stefansson-wrangel-09-20-042-001

October 24, 1923.

Dear Maurer:

Unfortunately my lecture managers have booked me
in such a way that it will probably be impossible for me to visit
you on or about November 4th. They had informed me that my last
talk was in Cleveland on November 3rd, but now they have booked me
in Wisconsin and I must go out there from Cleveland. I am now
hoping that I may be able to come through Ohio on my way East
about the 10th or 12th of November. In that case I shall telegraph
you.

I do not have time just now to write you about
some very painful difficulties we are having with Harold Noice.
I suppose the letter you mention from Mr. Knight, which you say
Delphine wants to discuss with me, is with regard to Knight's pro-
posal that a monument might be erected on Wrangel Island.

It was my desire that no one should make any money
out of this tragedy and for that reason I immediately cabled my
associate, Mr. Taylor, that all newspaper, magazine and book rights
should be sold for the benefit of the heirs. But when Taylor spoke
with the Crawfords in Toronto he learned they were reluctant to
receive any money but inclined to favor some memorial. I suppose
this sentiment will be unanimous among the relatives. The

The first and second money installments were
$3,000. and $1,500. from the North American Newspaper Alliance.
We expected this money to come into our treasury and to be available
for the memorial or for distribution to the relatives, whichever
should be decided upon. Expecting good faith, Mr. Taylor had
authorized Mr. Noice to receive on our behalf the first $3,000.
to transmit it to us. Noice received it but did not transmit it
and is now attempting to get hold of the second payment of $1,500.
on the ground that even the diaries and papers of the boys who died
are his properety by an alleged verbal agreement between himself and
Taylor. Taylor denies ever making such an agreement and there is no
doubt of the truth of Taylor's statement. Furthermore, had Taylor
made such an agreement with Noice it would have been invalid, since
it did not have any consent as president of the company, nor indeed
any legal authorization. It had been my intention to take the
position that, while the diaries and papers might belong to our com-
pany legally (probably they do), I would consider them as belonging
to the relatives, for whom they have a greater sentimental value than