In 1925, Nome, Alaska, faced a sudden and deadly outbreak of diphtheria, particularly affecting the town’s children. Dr. Curtis Welch, the only doctor in Nome, warned that the town would be decimated without the antitoxin needed to treat the disease. Upon checking his supplies, Dr. Welch discovered only one small, expired bottle of antitoxin. Desperate for more, a search revealed a batch in Anchorage, over 1,000 miles away. However, the harsh winter weather made it impossible for planes to fly or boats to navigate the frozen sea. Consequently, it was decided that a relay of dog sled teams would transport the medicine using the old postal trail.
The relay began with Wild Bill Shannon, whose lead dog, Blackie, led his team out of Nenana in temperatures below -50 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme cold caused Shannon to suffer frostbite, and his team became too exhausted to continue without rest. They stopped at a cabin between 3 a.m. and 11 a.m., then continued to their destination, where Shannon handed the serum to the second musher, Edgar Kalland. Shannon’s team had covered 52 miles of treacherous trail.
Among the twenty mushers participating in the relay was Leonhard Seppala, originally from Norway and renowned as one of the best sled dog mushers, known as the “King of the Trail.” While most teams headed west, passing the serum from sled to sled, Seppala traveled east, crossing the dangerous Norton Sound to join the relay. On the fourth day of the journey, Seppala arrived in Unalakleet, where he met musher Henry Ivanoff, who handed him the antitoxin.
Seppala faced a critical decision on the return trip: whether to cross the now-breaking Norton Sound or take a longer, safer route. Choosing the shorter, riskier path, he relied on his lead dog, Togo, a twelve-year-old Husky. Amidst a whiteout with howling winds, Togo guided the team safely across the treacherous ice. After an 84-mile journey, they reached a cabin and took shelter, resting for a few hours before continuing another 50 miles to Golovin.
Despite worsening weather, Togo continued to lead the team skillfully. At 3 p.m., Seppala handed the serum to the next musher, Charlie Olson, who carried it 25 miles before passing it to Gunnar Kaasen. Kaasen’s lead dogs, Balto and Fox, also belonged to Seppala. They navigated through a blizzard so severe that Kaasen temporarily lost his way until Balto found the trail again.
Unbeknownst to the mushers, their efforts were making headlines worldwide, dubbed the “Race Against Time.” While Ed Rohn awaited the serum at a roadhouse, Kaasen decided to continue without stopping. He and his team arrived in Nome at 5:30 a.m. on February 2, 1925. Dr. Welch quickly thawed the frozen antitoxin and began treating his patients.
The New York Times and other newspapers praised Kaasen and Balto for their heroic efforts. However, the true heroes, Leonhard Seppala and Togo, who had covered the most miles under the harshest conditions, were still traveling home. Kaasen and Balto were later invited to Hollywood to reenact the serum run, and a statue of Balto was erected in New York’s Central Park.
Years later, in January 1927, Seppala and Togo moved to Maine, where Togo lived out his days. Balto was sold to the Cleveland Zoo, becoming a popular attraction. Both dogs were preserved after their deaths, with Balto displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Togo at the Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska. Leonhard Seppala is now remembered as one of the greatest mushers, and Togo as a legendary sled dog.
The Disney film Togo starring Willem Dafoe and husky Diesel, who plays Togo, is in my opinion by far the best film ever made. I am passionate about the Serum Run, also known as the Last Great Race on Earth. Everything about it makes me feel alive. It is one of the main reasons I own this wonderful breed. I am lucky in the fact that my foundation female, Sienna, comes down the incredible bloodline of the original Togo who travelled all those miles risking his life for others. I am even more lucky and extremely proud that not only does my girl Deshka descend from Togo’s bloodline but she is also the granddaughter of Diesel (Togo in Disney’s Togo). She is my foundation for a very exciting future
On January 27, 2025, Jonathan Hayes of Maine will embark on a historical journey with his team of Seppala Siberian Sled Dogs, direct descendants of Togo. They aim to recreate the serum run, marking the 100-year anniversary of this incredible event. This tribute will honor the legacy of the brave dogs and mushers who risked their lives to save Nome.
