stefansson-wrangel-09-20-041

Maurer

October 24, 1923.

Mr. Henry G. Lambert, Claim Department, The Prudential Insurance Co. of America, Newark, New Jersey.

Dear Sir:

In response to your request I am writing you in regard to Frederick Maurer.

Frederick Maurer was a member of my expedition to Wrangel Island which landed there in September, 1921. Maurer, together with Allan Crawford and Milton Galle, left Wrangel Island in January, 1923, probably on January 28th. The distance to the mainland is about a hundred miles. Since it is clear that they never reached the mainland of Siberia and since they did not return to Wrangel, it is certain that they met their death, probably by walking upon thin ice which broke with the resulting loss of both men and dogs.

You asked in particular about a newspaper rumor that, three men had been seen on the north coast of Siberia. That coast is thickly settled as arctic lands go. The houses along it are not always in the same places different years, but on an average they are not more than twenty miles apart. Several parties followed that coast during the spring and summer 1923 and we have reports from all of them to the effect that no strange men landed from anywhere. The most important of these are the Hudson's Bay Company's ship, "Bay Chimo," and the ship commanded by one of my former men, Aarnout Castel. The captain of the "Bay Chimo" reported by cable to his head office in London, in response to a query from me, that no strange men had been reported on the north coast of Siberia. The testimony of Aarnout Castel is even more conclusive, for he followed a good part of the coast by sledge, probably visiting practically every house. The arrival of strangers is news that spreads rapidly on the frontier. He heard of no such strangers and is certain that none landed. Since he had been a member of the same expedition of mine (in 1913) as Frederick Maurer, he would have taken all the keener interest. He had also been a shipmate of Maurer's on another ship before either he or Maurer joined my expedition.

I am, therefore, regretfully compelled to conclude that Frederick Maurer must have died, probably by drowning, late in January or early in February, 1923.

- 2 -

I have been told that Maurer's family are Christian Scientists and that they not only think their son may be living but also they consider this belief to be of some efficacy in helping him. I hope, therefore, that you will not be too precipitate in offering them the insurance money. It is especially understood that you will not forward to them this letter in any case, and that whenever it becomes necessary to inform them you will merely say to them that you have in your possession a statement from me to the effect that I consider the case hopeless.

Would you be so kind as to write me confirming that you will use this letter with the precautions I have mentioned?