stefansson-wrangel-09-27-071

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other two crossed over. The danger of crossing was somewhat greater than that
of staying on the island but, since all of us considered the journey to the
Siberian mainland a comparatively simple one, it is difficult to say now whether
we weighed the danger at all in our planning.

Although somewhat difficult and expensive, a journey by our men from
Wrangell Island to the outside world could have been undertaken any time between
January and April with the purpose hope of reaching "civilization" a month or two before
the opening of arctic navigation. Doing this might seem advisable to them on
the basis of what they knew about conditions on Wrangell Island. Their objectives purposes
in the island were two - the continuance of occupation and the gathering of
knowledge. The occupation had been accomplished. and kKnowledge even when recorded
in notebooks and photographs, is the most portable of commodities. They could, therefore, leave the island if they liked. But a journey
from the outside to Wrangell Island similarly undertaken in winter by myself, for instance, would not to
have been practical. The island could be reached before spring, but a party coming over the
ice from Siberia could bring to the island no appreciable amount of supplies.
The only way in which succor could can be brought in winter to a party isolated on Wrangell Island would be there is by sending
in a hunter of greater skill than the ones on the island. But we had no reason
to fear that assistance was needed and no reason to think that the skill of the
men on the island was inadequate to meet the situation. In consequence I attempted
no active undertaking during the winter 1922-1923, devoting myself merely to writing and
speaking along lines which I thought would eventually bring conviction to the
public and the Government, wau and win from them the sympathy
and support we needed.