stefansson-wrangel-09-38-004-005

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by the crew of the Rodgers.

Thus Wrangel Island became United States territory
for a time. But from that day to this no further effort
was made by the United States to confirm the claim, and
whatever rights were acquired in 1881 had long since
lapsed when the survivors of the Karluk landed there in
the spring of 1914. They remained seven months, three
of the number dying there.

This residence by the Karluk survivors revived the
British claim, but as no efforts tending to confirm it
were made by the Canadian government (in whose hands now
lies the jurisdiction over all British islands in the
north) there was danger that Wrangel Island would once
again revert to the status of an "international maverick."

Stefansson has a well developed streak of sentiment
in his make-up. He was born in Canada and his greatest
polar expedition was conducted under Canadian auspices.
The men whose bones rest in the soil of Wrangel Island
were members of that expedition, and he undoubtedly felt
that Wrangel Island should properly remain under Canadian
jurisdiction.

A STATION ON THE WAY
FROM LONDON TO TOKIO

Because of its geographical position Stefansson
believed Wrangel Island would one day become valuable as