Letter from Joseph-Fidèle Bernard to Harold Noice, 02 March 1925
Date2 March, 1925
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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409 Eastlake Ave.,
March 2, 1925
Mr. Hurle Noise,
Friend Noise,
I am going to take the liberty of writing you at this time,
to ask you for some information and I hope it will not be
imposing on you.
to ask you for some information and I hope it will not be
imposing on you.
First, I'd want to know if you recieved a letter from me
mailed at Ketchikan, Alaska. When I came down to Ketchikan
in December I found there awaiting me a letter from you,
telling me about some of your troubles and asking me for cer
tain letters. I had copies made with a notary public's
affidavit attached to each letter and I addressed them to
you in care of Explorer's Club as you had instructed me to.
You never acknowledged receiving it.
mailed at Ketchikan, Alaska. When I came down to Ketchikan
in December I found there awaiting me a letter from you,
telling me about some of your troubles and asking me for cer
tain letters. I had copies made with a notary public's
affidavit attached to each letter and I addressed them to
you in care of Explorer's Club as you had instructed me to.
You never acknowledged receiving it.
Since then from various hints that I have gathered from
various parts of the country, I have a suspicion that you
never received these papers. It is possible that they have
fallen into the hands of your enemy. Please let me know
at once together with any information regarding Wrangel
Island affair and your connection with V.S., that you may
care to let me know. You are and have been accused of
various things in connection with it that I know for a
fact that you are innocent of. But the trouble is that
only very few knows the truth. You might have made some
mistake but we should not trouble ourselves over a mistake
made unintentionally.
various parts of the country, I have a suspicion that you
never received these papers. It is possible that they have
fallen into the hands of your enemy. Please let me know
at once together with any information regarding Wrangel
Island affair and your connection with V.S., that you may
care to let me know. You are and have been accused of
various things in connection with it that I know for a
fact that you are innocent of. But the trouble is that
only very few knows the truth. You might have made some
mistake but we should not trouble ourselves over a mistake
made unintentionally.
The native that you left on Wrangel are here now and I have
won their confidence so they will talk freely. Now I must
tell you they have had a dirty deal.
won their confidence so they will talk freely. Now I must
tell you they have had a dirty deal.
If claim is made on the Steffensen Exploration and Develop
ment Company, it is more than probable that V.S. will try
to lay the blame on you, saying that you had exceeded your
authority or something like that. But surely you have his
telegram and writing to prove that you werehis agent.
ment Company, it is more than probable that V.S. will try
to lay the blame on you, saying that you had exceeded your
authority or something like that. But surely you have his
telegram and writing to prove that you werehis agent.
It would be a good thing if those telegrams and writing
could be in the hands of someone out here.
could be in the hands of someone out here.
The Bureau of Education out here should be the proper people
to take the matter in hand to look after the natives interests.
But I will tell you frankly (mind you this is confidential)
that I do not want to trust the Seattle heads of that Bureau too
far. You might know that Mr. Lopp is no longer its head nor
has he anything to do with it. If he had I would feel differ
ently.
to take the matter in hand to look after the natives interests.
But I will tell you frankly (mind you this is confidential)
that I do not want to trust the Seattle heads of that Bureau too
far. You might know that Mr. Lopp is no longer its head nor
has he anything to do with it. If he had I would feel differ
ently.
If you want to trust me with any copy of any evidence you may
be sure that it will never leave my hand without your consent.
be sure that it will never leave my hand without your consent.
Now, Mr. Noise, I feel quite sure that within a short time
something is going to happen out here and it is likely that I
am going to be deeply involved in it. And now, you might see
how important it is for me to know everything. Now, this is
as much for your own protection as it is for the wellfare of
those natives. Send me a statement and any evidence you may
have. I again assure you that you can trust me with it.
something is going to happen out here and it is likely that I
am going to be deeply involved in it. And now, you might see
how important it is for me to know everything. Now, this is
as much for your own protection as it is for the wellfare of
those natives. Send me a statement and any evidence you may
have. I again assure you that you can trust me with it.
Last Friday I was at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce meeting
and dinner. The chairman announced that on next Friday, the 6th,
Mr. Steffensen's secretary is going to give a talk on the
eskimoes and their connection with Wrangel Island. I will let
you know what he has to say.
and dinner. The chairman announced that on next Friday, the 6th,
Mr. Steffensen's secretary is going to give a talk on the
eskimoes and their connection with Wrangel Island. I will let
you know what he has to say.
I am going to register this letter so that I know that noone
but you gets it and besides I will get someone else to reg
ister it in their own name so that noone in the Explorer’s
Club will know who it is from. It would be my wish and to my
interest that noone knows that I am corresponding with you.
but you gets it and besides I will get someone else to reg
ister it in their own name so that noone in the Explorer’s
Club will know who it is from. It would be my wish and to my
interest that noone knows that I am corresponding with you.
If you did not reeeive my letter from Ketchikan, I will gladly
forward you another copy.
forward you another copy.
Hoping for a favorable reply, I am
Sincerely yours,
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