Arthur Treadwell Walden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Treadwell Walden
|
|
|---|---|
Walden with his lead dog, Chinook, 1922
|
|
| Born | May 10, 1871 |
| Died | March 26, 1947 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation |
|
Arthur Treadwell Walden (born May 10, 1871 – died March 26, 1947) was a famous American adventurer. He was known for his amazing dog sledding skills. Arthur also helped explore Antarctica with Admiral Richard Byrd. He even created a special dog breed called the Chinook sled dog!
Contents
Arthur Walden's Early Life
Arthur Treadwell Walden was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 10, 1871. His father was a church leader. Arthur spent most of his childhood in Minnesota. He went to a military school there.
In 1890, his father moved to Boston. Arthur did not like living in the city. So, he moved to his father's vacation home in Tamworth, New Hampshire. This is where his love for the outdoors grew.
Dog Sledding in the Yukon
Arthur was always looking for adventure. In March 1896, he traveled to Alaska. Soon after, gold was found in the Klondike region. This started the famous Klondike Gold Rush.
During this time, Arthur worked as a freighter. He carried supplies and mail along the Yukon River. He became very skilled with sled dogs. These dogs were super important for moving heavy loads over long distances. People who drove sled dogs were sometimes called "dog punchers."
Creating the Chinook Dog Breed
After his adventures, Arthur returned to New England. He married Katherine Sleeper in 1902. They lived on a large farm in New Hampshire. There, Arthur started training and breeding sled dogs.
On January 17, 1917, a special litter of puppies was born. Arthur had bred them from a female Greenland Dog and a male Mastiff/St. Bernard mix. One of these puppies was named Chinook. This dog became the start of a new breed, also called the Chinook. Arthur named him after a favorite Eskimo dog from his Yukon days. The Chinook dog later became the state dog of New Hampshire!
Arthur also helped make dog sled racing popular. In 1922, he organized the first big dog derby in New England. He also started the New England Sled Dog Club in 1924. In 1928, he wrote a book about his experiences called A Dog-Puncher in the Yukon.
Exploring Antarctica with Dogs
In 1927, famous explorer Richard Byrd asked Arthur to join his first trip to Antarctica. Arthur agreed, but only if Byrd promised not to harm any dogs. In past trips, dogs were sometimes sacrificed to save supplies.
Arthur and his 13 dogs were very important for the expedition. They moved thousands of pounds of supplies. They carried everything from the ship to the main base camp. Sadly, on January 17, 1929, Chinook, the first dog of his breed, disappeared during this trip. He was likely lost or died while working.
For his hard work in Antarctica, Arthur Walden received a special award. He got the Congressional Medal in 1931.
A Heroic End
Arthur Walden died on March 26, 1947. He passed away while trying to save his wife from a kitchen fire at their farmhouse.
