stefansson-wrangel-09-14-115-003

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taken failed them.

I also learn from these people with whom I have talked that
what I already believed of Lorne was more than true, as to his being a compe-
tent person in the North, because they all tell me that he was regarded as
one of the most competent and well advised and sure dependable men the north
ever knew because of his stoical disposition, never irritated,never lost his
head and never became confused as to the right thing to do. There are
reports coming to me to the effect that Maurer proved himself a man to be
depended on in the experiences of Wrangel Island in 1914 and all who knew
them and who are competent to judge say that they would have bet their last
dollar on all four of them even though Crawford and Galle had not had
previous experiences in the north, their intelligence and good breeding would
have insured that they would accept counsel from the other boys and they had
the brains to learn the things necessary to be learned.

I trust I will not be considered as uncomplimentary to
the boys when I speak of them as Crawford, Maurer, Galle and Knight for
this is the custom of all northerners to speak of their companions by their
surnames and I am falling into it even though it is ordinarily distasteful
to me. They all refer to Mr. Stefansson as "Steff."

I had a talk with Ada Blackjack only about ten minutes
which took me five days to get, and she confirms all that I have told in this
letter as far as her personal knowledge goes and she assures me that she
never heard or saw any "quarralling or fighting" among the boys and that they
were all good friends and all worked hard all the time and did their best
to get results but the first winter they were unable to g et any fox bait
(usually a carcass of a whale or walrus on the beach) and what polar bears
they did get came at the wrong time and between bears there was a famine.
She liked all of the boys very much because she says they were all nice to
her and to each other. I had such a short visit with her but I have sent
her the money and instructions to come over here on the 10th, next Monday,
and make us a week or more visit and I believe she will come because she
seems to have confidence in me and wants to visit with and get acquainted
with Mrs. Knight.

Ada has had a hard time of it since coming to Seattle
for a table waiter on the ship coming out took her up and has had an unholy
influence with her, has tried to get her onto the vaudeville circuit and has
tried to sell her story and, in short, has tried to get what money she has
and he may have succeeded in part. He has had her in such a frame of mind
that she would not see her friends who would help and protect her and I
hunted two days before I found her and had to almost use violence and the
police to do so and then she would not answer the knock on the door until I
told her who I was and she got out of bed and put on a bathrobe and as she had
not had her breakfast at 9:30 Sunday morning and the room was unheated, I only
stayed a short time and got her promise to come over here and visit us.

When Ada shall have made us this visit and gotten acquainted
with Mrs. Knight, she will doubtless tell us things which will be interesting
for you to hear, and I will write you again as in this case.

Now, I come to Noice.

He has proven himself a liar, a thief and a vulture and I
will tell you why and how.