Balto.” PBS. 20 June 2007.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/sleddogs/balto.ht ml
Balto, the Wonder dog. RoadsideAmerica.com. 1996-2007 . Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. 20 June 2007. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/pet/balto.html
Full Cast and Crew for Balto. IMDb.1990-2007. Internet Movie Database, Inc. 20 June 2007.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112453/fullcredits# writers
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