stefansson-wrangel-09-25-007-022

22.

she did not have to try it.

Ada Blackjack's experience after Lorne Knight became
ill are a story in themselves too long to be told here. Neither
can we go into the plans which are now being carried out to continue
the imaginative and public-spiritied work for which our four young
men died. Success does lessen the sting of tragedy and their
work is being carried to success. Wrangell Island is now occupised
by fifteen people under command of Charles Wells, an experienced
hunter and trapper of the far north. The British ownership
of Wrangell Island has been made good by occupation.The ownership of This island,
originally, first discovered by our seamen, has been confirmed through [Antarctica?] and is being continued by effective occupation is still ours through
the labour and the death of our four young men. We can feel sure of
thisthe verdict if the question of ownership is submitted to an international
court, as recent despatches from Ottawa say is being done.

Whether the British Empire decides to stand
on its rights is a wholly different matter. The United States
has the next best claim, and between these nations any disput can
always be settled amicably on a legal basis. But Russia seems
to realize the value of Wrangell Island better than any other
country and is making potestations that are loud in proportion
to the weakness of her claims, legal and moral. Things often go,
without any other reason, to those who want them most. Then there
is the possibility of internationalizing the island for the benefit
of all countries. But that, again, is a practical question which
has nothing to do with the spirit or value of the sacrifies made
by Crawford, Galle, Knight and Maurer.