Letter from Frederick W. Maurer to Mary Maurer, 5 September 1921

Nome, Alaska, September 5, 1921.

My dear Mother:-

Since I have received the telegram from Delphine, I am certain that she has been with you and given you a detailed account of our wedding ceremony, the whys and wherefores of our sudden marriage, why I was going north and why I didn't and couldn't come home.

I would have and should have written you from Seattle before leaving, but somehow I couldn't get to it, and besides I felt Delphine would see you sooner than a letter would reach you so I left it her with the anticipation of writing you from here.

I am sorry that I could not have come home or as far East as Chicago where you were at the time to be married. I had always wished that you could be present at my wedding. But after meeting Stefansson and learning that I was going North for

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one or two years, and in view of the little trouble between Delphine and myself, I thought it would not be advisable to go away without giving her the choice of marrying, if she so wished it. On telegraphing her to this effect, she agreed to meet me at Missoula, Mont. where we married. Our marriage has made her very much happier and I'm just as happy. The ceremony was beautiful. Mr. Stefansson, as you know, was good enough to be best man and besides he was very kind to assist me in making the necessary arrangements. In fact many of the people in Missoula were very hospitable to us. After a short continuation on the road with Mr. Stefansson, Delphine and I returned to Seattle where she remained with me until I sailed.

I hope your visit in Chicago was a pleasure and a rest to you. No doubt you enjoyed it from the length of time you stayed. I think you should take similar vacation more frequently.

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Am glad to hear from Delphine that you are at ease as to my new venture. I could not be very comfortable feeling that you were at home worrying, over my safety when it is so unnecessary. You know that we are well equipped and although we are going to Wrangel Island, we are going to be living in comfort compared to the last experiense up here. Our destination is confidential so you will not let the cat out of the poke. If people inquire as to my whereabouts, just tell them, I am on one of the Canadian Islands which is truthful, but you are keeping its location in the dark.

Coming up here on the boat the "Victoria" the stewart had a cat with three kittens. He gave us the prettiest one which we named "Vic" and we are taking with us as a mascot. But I don't expect to replace Nic with Vic for I'll very likely bring an Eskimo dog home this time.

I know, mother, you are going to love Delphine and I want you

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to think of her as your daughter and be just as good to her as you have always been to me. It is unfortunate that we had a little trouble but that was all remedied and has been forgotten. She is a mighty fine girl as you know her to be and is a brave girl to prove her loyalty as she did by coming out to Missoula to marry me. I hope you will make her feel welcome to come to you any time she desires. I want her to feel it is just as much her home as mine. Our separation is not going to be a happy one and for that reason I ask you to help make it bearable.

My going North is not for adventurous reasons as it was before, instead we are planning on commercializing the resources of the island along with exploration. It is possible that its developments may prove well worth while and as far as my investment is

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concerned it is as safe as Stefansson's reputation. If I care to redeem my stock in one or two years I have that privilege.

We will be leaving here in a few days, just as soon as we can arrange for the boat to take us. Through some legal complication the boat we had planned on is not available so we are negotiating for another named the "Silver Wave".

You will leave my trunks at home or if they are in your way there have them placed in storage. But do not surrender them otherwise.

Will write you from the island if we reach there and will send it back on return of boat.

Best wishes to all and hope you write me next Spring. John has my address.

Take good care of yourself, your loving son,

Fred.