Typescript of a report by Ada Blackjack, 25 August 1923, with extracts from Milton Galle's diary
Date25 August, 1923
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 4
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On Ausgust 25, 1923 when we were still in the icepapck,
Ada sat down with pencil and paper and wrote her report.
It took her two days. In it she reviews her experience
from the start. I give it as it is.
Ada sat down with pencil and paper and wrote her report.
It took her two days. In it she reviews her experience
from the start. I give it as it is.
"I was in Nome in 1921. One day I was going home
from where I worked and I saw Marshall Jordan in street
and he call me and I went to him. And he says that he want
to talk to me, And he took me to the federal jail office and
told me that four white men wantxxxx Eskimo woman to do
sewing for them, and I told him that I let him know tomorrow
and he said alright. And next day Mrs Jordan took me to
federal jail office. Thats first time I meet Mr Crawford and
Mr Knight. And they tolld me and Mr Jordan that they need
someone to do skin sewing awful bad. And they told me that they
have lots of group so I say to myself there is a good
chance to get few dollars for me and my son. Mr Crawford told me
that I'll get fifty dollars a month so I made up my mind I'll
go, so I says alright I'll go. And we left Nome, September
9 in 1921
from where I worked and I saw Marshall Jordan in street
and he call me and I went to him. And he says that he want
to talk to me, And he took me to the federal jail office and
told me that four white men want
sewing for them, and I told him that I let him know tomorrow
and he said alright. And next day Mrs Jordan took me to
federal jail office. Thats first time I meet Mr Crawford and
Mr Knight. And they tol
someone to do skin sewing awful bad. And they told me that they
have lots of group so I say to myself there is a good
chance to get few dollars for me and my son. Mr Crawford told me
that I'll get fifty dollars a month so I made up my mind I'll
go, so I says alright I'll go. And we left Nome, September
9 in 1921
Next morning we were over at Kings island on the twelfth
of September we arrive at Siberia, four o'clock in the
afternoon and skin boat come out to see the ship. Some
Russian man and native man. And Russian man ask Crawford
where we are going and Crawford and Knight tell him about where
we were going and Ibuess they sign paper. Well I dont know what
they do. Anyway they do some writing and Mr Crawford and Mr
Knigyt went to shore and bought some sinew and one white sealskin
We stop at East Cape two or three hours and we left for
Wrangel Island. Not very long after we left East gate the engine
of September we arrive at Siberia, four o'clock in the
afternoon and skin boat come out to see the ship. Some
Russian man and native man. And Russian man ask Crawford
where we are going and Crawford and Knight tell him about where
we were going and Ibuess they sign paper. Well I dont know what
they do. Anyway they do some writing and Mr Crawford and Mr
Knigyt went to shore and bought some sinew and one white sealskin
We stop at East Cape two or three hours and we left for
Wrangel Island. Not very long after we left East gate the engine
[page blank]
stop and we lay over one night and one day and then after
they fix the engine we sail for Wrangel Island. We arrive at
Wrangel island on the sixteenth of September in the evening. I
forgot what time it was.
they fix the engine we sail for Wrangel Island. We arrive at
Wrangel island on the sixteenth of September in the evening. I
forgot what time it was.
In the morning they unload. When they ate all finished
unloading the silver wave left. And first three month I wasqui
quitedizxy
busy and after that I had not much to do. And after th
In about sometime in Novemeber Mr Crawford and Mr Mauer wenti
to the east and camp there and do some trapping, And in
Christmas they come up to our camp. Galle and Knight was in the
camp where I was and we had a good time in Christmas. And spring
time we move out from our snow house and last summer the boys were
taking trips to east and west. And in fall we move to west of
first camp about four miles to Doudful harbor. And after we
move Mauer and Galle was trapping and Knight and Crawford was
hawling q wood whole fall because theywas
werefiguring
e to
leave right after Christmas. And I was busy making skin
to
clothes for boys and I made everything that they want me to
make for them. And in January 8 Crawford and Knight they left for
sibberia over the ice with the dogteam. They had five dogs. They were out
for fourteen days and they came back because Knight got sick what
they call scurfey. He was not bad sick first they come back and
I heard them talking that three men is better than two to make a
trip so it will be easyer to make camp on the way. The reason
why they left because we didnt have much food. If they would
mine me, what I say I would tell them to stay but I was not
suppose to try to stop them from what they are going to do.
I was very sorry when I know they are going to leave me and
Knight all alone in the island , I c uld not help it my tears
was dropping off my eyes, and they told me and Knight that theyll
ll come back and get me and Knight, with the boat if they get to
Nome. And they said if they cant come to Wrangel with the
unloading the silver wave left. And first three month I was
quite
In about sometime in Novemeber Mr Crawford and Mr Mauer went
to the east and camp there and do some trapping, And in
Christmas they come up to our camp. Galle and Knight was in the
camp where I was and we had a good time in Christmas. And spring
time we move out from our snow house and last summer the boys were
taking trips to east and west. And in fall we move to west of
first camp about four miles to Doudful harbor. And after we
move Mauer and Galle was trapping and Knight and Crawford was
hawling q wood whole fall because they
leave right after Christmas. And I was busy making skin
to
clothes for boys and I made everything that they want me to
make for them. And in January 8 Crawford and Knight they left for
sibberia over the ice with the dogteam. They had five dogs. They were out
for fourteen days and they came back because Knight got sick what
they call scurfey. He was not bad sick first they come back and
I heard them talking that three men is better than two to make a
trip so it will be easyer to make camp on the way. The reason
why they left because we didnt have much food. If they would
mine me, what I say I would tell them to stay but I was not
suppose to try to stop them from what they are going to do.
I was very sorry when I know they are going to leave me and
Knight all alone in the island , I c uld not help it my tears
was dropping off my eyes, and they told me and Knight that theyll
Extract from Galle Diary
Sept. 18-
....... Surprising thing to me yesterday while
getting wood. C. seemed very tired + worn,
dragged his feet: K. grumbled about hard work
he had to do where as fact he does least of all,
Ada included. M. continually complaining
about his back, wrenched some weeks ago; and
all complaining about being exceptionally sleepy
today. K. makes some facetious remark about all
of us should be getting up at a given hr. This
evening he severely reprimanded C. for having
called him - leaves strict orders not to be called in
morning. Now what can you do? You can't
shoot him, you can't hang him so what are
you going to do?nite During nite he gets
up again, makes coffee + eats meat, then sits
down to read. Reads till 10 A.M. then when we
get up he makes some sarcastic remarks about
noise. What can you do? C. then became sleepy
turns in about 10 p.m. M. soon follows. I stay awake
reading because could not go to sleep previous nights
K. stays up. C. prepared breakfast about 11:30 p.m.
[g..+ ....
]
getting wood. C. seemed very tired + worn,
dragged his feet: K. grumbled about hard work
he had to do where as fact he does least of all,
Ada included. M. continually complaining
about his back, wrenched some weeks ago; and
all complaining about being exceptionally sleepy
today. K. makes some facetious remark about all
of us should be getting up at a given hr. This
evening he severely reprimanded C. for having
called him - leaves strict orders not to be called in
morning. Now what can you do? You can't
shoot him, you can't hang him so what are
you going to do?
up again, makes coffee + eats meat, then sits
down to read. Reads till 10 A.M. then when we
get up he makes some sarcastic remarks about
noise. What can you do? C. then became sleepy
turns in about 10 p.m. M. soon follows. I stay awake
reading because could not go to sleep previous nights
K. stays up. C. prepared breakfast about 11:30 p.m.
[
Nome and if they cant come with the boat they was going to
come with the dogteamxxxx next winter over the ice. Thats last
I know of those three fellows. And after they left Knight got
very sick. He was fainting when he try to chop wood so Insay to
him I'll do the work if hell let me do it and he lie in bed since
February 9 and he fainted every time he tryed to move around.
And i do the wood work and try to trap. First month I never get
any fox so latery I got some fox and late in spring I couldnt
get any mo re fox. Anyway when have some meat Knight couldnt
eat very much. I dont now why. And in May 10 I wake up he was
nosebleeding, he was nosebleeding half a tea tin full. He was
pretty near died and afer about two days he was nose bleed
again. I had hard time when he was dying, Ixxxnever will
forget that allmy life. I was crying while he was living. I
tried my best to save his life but I cant quite save him. He was
living till June 22. One day I was out west of the camp about
three miles with the shotgun and I found one seggll egg and
I tried to get seegull and I could not shot any of them so
I said to myself, I got one egg for knight anyway and I went
home andon my way coming home I shot one goose. I was glad that
I got something t o eat for knight And he cant eat it. He had
only one
come with the dogteam
I know of those three fellows. And after they left Knight got
very sick. He was fainting when he try to chop wood so Insay to
him I'll do the work if hell let me do it and he lie in bed since
February 9 and he fainted every time he try
And i do the wood work and try to trap. First month I never get
any fox so later
get any mo re fox. Anyway when have some meat Knight couldnt
eat very much. I dont now why. And in May 10 I wake up he was
nosebleeding, he was nosebleeding half a tea tin full. He was
pretty near died and afer about two days he was nose bleed
again. I had hard time when he was dying, I
forget that allmy life. I was crying while he was living. I
tried my best to save his life but I cant quite save him. He was
living till June 22. One day I was out west of the camp about
three miles with the shotgun and I found one seggll egg and
I tried to get seegull and I could not shot any of them so
I said to myself, I got one egg for knight anyway and I went
home andon my way coming home I shot one goose. I was glad that
I got something t o eat for knight And he cant eat it. He had
only one
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