Resumo de The Ice Master - Jennifer Niven

BOOK REVIEW

The Ice Master: The doomed 1913 Voyage of the Karluk.
By Jennifer Niven
Hyperion, New York, 2000, 384 pages
ISBN:0-7868-6829-6

Jennifer Niven has combined superlative narration with meticulously thorough research to produce what is undoubtedly the most complete and accurate account of the ill-fated Karluk Expedition of 1913-1914. The book is based on the diaries, journals, published and unpublished manuscripts, and papers of the members of the expedition , and on other pertinent material as well as public records in governmental archives. Prominently included in Niven?s research is the diary of, and a personal interview with, William Laird Mc Kinley, the last surviving member of the expedition and an individual who devoted 60 years of his life to a frank and accurate presentation of the facts concerning the expedition.

The Karluk Expedition ? more properly known as the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913 ? was the brainchild of Vilhjamer Stefansson, celebrated for his studies of the Inuit culture and for his thesis of The Friendly Arctic. Stefansson was a firm believer in the existence of an unexplored continent hidden beneath the vast polar ice pack, and the Karluk Expedition was designed to establish or disprove its existence.

Having been refused financial support by the U. S. government for the expedition, Stefansson successfully petitioned the Canadian government for assistance. The Canadian parliament approved his petition, but altered the thrust of the expedition to conform to its own specifications. Contrary to Stefansson?s interest in discovering new land, Canada was primarily interested in exploring and developing what land had already been discovered, as well as in studying the indigenous native population as well as the area?s flora, fauna and resources, especially copper.

The exploratory party was divided into two parts. A land-based Southern Party consisted primarily of scientists whose primary function was to provide anthropological and geographic surveys of the Canadian-Arctic Ocean coastline and of the islands north of the coastline. A Northern Party would search for the undiscovered hidden continent and also undertake anthropological, geographic, oceanographic and biological studies in the area presumed to be the location of the undiscovered continent.

The two parties were scheduled to meet at Herschel Island, a small uninhabited island in the Arctic Ocean just east of the Alaska-Canadian border. The Southern Party was to reach the island on the ship, the Arctic, and the Karluk was expected to transport the Northern Party to Herschel Island. Neither ship, however, accomplished its purpose. The Southern Party reached a destination near the delta of the Mackenzie Rover and carried out its stated mission. The Karluk, carrying the Northern Party and led by Stefansson, was considered the principal component of the expedition. Its crew was composed of 10 scientists, 13 ordinary crewmen and 7 Inuit (including 1 woman and 2 children) and one ?passenger?.

The expedition had been fortunate in obtaining the services of Robert (Bob) Bartlett as captain of the Karluk. Bartlett had already achieved an enviable reputation and was considered the best available Ice Master, not only as a ship captain, but also as an explorer in his own right. He had sailed previously with Stefansson and had accompanied Robert E. Peary on his alleged ?dash to the Pole?. His contingent was, however, turned back by Peary at 88oN in favor of Matthew Henson and four Inuit. Bartlett held Peary in high regard, however, and thought less of Stefansson. He made no secret of the fact that he thought the Karluk and its crew to be ill-suited for the planned expedition .

Two days prior to its expected arrival the Karluk, after successfully negotiating the Bering Strait, became ice-bound. After 6 weeks of impatient waiting, Stefansson decided to leave the ship. Taking three of the scientiists and two Inuit with him, he set out to the north to other previously unexplored area, a trip that lasted 5 years ! Stefansson never saw the Karluk again nor did he show any interest in its fate.

Shortly after Stefansson?s departure, the Karluk broke free and carried by the arctic drift, headed toward the Siberian coast. However, the ice crushed the ship and Bartlett and its 21 crewmen were stranded on the frozen sea. The group made their way to uninhabited Wrangel Island supported by supplies and equipment retrieved from the ship. Bartlett and an Inuit then made their way to the Siberian coast and then, with the help of the native Chuckses traveled east to the Bering Strait for help. Some eight months after their arrival on Wrangel Island, the survivors were rescued and eventually reunited with Bartlett.

Bartlett was hailed as a hero for his actions and received awards from Great Britain and Canada. On the other hand, Stefansson suffered from public criticism and was labeled a coward and deserter by the Karluk crew. Despite his exploratory findings and contributions to knowledge of the Inuit, he was an embarrassment to the Canadian government. His original budget of $75,000 for the expedition, eventually escalated to $500,000. He also laid claim to Wrangel Island in the name of Canada unaware of a previously established Russian claim. Stefansson blamed Bartlett for the Karluk disaster, although the crew considered Bartlett as ?honest, fearless, reliable, loyal ? everything a hero should be?.

867 words

Ralph M. Myerson, MD
Clinical Professor of Medicine
Drexel University School of Medicine

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