Letter from Harold Noice to Griffith Brewer, 03 December 1924
Date3 December, 1924
abstractCorrespondence, newspaper articles, and other material related to the ill-fated 1921 expedition to Wrangel Island.
RepositoryRauner Special Collections Library, Dartmouth College.
Call NumberStefansson Mss-91: Harold Noice Papers, Box 1, Folder 2
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December 3, 1924
Dear Mr. Brewer:
Upon my return from Brazil where I have been con
valescing from an illness which was imminent when you were here
last fall, I have conducted an investigation on certain charges
made against me by Mr. Stefansson which I am told resulted in
your demand that I be put under arrest. Believing you to be an
honest man I am going to tell you in detail of my financial rela
tions with Stefansson Exploration & Development Company, with the
assurance that if you find my story contradicts Mr. Stefansson's
you will not stop until you have satisfied yourself which is the
true one.
valescing from an illness which was imminent when you were here
last fall, I have conducted an investigation on certain charges
made against me by Mr. Stefansson which I am told resulted in
your demand that I be put under arrest. Believing you to be an
honest man I am going to tell you in detail of my financial rela
tions with Stefansson Exploration & Development Company, with the
assurance that if you find my story contradicts Mr. Stefansson's
you will not stop until you have satisfied yourself which is the
true one.
I was in New York in the winter of 1922-23 planning
to go north in the summer in charge of a moving picture expedition
to Coronation Gulf. I had heard that the Crawford party then
on Wrangel Island had left Alaska in 1921 with a rather meagre
outfit conspicuous for its lack of an umiak and other walrus
hunting equipment, that two of the four men were but boys without
Arctic experience and that the party was without Eskimo hunters.
This knowledge was disquieting to say the least. When Captain
Bernard arrived in New York I heard more about the unfortuna[gap: ]
expedition and I also had a very long talk with Mr. Taylo [gap: ]
to go north in the summer in charge of a moving picture expedition
to Coronation Gulf. I had heard that the Crawford party then
on Wrangel Island had left Alaska in 1921 with a rather meagre
outfit conspicuous for its lack of an umiak and other walrus
hunting equipment, that two of the four men were but boys without
Arctic experience and that the party was without Eskimo hunters.
This knowledge was disquieting to say the least. When Captain
Bernard arrived in New York I heard more about the unfortuna[gap: ]
expedition and I also had a very long talk with Mr. Taylo [gap: ]
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Vice-President of the Stefansson Company, who was here also, and
I convinced Mr. Taylor of the absolute necessity for a relief
expedition which should be equipped for serious relief work to
leave Nome the following summer with instructions to get to
Wrangel Island at all hazards. And I advised Mr. Taylor to
engage Captain Bernard and his ship for the trip and therefore
avoid the danger of not being able to get another ship later on
when time would be an element of importance, and when, perhaps,
money would be difficult to get. Mr. Taylor agreed with me
absolutely and wired Mr. Stefansson, who was then on a lecture
tour, urging him to grant authority to engage Bernard. But Mr.
Stefansson wired back that it was too early to make definite
plans and that he was expecting the Canadian Government to finance
theexpedition, so the thing fell through and Bernard left New
York.
I convinced Mr. Taylor of the absolute necessity for a relief
expedition which should be equipped for serious relief work to
leave Nome the following summer with instructions to get to
Wrangel Island at all hazards. And I advised Mr. Taylor to
engage Captain Bernard and his ship for the trip and therefore
avoid the danger of not being able to get another ship later on
when time would be an element of importance, and when, perhaps,
money would be difficult to get. Mr. Taylor agreed with me
absolutely and wired Mr. Stefansson, who was then on a lecture
tour, urging him to grant authority to engage Bernard. But Mr.
Stefansson wired back that it was too early to make definite
plans and that he was expecting the Canadian Government to finance
theexpedition, so the thing fell through and Bernard left New
York.
Matters dragged on until spring and still no definite
plans had been made for the relief expedition. I had been unable
to finance my Coronation Gulf project and had agreed to take
command of the relief expedition. Mr. Stefansson tried to get
money from the Canadian Parliament, then went to England to try
his luck there. Not having received any word from Stefansson
I began to get alarmed and at last wired Mr: Taylor informing
him that if the company wanted me to take charge of the expedition
they would have to give me time enough to get to the Pacific Coast
plans had been made for the relief expedition. I had been unable
to finance my Coronation Gulf project and had agreed to take
command of the relief expedition. Mr. Stefansson tried to get
money from the Canadian Parliament, then went to England to try
his luck there. Not having received any word from Stefansson
I began to get alarmed and at last wired Mr: Taylor informing
him that if the company wanted me to take charge of the expedition
they would have to give me time enough to get to the Pacific Coast
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in order to catch the S. S. Victoria scheduled to leave
Seattle on July 5th. It was then June 21st. On June24th I
finally got word to come to Toronto for a conference and then
proceed west. At our conference in Toronto Mr. Taylor asked
me what arrangements I had made with Stefansson concerning pay for
my services and I told Mr. Taylor the question of money had never
been discussed but that inasmuch as the company was at that time
hard pressed for money I would donate my services gratis, espec
ially as my chief interest was to save lives, if possible, and
not the colonization of an island for England, but I agreed,
however, to do everything in my power to further the interest of
the company provided it did not interfere with relief work. I told
Mr. Taylor I expected to earn money by writing a series of articles
on my trip and asked him to try to secure a contract for me, and
that I would reimburse him for any money expended on telegrams or
office work when I returned. Mr. Taylor was delighted with
this arrangement and assured me he would endeavor to secure the
most advantageous contract possible.
Seattle on July 5th. It was then June 21st. On June24th I
finally got word to come to Toronto for a conference and then
proceed west. At our conference in Toronto Mr. Taylor asked
me what arrangements I had made with Stefansson concerning pay for
my services and I told Mr. Taylor the question of money had never
been discussed but that inasmuch as the company was at that time
hard pressed for money I would donate my services gratis, espec
ially as my chief interest was to save lives, if possible, and
not the colonization of an island for England, but I agreed,
however, to do everything in my power to further the interest of
the company provided it did not interfere with relief work. I told
Mr. Taylor I expected to earn money by writing a series of articles
on my trip and asked him to try to secure a contract for me, and
that I would reimburse him for any money expended on telegrams or
office work when I returned. Mr. Taylor was delighted with
this arrangement and assured me he would endeavor to secure the
most advantageous contract possible.
In regard to the expedition plans I agreed to
endeavor to secure colonists for Wrangel Island and make the
best possible contract with them for the division of their furs,
but in the event of the company not being able to finance the
expedition by the beginning of the navigation season we agreed
to broadcast an appeal for help through the papers of the
United States and Canada on a purely relief basis for then the
endeavor to secure colonists for Wrangel Island and make the
best possible contract with them for the division of their furs,
but in the event of the company not being able to finance the
expedition by the beginning of the navigation season we agreed
to broadcast an appeal for help through the papers of the
United States and Canada on a purely relief basis for then the
-4-
question would have become one of life and death. We knew
such an appeal would not only injure Mr. Stefansson’s chances of
getting England to take over the island but would injure his
reputation as well for he had stated from the lecture platform
that the boys were in no danger, that one of them might get an
occasional toothache but they would never die of scurvy because
it was so easy to get fresh meat. However, we agreed to wait
as long as possible and give Stefansson every opportunity to
get funds from the government.
such an appeal would not only injure Mr. Stefansson’s chances of
getting England to take over the island but would injure his
reputation as well for he had stated from the lecture platform
that the boys were in no danger, that one of them might get an
occasional toothache but they would never die of scurvy because
it was so easy to get fresh meat. However, we agreed to wait
as long as possible and give Stefansson every opportunity to
get funds from the government.
When I arrived in Nome in the middle of July there
were only two ships which could be used for the Wrangel expedition.
Both were badly in need of repairs which would take time and time
was an element of vital importance for the Arctic navigation season
is short and every day’s delay would mean a diminution of the
chances of reaching Wrangel Island. By bent of rather forceful
telegrams to the company I succeeded in getting $1,000 and the
promise of sufficient funds to carry on the work. This enabled
me to start repair work on the Donaldson and begin working on
equipment. Then I received communications from the Russian
Government concerning their claims to Wrangel and threatening
me with confiscation of company furs. Under these circumstances
I did not care to assume responsibility for landing supplies and
men on Wrangel Island so I wired the company for further orders.
I received a reply forwarded from Stefansson to the effect that
everybody in London considered fear of Soviet interference
were only two ships which could be used for the Wrangel expedition.
Both were badly in need of repairs which would take time and time
was an element of vital importance for the Arctic navigation season
is short and every day’s delay would mean a diminution of the
chances of reaching Wrangel Island. By bent of rather forceful
telegrams to the company I succeeded in getting $1,000 and the
promise of sufficient funds to carry on the work. This enabled
me to start repair work on the Donaldson and begin working on
equipment. Then I received communications from the Russian
Government concerning their claims to Wrangel and threatening
me with confiscation of company furs. Under these circumstances
I did not care to assume responsibility for landing supplies and
men on Wrangel Island so I wired the company for further orders.
I received a reply forwarded from Stefansson to the effect that
everybody in London considered fear of Soviet interference
-5-
ridiculous, that the main purpose of the expedition was to
continue trapping and other company business and that he was
forwarding $10,000 that day. I accordingly organized the
expedition on a business basis, securing a very favorable
contract with the professional trappers I had engaged whereby in
return for transportation and supplies they were to turn over
to the company one-half of the furs caught/ during their first
two years on the island. The company's share in these furs
would more than cover the entire cost of the expedition. That
the company has since disposed of their interests in the Wrangel
colony is no fault of mine. I do not know the financial details
of this transfer and I have never had any financial interest in
the company.
continue trapping and other company business and that he was
forwarding $10,000 that day. I accordingly organized the
expedition on a business basis, securing a very favorable
contract with the professional trappers I had engaged whereby in
return for transportation and supplies they were to turn over
to the company one-half of the furs caught/ during their first
two years on the island. The company's share in these furs
would more than cover the entire cost of the expedition. That
the company has since disposed of their interests in the Wrangel
colony is no fault of mine. I do not know the financial details
of this transfer and I have never had any financial interest in
the company.
In the meantime I had received telegrams from Taylor
reporting the progress he was making in regard to my newspaper
contract and eventually received word that he had closed a con
tract for me for $3,000 and asked me to wire approval. This
contract provided for the purchase of a 20,000 word story which
was to be merely an account of my personal experiences, such as
adventures in the ice pack, hunting experiences, observations
made on the island, conversations with the Crawford party
should I find them alive, etc. It was contingent on my
reaching the island but was unaffected by anything else. It did
not include any stories I might write on the basis of documents
reporting the progress he was making in regard to my newspaper
contract and eventually received word that he had closed a con
tract for me for $3,000 and asked me to wire approval. This
contract provided for the purchase of a 20,000 word story which
was to be merely an account of my personal experiences, such as
adventures in the ice pack, hunting experiences, observations
made on the island, conversations with the Crawford party
should I find them alive, etc. It was contingent on my
reaching the island but was unaffected by anything else. It did
not include any stories I might write on the basis of documents
-6-
found on the island, but named me as one of the parties possessing
a claim to use such material and bound me to give the Newspaper
Alliance the first opportunity of purchasing further stories
based on such material. This contract and telegrams relating
to it clearly prove Mr. Taylor's good faith with respect to his
agreement with me. If Mr. H. G. Wells had been sent to
Wrangel Island instead of me the Alliance would have probably
offered him considerably more than $3,000 for 20,000 words, because
Mr. Wells has written ten books to my one. On the other hand,
if Captain Bernard had been sent to Wrangel the Alliance would
probably have offered him considerably less than $3,000 because
the Captain has had no literary experience. Mr. Stefansson's
claim that because I had been sent to Wrangel to do certain
definite work for the company I was morally bound to turn over
to the company any money I might make through my ability as a
writer is absurd. It would have been equally absurd if the
American Museum who sent Mr. Stefansson north toccollect ethnologi
cal specimens had demanded that he give them the money he received
from the sale of articles based on his experiences during the
expedition..
a claim to use such material and bound me to give the Newspaper
Alliance the first opportunity of purchasing further stories
based on such material. This contract and telegrams relating
to it clearly prove Mr. Taylor's good faith with respect to his
agreement with me. If Mr. H. G. Wells had been sent to
Wrangel Island instead of me the Alliance would have probably
offered him considerably more than $3,000 for 20,000 words, because
Mr. Wells has written ten books to my one. On the other hand,
if Captain Bernard had been sent to Wrangel the Alliance would
probably have offered him considerably less than $3,000 because
the Captain has had no literary experience. Mr. Stefansson's
claim that because I had been sent to Wrangel to do certain
definite work for the company I was morally bound to turn over
to the company any money I might make through my ability as a
writer is absurd. It would have been equally absurd if the
American Museum who sent Mr. Stefansson north toccollect ethnologi
cal specimens had demanded that he give them the money he received
from the sale of articles based on his experiences during the
expedition..
Upon my return to Nome I sent out detailed informa
tion concerning the tragedy, clearly showing that all the men
of the party had perished but that the tragedy was not due to
the inherent inhospitality of Wrangel Island , either in severity
of climate or lack of game resources, and that I had, therefore,
tion concerning the tragedy, clearly showing that all the men
of the party had perished but that the tragedy was not due to
the inherent inhospitality of Wrangel Island , either in severity
of climate or lack of game resources, and that I had, therefore,
-7-
established the new colony of professional trappers completely
outfitted with all things necessary for the maintenance of a
happy existence for two years and ammunition for three years.
outfitted with all things necessary for the maintenance of a
happy existence for two years and ammunition for three years.
I received congratulations from Stefansson and the company stat
ing that high personages in the British Government were delighted
with my action. Then six days after I had returned to Nome
I received a cable forwarded from Stefansson instructing me to
purchase the Donaldson outright and leave her at Nome to be used
by the company the following year. I was unable to do this for
obvious reasons and I was also considerably annoyed and astounded
because the cables also stated that Mr. Stefansson hoped the
impression could be created that both the establishment of the
colony and the purchase of the ship were for the sole purpose of
being useful to the survivors of the Crawford party. I refused
to perjure myself but when I met Mr. Taylor in Toronto upon
my return from Alaska he explained the matter by saying that
doubtless it was only a political move on Stefansson's part to
please the British authorities who for diplomatic reasons wanted
the idea to get abroad that the colony had been established for
humanitarian rather than for Imperialistic reasons, but who
would nevertheless take formal possession of the island later
on. Mr. Taylor was delighted with my management of the expedi
tion and said that, if I had refused to establish the colony in
the face of such a tragedy as most other menwould have done, the
whole project would have been ruined, but now his cable from
ing that high personages in the British Government were delighted
with my action. Then six days after I had returned to Nome
I received a cable forwarded from Stefansson instructing me to
purchase the Donaldson outright and leave her at Nome to be used
by the company the following year. I was unable to do this for
obvious reasons and I was also considerably annoyed and astounded
because the cables also stated that Mr. Stefansson hoped the
impression could be created that both the establishment of the
colony and the purchase of the ship were for the sole purpose of
being useful to the survivors of the Crawford party. I refused
to perjure myself but when I met Mr. Taylor in Toronto upon
my return from Alaska he explained the matter by saying that
doubtless it was only a political move on Stefansson's part to
please the British authorities who for diplomatic reasons wanted
the idea to get abroad that the colony had been established for
humanitarian rather than for Imperialistic reasons, but who
would nevertheless take formal possession of the island later
on. Mr. Taylor was delighted with my management of the expedi
tion and said that, if I had refused to establish the colony in
the face of such a tragedy as most other menwould have done, the
whole project would have been ruined, but now his cable from
-8-
Stefansson indicated that it would be only few weeks now
before the government would take over the island and the company
would be reimbursed for the total expenditures shown on its books
an amount in excess of $30,000. Not only this but the fact
that the contract I had secured with the trappers would write off
the total expense of the expedition made Mr. Taylor exceedingly
grateful for my services. I turned over all the effects I had
found on the island, records, diaries, documents, etc. to Mr.
Taylor who examined them with me, and I asked his permission to
use the information contained therein in writing additional articles
which I felt certain the Alliance would purchase from me. Mr.
Taylor thought it was the least the company could do to repay me
for my services and it meant no money out of their pockets.
He very gladly gave his permission with the understanding, of course,
that as soon as I had used what I needed I would return the
diaries to the company.
before the government would take over the island and the company
would be reimbursed for the total expenditures shown on its books
an amount in excess of $30,000. Not only this but the fact
that the contract I had secured with the trappers would write off
the total expense of the expedition made Mr. Taylor exceedingly
grateful for my services. I turned over all the effects I had
found on the island, records, diaries, documents, etc. to Mr.
Taylor who examined them with me, and I asked his permission to
use the information contained therein in writing additional articles
which I felt certain the Alliance would purchase from me. Mr.
Taylor thought it was the least the company could do to repay me
for my services and it meant no money out of their pockets.
He very gladly gave his permission with the understanding, of course,
that as soon as I had used what I needed I would return the
diaries to the company.
With this understanding I came down to New York
and had a long talk with Mr. Pickering of the Alliance, the
afternoon of the day I arrived.Note letter of Sept 26 day after I left Toronto Mr. Pickering thought that
instead of my writing a second series of articles on the informa
tion contained in the diaries it would be better to include the
new material in the original 30,000 words and then expand the
series, if necessary, agreeing to pay me an additional $1500
for this new material. This was satisfactory to me.
Mr. Pickering asked me if I had thought to secure written permission
from Taylor because he would have to have confirmation in order
and had a long talk with Mr. Pickering of the Alliance, the
afternoon of the day I arrived.Note letter of Sept 26 day after I left Toronto Mr. Pickering thought that
instead of my writing a second series of articles on the informa
tion contained in the diaries it would be better to include the
new material in the original 30,000 words and then expand the
series, if necessary, agreeing to pay me an additional $1500
for this new material. This was satisfactory to me.
Mr. Pickering asked me if I had thought to secure written permission
from Taylor because he would have to have confirmation in order
-9-
to legalise the second agreement. I told him I had not thought
of this angle at all but for him to write or telegraph Taylor
for the desired confirmation. Mr. Pickering got in touch with
his representative, the editor of the Toronto Star, and asked him
to see Taylor and have the agreement ratified which he did, and
I began work on the articles. I did not receive my first
payment until the work was underway and in the meantime Stefansson
had sent no money to the company which being short of funds wrote
me a letter on October first, asking me to send them a check to
cover the cost of the telegrams and their stenographic work,as
I had agreed to do which I did as soon as I got my first payment
from the Alliance note letter of oct. 6 also and on October 8th the company having received
the check wrote me a letter of thanks and acknowledgment, also
saying that they had just received a letter from Mr. Stefansson
which gave them,and also me, our first intimation that Mr.
Stefansson was expecting me to give the company the pay I received
from the Alliance and states that a Mr. Griffith Brewer, the
gentleman in England who put up all the money for the relief
expedition was coming over with Stefansson for the purpose of
going into the accounts of the expedition. This was all very
interesting but it was an outrageous presumption on Stefansson's
part, especially in view of what I had done for him and his com
pany. If Stefansson had got into trouble with Brewer it certainly
of this angle at all but for him to write or telegraph Taylor
for the desired confirmation. Mr. Pickering got in touch with
his representative, the editor of the Toronto Star, and asked him
to see Taylor and have the agreement ratified which he did, and
I began work on the articles. I did not receive my first
payment until the work was underway and in the meantime Stefansson
had sent no money to the company which being short of funds wrote
me a letter on October first, asking me to send them a check to
cover the cost of the telegrams and their stenographic work,as
I had agreed to do which I did as soon as I got my first payment
from the Alliance note letter of oct. 6 also and on October 8th the company having received
the check wrote me a letter of thanks and acknowledgment, also
saying that they had just received a letter from Mr. Stefansson
which gave them,and also me, our first intimation that Mr.
Stefansson was expecting me to give the company the pay I received
from the Alliance and states that a Mr. Griffith Brewer, the
gentleman in England who put up all the money for the relief
expedition was coming over with Stefansson for the purpose of
going into the accounts of the expedition. This was all very
interesting but it was an outrageous presumption on Stefansson's
part, especially in view of what I had done for him and his com
pany. If Stefansson had got into trouble with Brewer it certainly
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was no fault of mine.
Stefansson had written me previously im
plying that/ in my account of the tragedy I had not blamed the men
who perished for mistakes which, if known, would remove the
feeling that Wrangel Island itself was ill-suited for habitation,
and he had also given out the suggestion that it was his view,
presumably a move made for publicity, that no one connected with
the company should make any money out of stories but should donate
such money towards building a monument. Now if anyone should
put up a monument it should be Stefansson himself or the company.
They were the ones who benefited by the work of the boys who died
and who, thanks to my work, had continued in possession of an
island inhabited by a colony of professional trappers. The com
mercial value of this colony on a basis of the fur catch alone was
an asset worth in the vicinity of $15,000 to the company, and
the value of the island itself was not less than $50,000.
it appeared that Stefansson was actually trying to get possession
of my money, not for a monument but for some purpose best known
to himself and I quite naturally resented it very much indeed.
I had unfortunately mislaid the letters I had received from the
company and had only the contract with the Alliance to support
my case whereupon Stefansson claimed letter to Alliance as of Oct. 20? that it had been necessary
to draw up a contract in my name because I was the one to write
the articles, but that I had agreed orally to turn over the money
to the company. Stefansson's great reputation and the testimony
of his officers convinced people that I was a crook and had taken
advantage of a legal technicality.
plying that/ in my account of the tragedy I had not blamed the men
who perished for mistakes which, if known, would remove the
feeling that Wrangel Island itself was ill-suited for habitation,
and he had also given out the suggestion that it was his view,
presumably a move made for publicity, that no one connected with
the company should make any money out of stories but should donate
such money towards building a monument. Now if anyone should
put up a monument it should be Stefansson himself or the company.
They were the ones who benefited by the work of the boys who died
and who, thanks to my work, had continued in possession of an
island inhabited by a colony of professional trappers. The com
mercial value of this colony on a basis of the fur catch alone was
an asset worth in the vicinity of $15,000 to the company, and
the value of the island itself was not less than $50,000.
note confirmation of this on page 311 - Stefansson book
["Total value of the catch of Wells and his
companions in one year 10,000"]
Now["Total value of the catch of Wells and his
companions in one year 10,000"]
it appeared that Stefansson was actually trying to get possession
of my money, not for a monument but for some purpose best known
to himself and I quite naturally resented it very much indeed.
I had unfortunately mislaid the letters I had received from the
company and had only the contract with the Alliance to support
my case whereupon Stefansson claimed letter to Alliance as of Oct. 20? that it had been necessary
to draw up a contract in my name because I was the one to write
the articles, but that I had agreed orally to turn over the money
to the company. Stefansson's great reputation and the testimony
of his officers convinced people that I was a crook and had taken
advantage of a legal technicality.
The officers of the Stefansson company now deny that they testified against
me. They say Stefansson used their names without their knowledge or consent.
me. They say Stefansson used their names without their knowledge or consent.
-11-
Since my return from Brazil I have unearthed the letters
and telegrams which clearly prove all of the foregoing contentions
and I intend to bring suit against Mr. Stefansson for the recovery
of the $1500 which he has prevented me from getting for over a
year.
and telegrams which clearly prove all of the foregoing contentions
and I intend to bring suit against Mr. Stefansson for the recovery
of the $1500 which he has prevented me from getting for over a
year.
One of the many stories Stefansson has put into circula
tion with the apparent intention of discrediting me is that when
I first arrived in New York I was penniless and that he fed me
for two years. As a matter of fact I had made $4,000 in fur on
my expedition/of 1918—1921 to Coronation Gulf and when I returned from the
Arctic in 1921 I met Stefansson who was then in financial diffi
culties and loaned him a considerable amount of money. Later on
when I sold one of my Ethnological collections to the Heye Museum
I again loaned him money. Stefansson eventually paid back the
money in small checks. The only foundation for this story
was that during the winter previous to my departure for Wrangel
Island I had borrowed funds from him for the purpose of finishing
a book I was writing about his Canadian Arctic Expedition and
had agreed to pay him out of the royalties of the book. Mr.
Stefansson was very anxious that I should finish the book and
unless he loaned me money for this purpose I would have to
discontinue that writing. The other day I met Stefansson and
charged him with these lies he had been circulating. At first he
denied that I had ever loaned him any money and then apparently
realizingthat as my lawyer andanother
a very well known scientist
were present, and would remember his assertions, admitted that
tion with the apparent intention of discrediting me is that when
I first arrived in New York I was penniless and that he fed me
for two years. As a matter of fact I had made $4,000 in fur on
my expedition/of 1918—1921 to Coronation Gulf and when I returned from the
Arctic in 1921 I met Stefansson who was then in financial diffi
culties and loaned him a considerable amount of money. Later on
when I sold one of my Ethnological collections to the Heye Museum
I again loaned him money. Stefansson eventually paid back the
money in small checks. The only foundation for this story
was that during the winter previous to my departure for Wrangel
Island I had borrowed funds from him for the purpose of finishing
a book I was writing about his Canadian Arctic Expedition and
had agreed to pay him out of the royalties of the book. Mr.
Stefansson was very anxious that I should finish the book and
unless he loaned me money for this purpose I would have to
discontinue that writing. The other day I met Stefansson and
charged him with these lies he had been circulating. At first he
denied that I had ever loaned him any money and then apparently
realizingthat as my lawyer and
were present, and would remember his assertions, admitted that
-12-
he didn’t know whether I had loaned him any money or not, but
would have to ask his secretary.
would have to ask his secretary.
Now, Mr. Brewer, I should be very glad to meet
you and show you personally any documents you would like to see
and if you have heard any other stories which discredit me I
think you should give me a chance to state my side of the case.
you and show you personally any documents you would like to see
and if you have heard any other stories which discredit me I
think you should give me a chance to state my side of the case.
Yours very truly.
Note - [now you have ...
... with Pickering ...]
... with Pickering ...]
Letters Sept 26 -
Oct. 1 Just as soon as you are able to we shall be very
pleased to receive your cheque covering
whatever proportion you think is fair for our work
+ telegraph charges.
pleased to receive your cheque covering
whatever proportion you think is fair for our work
+ telegraph charges.
Oct. 6
Oct. 8 { we need to [...] have
received [additionally ] please send us a cheque
Oct. 8 { we need to [...] have
received [additionally ] please send us a cheque
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