stefansson-wrangel-09-25-007

21.

polar bears were dangerous. But for a present-day man or woman who can shoot ducks with a rifle, there is scarcely more danger in a bear than there is in a duck. Unless cornered, a bear will always flee when wounded. Furthermore, one who is not frightened and who has the skill to hit a duck can place a bullet where one shot is fatal. But Ada not only did not look for bears; she fled when she saw them. But for this defect of training, she could have saved Knight with fresh me at as we had saved him in 1917 (see "The Friendly Arctic" p.___.)

All this is on the assumption that Knight died of scurvy. But this is not quite clear. He himself mentions frequently that the symptoms were different from the scurvy he had before. It seems as likely th t the disease was nephritis, in which case a polar bear more or less might not have made any difference.

When the Donaldson arrived at Wrangell Island August 20, 1923, Ada Blackjack had mastered her environment so far that it seems likely she could have lived there another year, although the isolation would have been a dradful experieence. Almost certainly, she would eventually have killed one of the polar bears instead of fleeing from them. The first victory would have led to the killing of several - enough to see her through, for the summer of 1923 seems to have been as good for bears as the summer of 1921. Her living along a year would have made a wonderful story, but it would have been for her a terrible experience. While I believe in her probably success, I am more gratefyl than any person unconcerned could be that

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.