stefansson-wrangel-09-32-052v

308 THE ADVENTURE OF WRANGEL ISLAND

They believe this action will settle the status of the island,
which has been in dispute for more than a half century. The
Government is prepared to lease the island to Americans or others
for development, provided Russia receives an adequate portion of
revenues.

(New York, N. Y., Evening Post, September 20, 1924.)
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RED SHIP BRINGS WRANGEL COLONY

American and 12 Eskimos, All U. S. Citizens, Arrive from
Frozen Arctic Island

SENT THERE BY STEFANSSON

Fearful of Soviet Transport Company Until Assured No Harm
Would Be Done Them

Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka, Siberia, Oct. 24.—After a tempes-
tuous voyage the Soviet Russian transport Red October arrived at
Petropavlovsk today from Wrangel Island with Charles Wells of
Uniontown, Pa., a survivor of the expedition which Vilhjalmur
Stefansson took to the island a year ago, and with 12 Eskimo
members of the expedition, who are American citizens.

. . . During the survey of Wrangel Island, according to M.
Davidov, the Soviet expedition found the grave of Lorne Knight,
who perished there and also found the flagpole on which the British
flag had formerly flown, having been run up to claim British
sovereignty.

Members of the Russian expedition constructed a new pole on
which they hoisted the Red flag in the name of the Soviet republic.

According to Professor Davidov, Wells and his companions
attempted to flee when they caught sight of the Red flag over the
island, fearing they would be cast into prison or executed. Their
alarm was dispelled, however, when the Soviet officials assured them
they did not intend to harm them.

(Utica, New York, Press, October 25, 1924.)

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