stefansson-wrangel-09-30-008-006

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two young men (Crawford and Galle) needed some one with experience with them
to cross the ice. ¶ In reading Knight’s diary carefully I get the opinion that
Fred allowed himself to be persuaded to go for two reasons, one to give the
benefit of his greater experience of ice travel to Crawford and Galle, and
the other to leave Knight and Ada enough food.

"I am sure that the boys could have caught enough game to keep
alive and perhaps to have saved Knight if they had all stayed on Wrangel
Island. The diary shows Knight and Crawford making arrangements to leave
long before they did, only waiting for the right season, but not a word
about Fred or Galle wanting to go. I don't say this to criticize Knight,
for he no doubt thought going to Nome was the best thing to do. Evidently
Fred also felt sure of getting safely across to Siberia and Alaska. So that his
disinclination to go was not from fear of accidents on the moving ice, but only from policy.

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pg f.

"I have taken up with the family the question of publishing Fred's
letter. We all agree that the letter itself should not be published, for
it is of too private a nature.

"With kindest regards,

"Sincerely,
(Signed) John Maurer."

Mr. V. Stefansson,
Broadway and 156th Street,
New York, N. Y.