stefansson-wrangel-09-13-045

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stefansson-wrangel-09-13-045-001

Sept. 20

Mr.V.Stefansson New York London,

Dear Mr.Stefansson

The terrible news from Wrangle Island seem almost unbelievable and inconceivable that such a terrible ending should be the final outcome of this undertaking.

Of counrse, you can not be expected to understand all that it means to us and yet, I know that it means, to you, in d a different sense almost more than I can understand.

I can not resist the temptation to say to you now, what I have felt for a year and that is that,

Had Capt.Bernard have shown half the sense he was given credit for having, he should have, with an HONEST effort, reached Wrangle Island last year.

Any school child in the fourth grade could tell by looking at the map that, with the long line of Siberian coast for a buffer for all the ice coming down from the north end of the world, it would be impossible for him to hug the Siberian coast and make the island but, by doing as the Silver Wave did and as Noice did,make the parallel of the Island north and then come in behind the great mass of ice, he could have made the destination.

However, what can not be helped, need not be agitated and, we have lost our boys for his inefficiency throug his inefficiency and WE must endure it.

All McMinnville is now ready for an indugnation meeting over the fact that, not a word has been heard from Noice by us and, the fact that, he has our boy's body at Nome and we have not been advised and nothing has even reached you except what it was impossible for him to conceal for the sake of the price per column inch for himself.

Last edit 3 months ago by Samara Cary
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stefansson-wrangel-09-13-045-002

V.S. 11

He could not conceal the fact from the Associated Press reporters that, the Donaldson was in the harbor and had returned from her effort to reach Wrangle Island and, then, the further fact that, the Life Patrol sent a boat out and brought the Eskimo woman and the Body of Lorne ashore and, the rest of the news which they have been able to get, was doubtless gleaned from the crew and, it would have been concealed even from you and I had this been possible for Noice to have done.

Even now, when the Victoria is on her way to Seattle, we do not know whether or not our son's body will be brot home or whether it will be buried there or at sea.

It seems to me that, all the glory this man Noice has gained in his expedition which he is making as spectacular and sensational as he possibly can, has gone glimmering in his failure to be the man equal to the occasion at a time when common decency should prompt him to lay aside his damnable greed for a few paltry dollars for column inches and been humanitarian about the matter.

This sort of glory will soon fade because he has not the dinamo of intelligence behind it to sustain it.

We will ascertain from the Steamship Co. when the Victoria will arrive at Seattle and we will drive over and meet it and see if we can learn something in this manner and, if Lorne's body does come, try and get possession of it.

In view of Noice's attitude thus far, we would be afraid to trust him because, should he be alone, he would place Lorne's body on exhibition for a price to himself.

This may seem to you like an awful kick and, well, it is and I believe we have an awful kick coming.

Please understand, we do not hold resentment against you for, I believe that, and we both feel so, you have done what you can to protect the boys and I am sure that, your sorrow is only second to ours and that of the parents of the other boys and of Mrs. Maurer.

Your cable from London was a wonderfully cheerful message to us and at the same time, it only showed us that you have no more information than we and, I had a wire from the office at Toronto and it bore the same tidings to me that, they knew nothing except what they had seen in the Press dispatches.

What sort of an expedition was this Noice thing ?

Did he finance himself and his expedition and did he have no superiors to whom to report ?

Last edit 4 months ago by Samara Cary
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stefansson-wrangel-09-13-045-003

V.S. 111

I sincerely hope, Mr.Stefansson, that you will not consider me a crank and a calamity howler for the things I have said here but, I presume Lorne was possessed of some of the frankness which is a part of my nature and it has always been a part of my life to say things that I meant so that there would be no misunderstanding of them as I wanted to have them understood.

I am, as often as any one else, wrong in my deductions and when I am shown, I am always d ready to captiulate and get right but, the things I have said to you, I only regret that I am unable to say them to Bernard and Noice personally.

We will go to Seattle leaving here about Sunday 9 th and ,if the body is there and if, Noice is there, meet them and get th what, if any there may be of personal effects belonging to Lorne and learn what we can and then home for a sad funeral.

How I wish I could make some suitable reward for Ada Blackjack. She is the Heroine of the whole expedition.

If it is ever in my power to suitably reward her, I hope I may not overlook the opportunity.

What can you tell me as to Lorne's contract under which he went out on this expedition and what steps will be necessary for his Mother to recover what is coming to him ?

Poor Doris Jones is awfully broken up and she will go to Seattle with us. She is one of the very finest little ladies and she has been as true to Lorne as steel.

Trust you will pardon the vein in which this letter has been written and try to realize that, I am not saying these things for the purpose of showing a cussed disposition but, for the purpose of letting you know how I feel about the matter.

Mrs. Knight is bearing up very well under the circumstances and her friends here are wonderfully comforting but, I realize that, the worst is yet to come and how she will finially get through with it, remains to be seen.

Believe me, Yours very respectfully. J. I. Knight

Last edit 3 months ago by Samara Cary
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