stefansson-wrangel-09-31-031r

Consider putting Maurer
first in this chapter, then Hadley.

CHAPTER III

The Fatal Drift of the Karluk

For me, at least, Captain Jack Hadley is the first big
figure in the story of Wrangel Island. Baron Wrangel,
who first searched for it as a continent (1821-24), did not
find it or any other land. Kellett, who found it (1849),
did not land on it, nor did he know it was an island. De
Long, whose voyage proved it to be an island (1879-81),
saw it only from a distance. The American whalers who first
landed on it (1869) stayed only a few hours. Hooper, Muir, and Nelson, (1881) were
ashore for only part of a day
who first landed (1881), stayed only six hours.
Berry
and his men came a few days later and remained three
weeks. From them we have an approximate map of the
island, but the information about it in other respects is
neither comprehensive nor detailed. Bartlett in 1914
remained only a few days, and the applicable part of his
book, “The Last Voyage of the Karluk,” is only a few
pages, with little but personal information of how the
landing was made and why he had to leave his men there
while he proceeded to the mainland of Siberia. John
Munro was in command of the party on the island after
Bartlett left, but he has given us no published account
of what happened during the following seven months.
Both McKinlay and Maurer published newspaper articles,
and it is possible that other members of the party may
have printed fugitive pieces that have not come to my
attention. The only story that approaches completeness
in narrative, in discussion of motives and methods, and in
information about the climate and country, is a hand-

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