stefansson-wrangel-09-31-102v

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164 THE ADVENTURE OF WRANGEL ISLAND

ish exploration, to the heroism and self-sacrifice of the
men on the island, and to the equal heroism of the men
who were now sailing for their rescue. We had always
seen the force of the argument, but we had never felt we
could honestly use it. First there was general objection
to that type of sensationalism. But beyond that I had
to consider both my colleagues on the island and the cause
they were trying to serve. When they sailed north two
years before I did not look upon them as heroes and
neither did they look so upon themselves. I had found
myself in complete agreement with the two veterans,
Knight and Maurer, on every point and upon no issue
more clearly than our common detestation of popular
heroics and our desire to avoid every semblance of them.
They in going and I in helping them to go had two main
motives. We wanted to do a definite piece of work at
Wrangel Island, and we wanted in general to help in the
struggle to get the public to be as rational about the polar
regions as they usually are about other countries. A sen-
sational plea might have brought in money rapidly, but
only at the expense of weakening the cause for which the
men on Wrangel Island and I at home were equally
working.

The subscriptions eventually amounted to nearly
1800 pounds and there were among the subscribers some
of the most distinguished names of England.7 I was espe-
cially proud of an unsolicited contribution from Lord
Milner, for he had been Secretary for the Colonies and is
recognized as one of the soundest planners and workers
for the welfare and stability of the British Empire. The
most touching contribution was from Italy sent by Miss
M. F. Gell, granddaughter of Sir John Franklin, whose

7 See list of subscribers in Appendix.

Notes and Questions

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jessiesusan

Note in left margin about the first paragraph: "Must not be changed"

Samara Cary

I'd add it before the first paragraph, with the add tag.