Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-01
SIX YEARS IN WILDERNESS
SPENT ON GRIM MAN-HUNT

MONTREAL, Que, Canada.-In
May, 1915, Corporal Cornelius, of the
Royal Northwest Mounted Police,
left Edmonton for Herschel island
He departed quietly, without any
flourish of trumpets. He has just
returned to civilization as silently as
he had left it. Over six years of his
life has been spent in the Arctic
wilderness. four of them jim the sole
company of two Eskimo murderers,
sentenced in 1914, and freed by order
Of the government later.
Two years were passed at Fort Nc
Pherson, where the big supply Of
disposed, comfortable winter quar-
ters esta blished, and patrols of the
surrounding country undertaken.
The two Eskimo murderers who
| were taken out by the corporal and
| offered their freedom were so much
taken with the ways Of the white
man that they asked permission to
enter the service of the police, and
were both engaged, much to their de-
light. They rendered great service
as guides and interpreters, and the
white mans law has never had a
better advertisement in the Arctic
circle than that given to it by these
two men, tried, punished and releas-
ed by it's officials as warning to
others.
Trip Of $500 Miles
In 1917 Corporal Cornelius was
two set out for Herschel island,
where they spent two years with
frequent patrols into the far corners
of the unchartered wilds. Their next
move was along the shores of the
Arctic to Coronation gulf. a dog-sled
f~ir ne
other two years were passed in pa
trolls to Bathurst inlet, Kent PENN
sula. All points on the south and
west sides Of Victoria island to Vic
toria land and Prince Albert sound
were made during that period.
onation gulf via Bear lake to Fort
Norman. down the river to Fort Nc
Pherson, then north to Herschel is
land. back by the coast to Coronation
gulf once more, with another return
trip via Herschel island through
Fort Mcpherson up the Mackenzie
river and home by the summer
en- by dog-sled, a distance of LOO
miles being covered. The total pa
trolls by dog-sled last winter ran
around $500 miles.
New headquarters were made at
MED by Staff Sergeant Clay, estab-
fishing this post. The party lived
in snow huts for the greater part of
this time, and subsisted on the sim
pie diet of the wilds eked out by
such rations as they were able to
carry on sleds. They built a wood
en- hut at Fort Epworth, however,
and enjoyed a mild taste of civiliza-
ton.
Catch Two Murderers
In 1918 two alleged Eskimo MUIR
derers were brought in by the coast
route by Sergeant Conway. These
two men, Kayugana and Komuk, had
been tried by Inspector Phillips for
whom both Of them claimed as wife.
They were, however, acquitted, ow-
ing to lack of evidence, and Clay
Cornelius and Brooke took them
back by way of Herschel island and
the Arctic to Coronation gulf, where
the two were allowed to rejoin their
tribes.
Corporal Cornelius says that the
trial of the four Eskimos had had
an excellent effect on the general
conduct of the tribes as whole
while conduct Of the four principals
has been most exemplary. Kayugana
and Komuk were seen several times
on later patrols, their bands being
| usually found on the ice at the head
of the Coppermine river, and each
time the patrol received warm wei.
come.
Despite their years of isolation and
| hardships, both Corporal Cornelius
and Constable Brooke are lookine
forward to return to the north in
the near future. They will now en-.
| joy a well-earned holiday, and both
| tive homes. Cornelius going to Hall.
fax and Brockie to Winnipeg