stefansson-wrangel-09-34-039

Blackjack -9-

I have a fairly clear memory that Noice gave me this
document in great confidence as he considered me a friend, and
I thought he said there existed only one other copy---one, or
perhaps the original, in his possession. I remember he said,
"for God’s sake put this in your safe deposit box and don’t
lose it!"

The Stefansson-Frances letters seem, however, seem to
refute the fact of there being no extra copies extant. Frances
states in one of these; "I was the first to decipher the
Blackjack Diary"-- or words near to that.

It is important to bear in mind that all Polar expedition
bases included Eskimos, both male and female. (See Noice's
published book herewith). Often a man and wife were included.
All were paid employees of the explorer or "colonist.” The
men tended the dogs and sledges or hunted while a most neces-
sary adjunct for success were the Eskimo women who were well-
versed in the native art of making the sealskin suits, boots
and other paraphernalia of the men--or in keeping these in
good condition. An Eskimo woman who worked at an expedition base
was generally known as a "seamstress." Noice told me they were
extremely clever with the needle and with furs and skins.

Ada Blackjack, who had been educated in a far north
mission, had been divorced from her husband. She was deeply
religious and had a little son. She no doubt welcomed the job
as seamstress for the Wrangel group as she needed means of
support for herself and the boy who was left, I believe, in charge
of her sister in Alaska.