stefansson-wrangel-09-24-001-006

- 6 -

probably open now, and again they are climbing the hills
watching for a sail. If none comes they will be fearing
their third Arctic winter, which would make theirs the
longest period of isolation of men without a ship in the
history of polar exploration. The only adventure comparable
is that of Sir John Franklin, whose men had two well-found
ships which they abandoned at the end of the third winter,
dying to the last man.

But a ship has sailed. The Donaldson, under command
of Harold Noice, one of the veterans of my last polar
expedition, has left Nome, Alaska, on her 500-mile journey
northwest to Wrangell Island. We did not announce her
sailing date and we cannot announce her route. An extra-
ordinary action of the Soviet government has made caution
that in-advisable. Just before sailing time, Noice received a
communication from them saying he must cable for permission
to sail. This permission, the message stated, would be
granted on condition that he would on his way call at East
Cape, Siberia, to pick up a contingent of Red Guards to take
to Wrangell Island. The Red Guards would then confiscate
all property of the British party. The Soviet attitude is
the more extraordinary since it is clear ( as we have shown
in the articles published in the Spectator of June 9 and
June 16 ) that the British claim to the island is strongest,
the American second and the Russian a very bad third. Had

- 6 -

probably open now, and again they are climbing the hills
watching for a sail. If none comes they will be fearing
their third Arctic winter, which would make theirs the
longest period of isolation of men without a ship in the
history of polar exploration. The only adventure comparable
is that of Sir John Franklin, whose men had two well-found
ships which they abandoned at the end of the third winter,
dying to the last man.

But a ship has sailed. The Donaldson, under command
of Harold Noice, one of the veterans of my last polar
expedition, has left Nome, Alaska, on her 500-mile journey
northwest to Wrangell Island. We did not announce her
sailing date and we cannot announce her route. An extra-
ordinary action of the Soviet government has made caution
that in-advisable. Just before sailing time, Noice received a
communication from them saying he must cable for permission
to sail. This permission, the message stated, would be
granted on condition that he would on his way call at East
Cape, Siberia, to pick up a contingent of Red Guards to take
to Wrangell Island. The Red Guards would then confiscate
all property of the British party. The Soviet attitude is
the more extraordinary since it is clear ( as we have shown
in the articles published in the Spectator of June 9 and
June 16 ) that the British claim to the island is strongest,
the American second and the Russian a very bad third. Had