stefansson-wrangel-09-13-084-001

C O P Y

New York, Sept. 6, 1923.

Mr. A. J. Taylor,
Combustion Engineering Co.,
Bank of Hamilton Bldg.,
Toronto

My dear Taylor:

A few weeks ago the North American Newspaper Alliance
got in touch with me and retained me to write the background of the
Wrangel Island story and also to advise them with regard to the matter
until it should be over.

Shortly after this Mrs. Wilcox went away on her vacation
and I offered to look after the office and attend to V.S.'s cables during
her absence.

Thus I came in a way to be a sort of liason officer between
the various sections of this widely spread drama.

The other day I received a cablegram from V.S. asking me
to consult Miss Marbury and others regarding the sale of Crawford's and
the other boys' diaries in magazine form edited by himself and Noice.
From conversations I had had with Pickering I felt certain that he con-
sidered the Alliance entitled to the first chance at all the material
and upon consulting the contract made between yourself and the Alliance
I still think this to be the case.

Pickering intimated to me that he would probably be able to
pay more than any other bidder anyway and that his use of the material
need not necessarily conflict with its being used in magazine articles
afterwards. He intimated also that the figure he had in mind was $5,000.
but this would depend upon the amount of material that was available.
So far we do not know whether Noice brought back any diaries or not.

I have calbed Noice twice for information and so has
Pickering but so far nothing has come from him excepting that delayed
cable, part of which I relayed to you yesterday. Of course, the earth-
quake has upset the cable service between Seattle and Sitka and that
may account for the delay. The Alliance people were greatly upset yes-
terday upon receiving the Toronto Star which had a Canadian Press dis-
patch from Nome containing about as much information as Noice had sent
to them. Noice's story, however, did not reach here until late Sunday
night and the Star printed their dispatch on Saturday!

I acquainted V.S. with my views regarding the rights of the
Alliance and suggested that they would be willing to pay $5,000. and he
cabled me authorizing me to accept the offer if made.

Pickering is away for a couple of days and I have done