stefansson-wrangel-09-31-087v

136 THE ADVENTURE OF WRANGEL ISLAND

supplies to a party of British pioneers, I cabled to Nome,
closing the bargain with Captain Bernard. The season
was already at its most favorable stage. Knowing this,
the Captain made the hastiest preparations and set sail
on August 20,1922.

A vote of three thousand dollars was given me by the
Canadian Government before the Teddy Bear actually
sailed, but not in time to affect the sailing date, which
had been determined by the help of my American friend.

The vote was made on the basis of the following writ-
ten appeal summarizing (though by no means com-
pletely) many conversations I had had both with the
Minister and Deputy Minister of the Interior:

“Ottawa, Aug. 8, 1922.

Dear Mr. Cory:

Attached is the brief statement you asked for to be presented
to Council on Friday. Please urge upon Council that there are on
Wrangel Island four men in Canadian service whose lives are in
danger. The arctic summer is nearly over.

Respectfully,

(Signed) V. Stefansson.

Hon. W. W. Cory,

Deputy Minister of the Interior,

Ottawa, Ontario.

STATEMENT REGARDING MEN NOW IN DANGER
ON WRANGEL ISLAND

The facts with regard to the Expedition now on Wrangel Island
are in the hands of the Prime Minister and the Minister of the
Interior. The men went to Wrangel Island to hold it for the
Empire and Canada, and I had no other motive in sending them
there. I have spent on this enterprise all my own money and all
I can borrow. Our claims to the island are clear and we should
hold it. But the four men there have now been isolated for one
year; they may be ill for all we know. They were confident, as I