stefansson-wrangel-09-20-087-002

2.

to cross the ice. you spoke of Fred accusing
Knight of shamming sickness. I could not find
in Knight's diary when he did so. Knight
wrote when he and Crawford were on the ice that
they would return and Crawford and Galle would
go, he and Fred would stay, which would have
been a dangerous thing for the two young men to do.
In reading Knight's diary carefully I get the opinion
that Fred allowed himself to be persuaded to
go for two reasons. one to protect Crawford + Galle
and the other to leave Knight and Ada enough
food. I am sure that the boys could have
caught enough game to keep alive and perhaps
to have saved Knight if they had stayed. The
Diary shows Knight and Crawford making
arrangements to leave long before they did, only
waiting for right season to travel on ice, but not
a word about Fred or Galle wanting to go. I don't
say this to criticize Knight, for he no doubt thought
it was best thing to do. no doubt Fred felt sure
of getting across, as reports of weather conditions
show, they probably selected the very worst time.
I have taken the question of publishing Fred's letter up with
the family. We all agree that the letter should not be
published. I have not taken the matter up with Delphine
and have not sent the manuscript to her. Their are some
thing's that she had better not read and I understand
that the book will be revised to correct those things.
I don't see why Mrs Crawford can insist on the
letter being publishing when they were not written
to her. I haven't heard from her for some time