Ernest and Horace Tuffin carried mail by dog team in Alaska after the "Gold Rush fever" subsided. His route was from Valdez to Cordova.
Horace's route was on to Christachina, a much longer, more dangerous route. He went out in a blizzard to make his run without an Indian guide, against the advice of old timers. He lost his way and was found frozen to death. All facts will never be known but his brother, Ernest said his matches were wet and his ax broken and they assumed he got caught in an "ice overflow" for he had let his dogs loose and apparently lay down to rest and ease hunger pains. He seemed to have fallen asleep and became frozen. He was only a short distance beyond his destination when found. His lead dog had stayed with him. An Indian guide who was waiting at the station for him found him and returned to report.
Horace's route was on to Christachina, a much longer, more dangerous route. He went out in a blizzard to make his run without an Indian guide, against the advice of old timers. He lost his way and was found frozen to death. All facts will never be known but his brother, Ernest said his matches were wet and his ax broken and they assumed he got caught in an "ice overflow" for he had let his dogs loose and apparently lay down to rest and ease hunger pains. He seemed to have fallen asleep and became frozen. He was only a short distance beyond his destination when found. His lead dog had stayed with him. An Indian guide who was waiting at the station for him found him and returned to report.
Ernest and Horace Tuffin carried mail by dog team in Alaska after the "Gold Rush fever" subsided. His route was from Valdez to Cordova.
Horace's route was on to Christachina, a much longer, more dangerous route. He went out in a blizzard to make his run without an Indian guide, against the advice of old timers. He lost his way and was found frozen to death. All facts will never be known but his brother, Ernest said his matches were wet and his ax broken and they assumed he got caught in an "ice overflow" for he had let his dogs loose and apparently lay down to rest and ease hunger pains. He seemed to have fallen asleep and became frozen. He was only a short distance beyond his destination when found. His lead dog had stayed with him. An Indian guide who was waiting at the station for him found him and returned to report.
Horace's route was on to Christachina, a much longer, more dangerous route. He went out in a blizzard to make his run without an Indian guide, against the advice of old timers. He lost his way and was found frozen to death. All facts will never be known but his brother, Ernest said his matches were wet and his ax broken and they assumed he got caught in an "ice overflow" for he had let his dogs loose and apparently lay down to rest and ease hunger pains. He seemed to have fallen asleep and became frozen. He was only a short distance beyond his destination when found. His lead dog had stayed with him. An Indian guide who was waiting at the station for him found him and returned to report.
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