C Ihe Ladies c cu. V'VVAN - History and Classics, Department of

At Fori Yukonr69Hudson Stuck MemorialHOSpital, Fort Yukon,c. 1922. From Mason,The Arctic Forests(1924), opp. 192.There was Harry Anthony. While he looked over Gwen's sketches with interesthe told us of a trip that he made with Michael Mason (author of The Arctic Forests) tocope with a man who had stolen their oil claim. They had started in a hurry,taking rations for eight days. They had to travel for 19 days. They had found acache of food and had taken some, but they were true to Arctic traditions and didnot leave it empty, so they went on with their needs half satisfied and then, forthe last five days, they were without food.Many such stories as these were related in an almost casual tone and we had touse our imagination to realise the toughness of the men who could endure suchhardships. Even the most casual encounter was fraught with interest; there was noperfunctory nor commonplace talk with our fellow-creatures at Fort Yukon.One day when I was outside our tent oiling the rifle, two American students camealong the beach. They were spending their summer vacation in the North, travellingon a gunboat and selling a medical book to help them pay their collegeexpenses. One was a medical student, the other a Seventh Day Adventist. As theycame down the Yukon they had seen, from the deck of their boat, herds ofcaribou.At Mrs Burke's suggestion we called one day on the matron of the hospital andasked her to show us round. There were 22 beds and two nurses. She told usmuch about her work and the life of the place and how the Indians would come infor Christmas with dog-teams and would dance every night for a fortnight.