Jacob A. Riis (1849–1914)
The Making of an American

LITTLE BAY, AK (USA)—Despite the wilderness and wintry conditions of the Aleutian Islands, which have been known to drop as low as -23°F (-31°C) in February, a loyal dog stayed by his fallen master's side for 12 days, eventually leading searchers to the body of the man last week.

The Anchorage Daily News reports that "Buddy", a four-year-old Black Labrador Retriever somehow survived for almost two weeks pacing back and forth between the body of the man and the shore where searchers eventually landed at Little Bay.

The man, 45-year-old Bill Hitchcock, and his dog were the sole caretakers of a remote lodge on Knight Island for four years.  According to Mr. Hitchcock's journal found at the deserted lodge, the two had gone out out in search of firewood on Feb. 15, traveling by boat to the woods about a mile away.  There, while cutting wood, Mr. Hitchcock was struck in the head by a large falling piece of timber that had broken off of a nearby tree.  According to volunteer searcher Pete Kimpkoff Jr., it was likely that the man was killed instantly.

It was Buddy who led searchers to the spot.  Mr. Kimpoff describes what they found on Feb. 27: "As we got closer, we seen some movement up in the woods there and found out it was his dog.  I said, 'Take me to your master,' and I followed him up the hill.  He had a path.  It looked like he'd been coming back and forth for some time.  It was well packed and everything.  He took me right up to Bill's body."