stefansson-wrangel-09-12-054-001

No Ans

July 27, 1923.

Dear Mr. Stefansson:

I have received two telegrams from Mr. Taylor this
morning. They are as follows:

"Wire received it will be exceedingly difficult to get private
funds for expedition and believe Stefansson should cable Ottawa to
advance necessary money quickly stop meantime feel imperative Noice
go Nome and leave here in time catch boat sailing July fifth as every
precaution must be taken to make expedition successful stop will
arrange if necessary to advance Noice transportation expenses please
wire me fully after consultation with him."

"Please wire earliest date Noice can reach Toronto enroute for
Nome will provide his expenses here he should leave Toronto not later
next Saturday night but would like him here latest Thursday morning
in case have to go Ottawa stop please cable Stefansson to cable me full
instructions regarding Ottawa negotiations and say we are sending Noice
to Nome."

I have cabled you as follows: "Taylor thinks difficult
get private funds suggests you cable Ottawa advance money quickly feels
imperative Noice go Nome July fifth and every precaution taken Noice
goes Toronto tonight Taylor advances transportation to Nome requests you
cable full instructions Ottawa negotiations."

When I wired Mr. Taylor your message Monday I also
wrote him a letter. In it I told him of Noice's willingness to go
if desired and also told him that he had no money. However, I thought
it was unsafe to depend on Mr. Taylor's wiring money to reach here in
time to-day, so I have personally advanced Noice $200., as there was
only $8. in your account.

The reason he needed so much is that he is still wear-
ing the plaster cast on his arm. The time is just up when the doctor
told him it could come off and he has gone to the hospital now to have
it removed. However, he still owed the doctor $150. When he went into
the hospital he was depending on getting this from Erskine, and he prom-
ised the doctor he would pay him before leaving the hospital. But Erskine
disappointed him, and he had to leave the hospital without paying. Now
he felt he could not go back to get the cast removed and tell the doctor
he was going out of town without paying him. So I advanced him $200. of
my money, which will pay that bill and his expenses to Toronto. After
that Mr. Taylor will pay his expenses and he will probably refund the
money to me also.