Internal Stuggles
Letter From Stefansson To Mr. O. S. Finnie: March 24, 1923
As the members of the expedition struggled with devastating, extreme temperatures and lack of knowledge, food, and supplies, Stefansson refused to admit defeat and continued to display his confidence in the expedition and in his plans to colonize Wrangel Island. While Stefansson portrayed an aura of excessive confidence in the Wrangel expedition, underlying his confidence was an inner struggle and pervasive doubt about the true success of the colony. But, in an attempt to protect his pride and public perception, Stefansson rarely made any illusions, public or private, to his internal struggle. However, on March 24, 1923, Steffanson wrote a letter responding to Mr. O. S. Finnie, the Director of the Department of the Interior, Northwest Territories and Yukon branch for the Canadian Government in regards to his inquiries about the ‘failed’ expedition. In this letter, Steffanson further outlined the purpose and patriotic motivations behind the expedition. This letter was written out of spite, claiming that the purpose behind this expedition was to spread British influence and rights to Wrangel Island yet he was receiving little support from the Canadian government.
This document is central to understanding Stefansson’s egotism and mismanagement of this expedition as a whole, as here, for the first time, he acknowledged that others, being the Canadian government, and leaders around the world, saw his attempt to colonize Wrangel Island as a failed mission. While Steffanson rested firm in his conviction that ‘the colony ought to never be abandoned,' this letter shows his internal struggle, his feeling of duty to this expedition and its purpose in conflict with outside pressure and the overall, global, mistrust in him and this expedition. Steffanson further emphasized his role in the expedition's success, claiming he was doing his best to secure private support for the ongoing, struggling colony. While never explicitly stating his struggles, Stefansson's tone of frustration and, in some ways, embarrassment, shines through this letter.
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