New-York tribune., 1912-03-09
GUIDES DESERT EXPLORER
Leave Harry V. Radford to Wan
der in Canada'S Barren Lands.
HAD WHITE MAN WITH HIM
His Trip Had Met with Mis-
fortune from the First, and He
Called for Aid Early in 1910.

Somewhere In the wilderness OF Northern
Canada, Harry V. Radford. explorer and
naturalist; has been deserted by his Indian
guides and left 10 fate that is still one Of
the mysteries Of that desolate region. ac-
cordng to a meagre story that has come
through winding channels 10 his friends in
this city
The last direct word received from Rad
ford was a letter from him TO Anthony
Fiala, secretary Of the Arctic Club Of
America. dated at Artillery Lake, In July.
1911. In tnat letter he spoke Of starting for
Chesterfield Inlet in canoes on the morrow
He also spoke Of his lack Of supplies and
the trouble he was having in finding guides
and white companions whom he could trust
TO keep faith with him.
Now comes a story OF Indian treachery
and desertion that not only shrouds in
mystery the fate and Whereabouts OF Rad
ford. but leaves unaocounted for the white
companion he was supposed 10 have with
him. Scanty details OF this phase Of the
!, case were brought yesterday TO his friends
in a letter addressed to Captain 3, : Os-
bon. of No 1872 East 23d street. formerly
secretary OF the Arctic club. written by 4
j. Bell. agent Of the Dominion government
at Fort Smith n. w. T. Canada
Indians Return TO Post.
Two Yellowknife Indians came into Fort
Resolution last December, so runs the
story that came TO Mr.. Bell and idled
about the post until some one remembered
that they were the two guides that had
been hired by Radford in the summer to
accompany him on years journey into
the Barren Lands. They were taken before
the government agent there and admitted
that they had started with the explorer
Where is Radford now?" they were
asked
They said they did not know and NUT
tered that they did not care. They were
put through a third degree and finally told
their story
He was hard man." one Of them said
He travelled far and fast and the work
was too heavy. We are not dogs to work
like that. We complained and he talked
hard words TO us
"One night near Artillery Lake we quar-
relied again. He was angry We were all
tired, We lay down to sleep Radford was
soon sound asleep but we only pretended
to be sleeping. When he was sleeping hard
got up quietly and took a canoe. We
put into il some food. We left him food
enough. Then We sncaked away in the
night and left him sleeping there alone. We
don't care what happens TO him"
. Radford's last letter to Mr.. Fiala showed
that he had white companion with him.
a T. George Street. Of Ottawa. The Indians
professed to know nothing of street and
no further information could be forced out
Of them They were held by the authori-
ties awaiting further news from the miss
ing men, brought either by the Canadian
mounted police, whose trails he was follow
ing in the first stages of his journey. or by
the turning up of one or both Of the men
at one OF the frontier settlements.
No great luck seemed to attend Rad
ford's iourneyings In the northern wilder
ness from the first. and as early as 1910 he
had to turn to the Arctic Club of America
for aid In answer TO his appeals al that
time, two tons OF supplies were sent to
await him at Chesterfield Inlet, as he wrote
that he expected to winter there. The last
communication from him indicated that he
had not yet reached those supplies, and
expressed considerable anxiety lest the
food he had with him would not hold out
until he was relieved.
Depended Greatly on Relief.
Street and | have hardly food sufficient
to last us to Chesterfield Inlet" he wrote,
and our stock Will be further reduced by
our Yeliowknife canoemen. | am depend
ing on the arrival of the relief supplies al
Chesterfield Inlet this summer. which you
assured me in the last letter received might
be expected"
II was supposed that ii was on his dash
for this point that his Indians deserted him.
II. while all things were running compara-
lively smoothly. as his friends pointed out
yesterday, he feared his supplies would not
last. it was douby doubtful. they said, that
they would suffice him after the guides had
helped themselves and left him TO wander
alone In the trackless limits of the Barren
Lands. which his letter said he had just en-
tered.
Although In d previous letter Radford had