stefansson-wrangel-09-32-054v

312 THE ADVENTURE OF WRANGEL ISLAND

and pioneer passed away in Vladivostok, an exile from his native
land and a victim of hardship and pneumonia. . . .

(Toronto, Ontario, Star, January 22, 1925.)

WRANGEL ISLAND ESKIMOS RETURN;
TWO CHILDREN DIE

Leadership of Wells Lauded—Colony Plans to Return to
Home Near Nome

Victoria, British Columbia, Feb. 13.—Eleven Eskimos ....
arrived here today on a Japanese steamer. The eleventh was a
baby born on Wrangel Island. Charles Wells of Uniontown, Pa.,
and Nome, Alaska, died in Vladivostok, Siberia. . . .

Two Eskimo children died, one in Vladivostok and one in Man-
churia, whither the Russians allowed the colony to go after Wells
died from pneumonia.

The Eskimos, who were taken aboard the Japanese steamer at
Harbin, Manchuria, were proceeding to Seattle bound for their
homes in Golovin Bay, seventy-five miles east of Nome.

“I do not wish to speak of the past,” said Peter, one of the
Eskimos. “I left my two little sons, Billy and Hope, in Asia.
They will never come home. We have all been sad since we were
taken from the island, but we hope to be happy when we are home.”

The Eskimos lauded the leadership of Wells ....

Peter and his companions said that under Wells they had built
good homes of driftwood (in Wrangel Island) and had obtained
plenty of food by killing bears and by fishing ....

(Indianapolis, Indiana, Star, February 14, 1925.)

The following additional details, among others, were
contained in a Victoria despatch of the same date to the
Toronto, Ontario, Star.

“. . . There were no trees (on Wrangel Island) but there was
game. Many bears roamed over the island and these provided
good meat for the colonists. There was also a profusion of fish
in the sea.

'... It was Wells’ ambition to obtain furs with which to
start a profitable business in the far north, shipping the product of
the frozen lands into the markets of the south. But his ambitions
were nipped in the bud. Before the little colony had begun to
prosper and find their feet in their new homes, the Russian soviet
ship, Red October, came to the island. . . . Charles Wells and his
party were taken prisoners aboard the Russian craft and carried
away from Wrangel to Siberia. . . .”