"Parents Blame V. Stefansson for Allan Crawford's Death," The Evening Telegraph, 29 April 1925.
Date29 April, 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 3
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The Evening Te[gap: ]
Shortage of Food and Failure
to Keep Faith Cited
Against Explorer
TRAGEDY OF WRANGEL
"Failure to keep faith with the
boys, together with the totally inade
quate supplies with wich he encour
aged them to embark," is charged
against Stefansson, the Arctic ex
plorer, as having caused the death of
their son Allan Crawford, of Toronto,
and his companions on Wrangel Is
land, to the north of Siberia, in a
statement issued this morning by
Prof. J. T. Crawford, of the Ontario
College of Education Faculty, U. of
T., and Mrs. Crawford. Last week
Stefansson published charges that
Harold Noice, who in 1923 headed
the relief expedition to Wrangel Is
land, had mutilated and suppressed
the "last testament of a dead hero."
boys, together with the totally inade
quate supplies with wich he encour
aged them to embark," is charged
against Stefansson, the Arctic ex
plorer, as having caused the death of
their son Allan Crawford, of Toronto,
and his companions on Wrangel Is
land, to the north of Siberia, in a
statement issued this morning by
Prof. J. T. Crawford, of the Ontario
College of Education Faculty, U. of
T., and Mrs. Crawford. Last week
Stefansson published charges that
Harold Noice, who in 1923 headed
the relief expedition to Wrangel Is
land, had mutilated and suppressed
the "last testament of a dead hero."
The statement is as follows:
"BURDEN OF CULPABILITY."
"For many months past we have
read in silence statements in the
press contributed or inspired by Mr.
Vilhjalmur Stefansson 'explaining'
the tragedy of Wrangel Island. In
some instances these statements
have been contrary to facts, in
others, a false impression has been
conveyed by a more or less skillful
use of partial truths for the purpose
of deceiving the public and thereby,
if possible, lightening the burden of
culpability for the tragedy which Mr.
Stefansson now bears.
read in silence statements in the
press contributed or inspired by Mr.
Vilhjalmur Stefansson 'explaining'
the tragedy of Wrangel Island. In
some instances these statements
have been contrary to facts, in
others, a false impression has been
conveyed by a more or less skillful
use of partial truths for the purpose
of deceiving the public and thereby,
if possible, lightening the burden of
culpability for the tragedy which Mr.
Stefansson now bears.
"In addition to making misleading
statements, Mr. Stefansson indulges
in callous and futile spectulations as
to what cruel death may have been
the unknown fate of our son, Allan
Crawford, and his two companions,
Frederick Maurer and Milton Galle.
He has endeavored to convince the
public that their tragic end was a
mere accident, that starvation could
not have been its cause, although he
himself has admitted that a supply
for six months was all the food he
advised them to take, and has stated
in the London Spectator (August 18,
1923), that 'their supplies probably
gave out a year ago'.
statements, Mr. Stefansson indulges
in callous and futile spectulations as
to what cruel death may have been
the unknown fate of our son, Allan
Crawford, and his two companions,
Frederick Maurer and Milton Galle.
He has endeavored to convince the
public that their tragic end was a
mere accident, that starvation could
not have been its cause, although he
himself has admitted that a supply
for six months was all the food he
advised them to take, and has stated
in the London Spectator (August 18,
1923), that 'their supplies probably
gave out a year ago'.
"FEAR OF STARVATION."
"He has tried to give the impres
sion that the second and fatal
attempt of our son to make the
[gap: ]across the ever-moving
sion that the second and fatal
attempt of our son to make the
[gap: ]across the ever-moving
A portrait photograph of Allan Crawford in a suit.
The late ALLAN CRAWFORD was
born in Hamilton in 1901, but was
educated at the University of To
ronto Schools and was in his third
year in chemistry and mineralogy at
the University of Toronto when he
left to take command of the Stefans
son expedition to Wrangel Island,
where he and his associates perished.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arctic soil. As early as August 15,
1922, Galle records: - 'Crawford and
I have been dipping hard bread in
grease all day long, and seem never
to get filled!' And this was five
months before the trip to Siberia
was attempted!
1922, Galle records: - 'Crawford and
I have been dipping hard bread in
grease all day long, and seem never
to get filled!' And this was five
months before the trip to Siberia
was attempted!
"DOCUMENTS CONCLUSIVE."
"This the documents left by the
victims of the Stefansson Wrangel
Island enterprise, who are dead and
can no longer speak for themelves,
prove conclusively that it was short
age of food that led to their cruel
and unnecessary sacrifice.
victims of the Stefansson Wrangel
Island enterprise, who are dead and
can no longer speak for themelves,
prove conclusively that it was short
age of food that led to their cruel
and unnecessary sacrifice.
"From the living, too, we have
testimony. Captain Joseph Bernard
of the Teddy Bear, who risked his
own life and ship in his efforts to
rescue our son and party, writes to
us that he has met and talked with
Ada Blackjack, the Eskimo seam
stress, sole survivor of the expedi
tion. When he told her that Mr.
Stefansson was saying in his lec
tares that there were lots of pro
visions on the island when the boys
left for the mainland, Ada became
greatly excited. 'She told me.' Cap
tain Bernard writes, 'that all [gap: ]
[gap: ]was a [gap: ]
testimony. Captain Joseph Bernard
of the Teddy Bear, who risked his
own life and ship in his efforts to
rescue our son and party, writes to
us that he has met and talked with
Ada Blackjack, the Eskimo seam
stress, sole survivor of the expedi
tion. When he told her that Mr.
Stefansson was saying in his lec
tares that there were lots of pro
visions on the island when the boys
left for the mainland, Ada became
greatly excited. 'She told me.' Cap
tain Bernard writes, 'that all [gap: ]
[gap: ]was a [gap: ]
treacherous [gap: ]
planned months ahead, and that it
was not planned because he was
facing certain starvation on Wrangel
Island.
"It is true the first attempt to
cross to Siberia was planned months
ahead, but it too, was planned be
cause of the fear of starvation. In
a last letter, dated January 7, 1923,
written just before setting out upon
his first attempt to make the cross
ing, our son says that he considered
leaving Wrangel Island 'as early as
last spring,' 'and when, ' he writes,
'I saw how sparse seal and bear
were, I decided it would be unwise
to stay here with the dogs all winter.
Especially so since trapping is not
worth staying for.' And in the
brief postscript, written on Janu
ary 28 with his frozen fingers be
fore attempting the second and
fatal journey, he further emphasizes
the danger of remaining upon the
island, for he says 'it would be dis
astrous to return a second time' (to
Wrangel).
cross to Siberia was planned months
ahead, but it too, was planned be
cause of the fear of starvation. In
a last letter, dated January 7, 1923,
written just before setting out upon
his first attempt to make the cross
ing, our son says that he considered
leaving Wrangel Island 'as early as
last spring,' 'and when, ' he writes,
'I saw how sparse seal and bear
were, I decided it would be unwise
to stay here with the dogs all winter.
Especially so since trapping is not
worth staying for.' And in the
brief postscript, written on Janu
ary 28 with his frozen fingers be
fore attempting the second and
fatal journey, he further emphasizes
the danger of remaining upon the
island, for he says 'it would be dis
astrous to return a second time' (to
Wrangel).
"FATAL JOURNEY NECESSARY."
"The entries in the diary of Lorne
Knight, who died of scurvy on the
island, clearly indicate that it was
the shortage of food that made the
fatal journey necessary. The entry
for January 12, 1923, says 'It will
be impossible for all of us to stay
at the main camp (i.e. on Wrangel
Island), for there is just enough grub
there for three people (hard bread,
blubber and what foxes that are
caught) to last until the seals and
birds come.'
Knight, who died of scurvy on the
island, clearly indicate that it was
the shortage of food that made the
fatal journey necessary. The entry
for January 12, 1923, says 'It will
be impossible for all of us to stay
at the main camp (i.e. on Wrangel
Island), for there is just enough grub
there for three people (hard bread,
blubber and what foxes that are
caught) to last until the seals and
birds come.'
"And the entry for January 21,
1923, further explains that it would
be impossible for all the party to re
main on Wrangel and survive. It
reads: - 'As grub is short here, it is
essential for the party to split.'
1923, further explains that it would
be impossible for all the party to re
main on Wrangel and survive. It
reads: - 'As grub is short here, it is
essential for the party to split.'
"But it is in Frederick Maurer's
farewell letter to his young wife
dated January 29, 1923, that the
most conclusive evidence is given
that the fatal attempt to make the
hazardous crossing to Siberia was
made necessary through scarcity of
food. Maurer's letter reads in part
as follows: 'The chief reason for
our leaving is the shortage of food.
There is not adequate food for all,
there being only ten twenty-pound
cases of hard bread and three pokes
of seal oil to last until next summer.
The prospects for getting game be
tween now and next summer or seal
ing season are very poor, so we are
leaving behind enough food for the
two remaining here. We are taking
with us three twenty-pound cases of
hard bread and two five-gallon cans
of seal blubber for men and dogs.'
farewell letter to his young wife
dated January 29, 1923, that the
most conclusive evidence is given
that the fatal attempt to make the
hazardous crossing to Siberia was
made necessary through scarcity of
food. Maurer's letter reads in part
as follows: 'The chief reason for
our leaving is the shortage of food.
There is not adequate food for all,
there being only ten twenty-pound
cases of hard bread and three pokes
of seal oil to last until next summer.
The prospects for getting game be
tween now and next summer or seal
ing season are very poor, so we are
leaving behind enough food for the
two remaining here. We are taking
with us three twenty-pound cases of
hard bread and two five-gallon cans
of seal blubber for men and dogs.'
LIKE CHARGING FALSEHOOD.
"Mr. Stefansson's contention that
the last fatal journey was not at
tempted because of shortage of food
is tantamount to saying that, when
Frederick Maurer was facing almost
certain death, he penned a false
hood!
the last fatal journey was not at
tempted because of shortage of food
is tantamount to saying that, when
Frederick Maurer was facing almost
certain death, he penned a false
hood!
"in the brief notes left behind by
Milton Galle evidence is found that
even before the end of their first
year on the island the supplies of
the party were almost exhausted,
and they were reduced to subsisting
upon hard bread, grease and what
poor roots are to be obtained from
Milton Galle evidence is found that
even before the end of their first
year on the island the supplies of
the party were almost exhausted,
and they were reduced to subsisting
upon hard bread, grease and what
poor roots are to be obtained from
[gap: ] about six or seven boxes of
[gap: ] and two pokes of seal oil, six
[gap: ]seven cans of tea and one small
can of saccharine. For a long time
previous to their departure hard
bread and seal oil were all they had
to eat. I said very likely then the
men were not very strong. She said
that they were not - could not be
with that kind of provision. This
information corresponds with the
last letters of your son and Mr.
Maurer's last letter to his wife.'
NOICE'S AFFIDAVIT
"Further testimony is to be found
on file in the Surrogate Court of
Ontario in an affidavit sworn to and
signed by Mr. Harold Noice, Com
mander of the relief expedition, who
braved the dangers of shipwreck
and the capture by the Reds in go
ing to Wrangel Island to bring re
lief. The affidavit states that our
son's last fatal journey was under
taken 'when the provisions of the
party were becoming exhaused', and
that 'Crawford and his companions
when they left the island, were in
poor condition from the lack of pro
per food.'
on file in the Surrogate Court of
Ontario in an affidavit sworn to and
signed by Mr. Harold Noice, Com
mander of the relief expedition, who
braved the dangers of shipwreck
and the capture by the Reds in go
ing to Wrangel Island to bring re
lief. The affidavit states that our
son's last fatal journey was under
taken 'when the provisions of the
party were becoming exhaused', and
that 'Crawford and his companions
when they left the island, were in
poor condition from the lack of pro
per food.'
"That our son considered his
party to be only the preliminary or
advance party of a much larger ex
pedition which Mr. Stefansson was
to lead the following summer, is
shown by his letters written in 1921
to us and to friends. He had the
utmost confidence that Mr. Stefan
sson would join him on Wrangel
Island in July 1922. The faith of
the boy in the man is infinitely
pathetic - even up to the very end he
was confident that Stefansson had
kept faith with him.
party to be only the preliminary or
advance party of a much larger ex
pedition which Mr. Stefansson was
to lead the following summer, is
shown by his letters written in 1921
to us and to friends. He had the
utmost confidence that Mr. Stefan
sson would join him on Wrangel
Island in July 1922. The faith of
the boy in the man is infinitely
pathetic - even up to the very end he
was confident that Stefansson had
kept faith with him.
STEFANSSON'S CHOICE
'His last letter to Mr. Stefansson
shows that he expected to find him
wintering near the island, or pos
sibly at Nome. But so far from wint
ering near the island, or yet at
Nome, Mr. Vilhjalmur Stefansson,
as the Montreal Standard says, 'was
prancing about from one luxurious
spot of civilization to another, lectur
ing and telling what a hero he was,'
and at the very time our boy was
writing his last letter, January 7,
1923, Mr. Stefansson, snug and safe,
far away in New York, was announc
ing to the world that he was through
with Polar expedition for good!
shows that he expected to find him
wintering near the island, or pos
sibly at Nome. But so far from wint
ering near the island, or yet at
Nome, Mr. Vilhjalmur Stefansson,
as the Montreal Standard says, 'was
prancing about from one luxurious
spot of civilization to another, lectur
ing and telling what a hero he was,'
and at the very time our boy was
writing his last letter, January 7,
1923, Mr. Stefansson, snug and safe,
far away in New York, was announc
ing to the world that he was through
with Polar expedition for good!
"Our son's belief that Mr. Ste
fansson seriously intended joining
him in the Arctic in 1922 was shared
by Milton Galle, the nineteen-year
old youth who accompanied the ex
pedition. In writing to his parents in
1921, Galle said: 'I shall not shave or
dress up until next year, when Mr.
Stefansson and several other white
men will come.'
fansson seriously intended joining
him in the Arctic in 1922 was shared
by Milton Galle, the nineteen-year
old youth who accompanied the ex
pedition. In writing to his parents in
1921, Galle said: 'I shall not shave or
dress up until next year, when Mr.
Stefansson and several other white
men will come.'
"FAILURE TO KEEP FAITH."
"It was this failure on the part of
Mr. Stefansson to keep faith with the
boys, and join them in 1922, together
with the totally inadequate supplies
with which he encouraged them to
embark (in order to prove his theory
that man can 'live off the country'
in the Arctic) that led to the need
less suffering and death of our son
and his companions.
Mr. Stefansson to keep faith with the
boys, and join them in 1922, together
with the totally inadequate supplies
with which he encouraged them to
embark (in order to prove his theory
that man can 'live off the country'
in the Arctic) that led to the need
less suffering and death of our son
and his companions.
"(Signed)
"(PROF.) J. T. CRAWFORD,
"(MRS.) HELEN CRAWFORD."
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