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Dec. 7.

New Braunfels. Tex

Mr V. Stefansson New York. City N.Y.

Dear Mr. Stefansson;

Your letters dated the 12th and 24th at hand and while the books have not arrived, I know I will recieve them soon. Am thankful for them

Your letters give me some consolation in many ways. I know that Mr. Noice will eventually have to come around, and I see your delay in taking more strenuous measures are what we debated many a time, that, of the possibility of him distroying or keeping such things probably most valuable to the Company. We cannot see that it would be possible for him to win out should he be legally apprehended.

Last edit 6 days ago by Samara Cary
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I wrote and thanked him for his letter to me, and mentioning various things that seemed not clear to us in his story. He at once answered my letter, telling again of lack of equipment and inexperience, but also saying the talent required for such expeditions, were not in every man. He then said, Milton had killed more game his first year, than he (Noice) did, and he believed more than most other inexperienced man would have killed. This was good for me to read, and I now know that this being the most dificult thing, they also did the less dificult, but not less nesassary things.

I had mentioned the diary to him, saying I hoped the Company would soon be in a position to let me have it, but he said nothing in response. Does this mean admitting

he has it or that he hates to deny his first statement. We will have to wait and see.

Mr Noice has dissappointed us with his articles and now with his actions, but, I have a thousand times wished he, instead of Captain Bernard had gone in '22. I faithfully believe he would have reached the Island. I also cannot refrain from saying, more trials should have been made as, if I remember right, they did when Mr. Maurer and companions were stranded in 1914.

I remember reading in the papers that you had a conference with the Navy Head, I think Mr Moffet, how I rejoiced at the thought that quickly came, that there would be [new] Airial possibilities in reaching the boys, should the other way not be possible. I was

Last edit 6 days ago by Samara Cary
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then very confident they would be reached in time.

I have not concluded, even as Mr. Noice wished to impress on every body, that Mr Lorne and Mr. Maurer, were unintelligent. However I was much relieved to know that Mr. Maurer had written his wife, that an umiak was taken from Nome, as he, if any would have paid particular attention to carrying one. Overconfidence was shown when they failed to purchase one in East Cape. But, I know these men to be intelligent, your choice of them proves that. Not anyone is immune to mistakes.

I have a Photo of the party on Wrangell Island, the possesion of which I will tell you about, which was taken summer of '22

Last edit 6 days ago by Samara Cary
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when the boys were expecting the ship and before "breaking up". This shows them all healthy and in fine physical condition, with the exception of Mr. Lorne, whose face then already is pale, slender and thin. This convinces me that he ailed longer than probably he himself knew.

Our possesion of the picture came about in this way: A, Mr. Estes, a perfect stranger to us, sent us some paper clippings thro the Past [Mailer], in September. We thanked him kindly for all. In Nov. we recieved a letter from this man saying that he, when reading about Ada's arrival, went to her, and with her consent and the courtesy of Seattle Times, which later also brought the picture, he procured this photo, and at once

Last edit 6 days ago by Samara Cary
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mailed it to us. This indeed was very kind of Mr. Estes, and his interests in us seem to be because he was at one time lived a resident of the Panhandle of Texas, but, to my mind, his interests mainly, are, because he has a son on the seas, as wire-less oporater, going even as far north as Alaska. Should you not have this photo from Ada directly, let us know and we will have copies made and send to you.

Mr. Stefansson you may have noticed by this time that you failed to inclose the copy of Mr. Crawfords letter to you, I wish very much to have it, if you still think you may let me have it, and thank you for it.

It seems not any of the other three have mentioned Milton in any way. I wonder that Milton

did not write you a few friendly lines, but I believe he did write and only picked it up by mistake when gathering those he was taking with him.

The percentage of fatalities of your previous expeditions, as I remember them, is so small, compared to this one, that one can hardly believe they were not really handicapped, or that luck was so utterly against them.

You may be very correct in your belief in the purpose of the sea-ice trip of the 3 men, and I really know its true, but, I also firmly believe now that they wished to get aid for Mr. Knight, as his health was rapidly failing. Poor Mr. Knights wonderful disposition kept up the spirits of the camp, even when realizing his sickness.

Last edit 6 days ago by Samara Cary
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