stefansson-wrangel-09-24-002-005

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depot at which we can land a hundred miles before reaching
Asia after flying the Arctic. On a map of the world one
hundred miles seems but a step, but if you have been sea-
sick on the English Channel you may realise that a dis-
tance five times as great is significant.

It was these considerations which obsessed us in 1921.
If anything were to be done about Wrangell Island we did
not dare wait either for public opinion or for government
action. I accordingly told my men that if they would
occupy the island I would try to stir up interest at home
to secure the support which would make that occupation
effective. The party of four adventurers reached Wrangell
Island in early September 1921, and went into occupation.

The plan was that we would send a party in 1922 to
relieve those of the four who cared to come south, but in
1922 we had difficulty in financing, for, partly through a
change in government in Canada, we had not been able to get
the national support we needed and expected. The late
sailing occasioned by this difficulty and a specially un-
favourable season combined so that the ice prevented a
landing on the island.

Crawford, Galle, Knight and Maurer have been isolated
on Wrangell Island for two years. We have not had a word
from them; they have not had a word from us: neither has
been possible. The supplies they took with them probably
gave out a year ago. Two of the men are veterans of my