APPENDIX 695 



ward drift with easterly winds, and when with Stefansson in 1914 from 

 Martin Point north to latitude 74° and east to Banks Island we had 

 during April and May had easterly winds before which the ice drifted 

 rapidly to the west away from our destination and in doing so opened 

 wide leads which delayed our progress considerably. We had to wait 

 as long as ten days at one lead before it closed sufficiently to enable 

 us to cross in our sled-boat. Since then we had learned about the 

 westward drift and the deplorable end of our flagship, the Earluk; all 

 this data pointed to and made us practically certain of the existence 

 of a permanent westerly current in the Beaufort Sea between the 

 parallels of north latitude 70° and 74°. 



When leaving shore on this our fifth ice trip I had immediately 

 noticed the westward drift and so had, when traveling, till April 8th 

 always headed one or two points to the east of the north course I wanted 

 to travel, so as to counteract the westward drift. Where with Lef- 

 fingwell and Mikkelsen we had succeeded in making the trip easily and 

 again with Stefansson in 1914 we arrived at Banks Island safely, the 

 trip we were now attempting for the Canadian Arctic Expedition greatly 

 exceeded any of the previous trips we had undertaken as to distance 

 to be traveled; so much so that, when I found that we were stuck at 

 the wide lead in a strong easterly gale during which we were drifting 

 rapidly west, I commenced to think that the chances of our ever being 

 able to reach our destination and make the intended round trip that 

 spring were almost nil. I consequently commenced to cast about for 

 other things to do instead. 



I CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS 



I wanted to follow the Commander's plan and drift for one year 

 with the ice, and so determined to make a strong bid for the support 

 of my men to do that work. I explained to them all the previously 

 written facts and why we possibly would not be able to make the trip 

 we had agreed to make and that the drifting was the most valuable 

 thing that we could do for the expedition under the circumstances; 

 I explained that all the other work we could possibly do that year 

 would be of small account and hardly worth while compared with 

 drifting and should not be undertaken unless they refused to stay 

 with me and drift and do their duty by the expedition. Following 

 this talk I called for volunteers to stay with me and drift for one year 

 in the Arctic Ocean, offering the wages the Commander had set for 

 that work. 



I am glad to say that when things were put up to them and it 

 meant failure or success, the following five of my men came to the 

 front : Second Officer August Masik, Seaman Adelbert Gumaer, Seaman 

 E. Lome Knight, Seaman Martin Kilian, and the boy, Fred Yolki, 

 The remaining members of my party refused point blank. But five 



