stefansson-wrangel-09-38-004-004

OverviewTranscribeVersionsHelp

Facsimile

Transcription

Status: Incomplete

- 4 -

explorer who had searched so vainly for land in the
Arctic Ocean half a century before. And in time the new
name entirely supplanted the old.

According to international usage, the original
discoverer need not actually set foot upon land to con-
stitute a claim. Therefore Kellett's island became
British by right of discovery. "Islands” says Carlyle,
"like tools, belong to those who can use them." After
Kellett’s discovery no effort was made by Britain to
confirm the claim and the island eventually returned to
"no man’s land." Long’s sighting did not constitute a
claim, as he did not enjoy the status of an original
discoverer.

The first landing of which there is a record was
made in 1881 when a party from the United States revenue
cutter Corwin landed on August 12 to search for traces
of the ill-fated Jeannette. An account of this landing
is given in John Muir’s "Cruise of the Corwin."

Later on in the same year a landing was made by a
second expedition in search of the Jeannette. This
expedition, under Lieutenant (now Rear Admiral) Berry,
in command of the Rodgers, remained on the island nine-
teen days, made a survey of the coasts and discovered
the harbor which is now named after Commander Berry’s
ship. One trip was taken into the interior and an
ascent of a mountan in about 2,500 feet in height was made

Notes and Questions

Nobody has written a note for this page yet

Please sign in to write a note for this page