stefansson-wrangel-09-30-006-003

The curiously oblique reference to Wrangel Island seems designed to imply
previous acceptance of what, so far as we can discover, had never before been
claimed.

The last stage in the history of the island is connected with the Stefansson
Arctic Expedition of 1913-18. Before sailing Stefansson received instructions
from the Canadian Government to re-affirm any British rights in Arctic lands at
which the expedition might touch. Since Kellett had sighted Wrangel Island in
1849, when he formally took possession of Herald Island, Mr. Stefansson's men
regarded the former as coming within his instructions, and British Sovereignty
was declared (1 July 1914) by the section of the Karluk's crew which reached
the island. After the War, in the belief that some other Power might attempt to
establish a prior claim, Mr. Stefansson determined to forestall any such action
by despatching another expedition, under the command of Mr. A. Crawford. The
party included three other white men, Galle, Maurer, and Knight, with an Eskimo
woman as cook. They sailed from Nome and landed on the island in September 1921.
The understanding was that they should maintain themselves chiefly by hunting,
that therefore only actual supplies for six months should be taken, and that a
supply ship would be sent in 1922. Owing to difficulties experienced by Mr.
Stefansson in raising funds, the relief ship did not sail until the end of August
1922, a month after the close of favourable navigation, and failed to reach the
island. This year, by the efforts of Mr. Griffith Brewer, a relief party, under
the command of Mr. Harold Noice, was able to leave Nome in the Donaldson and to
reach Wrangel Islands safely. Before the expedition sailed Mr. Noice was infor-
med by the Soviet authorities at East Cape, Siberia, that unless the ship called
at Petropavlovsk for proper clearance papers, and took aboard a detachment of
Red Guards, it would be confiscated! On his return Mr. Noice also reported that
his attempts at/organizing a relief party had been met with hostility in Nome,
where the island is regarded as belonging to the United States.

When the relief ship arrived at Wrangel Island they discovered that disaster
had overtaken the original party. The sole survivor was the Eskimo cook. It
appears that, being certain that a ship would arrive in 1922, they did not take
full advantage of the hunting season, so that supplies were running short by
Christmas. They then determined to attempt to reach the Siberian coast, where
provisions could be obtained Unfortunately Knight, the most experienced ice
traveller, was suffering from scurvy, and was left on the island with the
Eskimo. The exact fate of the party is unknown; in Mr. Stefansson's words, "it
seems likely that one afternoon the party travelled too far into the gathering
twilight, walked on unsafe ice, and broke through." Knight died on 22 June 1923.
The Eskimo woman managed to support herself until the arrival of the Donaldson.
Before the ship sailed for Nome a party of thirteen Eskimo, under the command of
Mr. Charles Wells, were established on the island with supplies for two years.

The above summary includes all the facts which seem relevant to an attempt to
estimate the value of conflicting claims to sovereignty. A Russian heard of it
in 1824 but never saw it. An Englishman saw it in 1849 but never landed on it.
An American landed on it in 1881 and claimed it for the United States. A Russian
ship put up a beacon in 1911. It was quite unoccupied when the men of the Karluk
took possession in 1914, and since 1921 Mr. Stefansson has had a party in contin-
uous "effective occupation." His spirited action is said to be based on a con-
viction that the island will be useful in the future as an air station on a polar
route from Great Britain to the Far East; and if his claim is good he should not,
we think, be allowed to fail for want of a little public support in money; for
Wrangel Island must be a rather profitless field for private enterprise.