Evening star., 1922-03-26
Tells Of Taking i. S. Flag
First to- W1ungeH Island
". E. Reynolds, Con,man'
dant Of U. S. Coast Guard,
Wares Glorious Emblem,
Oper Head.

The American flag, acknowledged
by authorities to have been carried
ashore by the first landing party on
WrangelI Island, in the Arctic ocean,
and now under international investi-
cation as to it's ownership, was car
ried by a young third lieutenant
from the United States revenue cut
ter Corwin, on August II, 1SS1-a
third lieutenant who now riS w. f.
Reynolds. captain, commandant of
the United States coast guard.
From his sunny and cheerful Office
at 14th and T. streets northwest, the
former intrepid northern adventurer
directs the affairs of the coast guard,
while behind him hangs picture or
Il veteran ship of northern icy seas,
the Bear, reminder of adventurous
days.
While the American State Depart
ment has begun to look into the mat
ter of the ownership of Wrangell
Island. whih the subject was being
debated on the floor of the Senate in
connection with the four-power
treaty and American rights in the
arctic while Nilhjalmur Stefansson
has advanced claims that his recent
explorations. in which he landed two
expeditions on the disputed island.
the land, there exists within the PHI
able leather folds of an old but care
fully kept diary the actual record of
the first landing by man on that
bleak shore.
Quotes From Diary.
In Capt. Reynolds diary of August
II, 1881. is written in clear even
hand an account of the experiences
of the landing party. In clear-cut
style. filled with accurate detail, and
touched at times with the enthusiasm
of youth, which had thrilled at
great adventure. the story tells of
the actual events of a day, which al
ready has gone down in history.
Members Of the landing party, Capt.
Reynolds says. included Capt. c. L.
Hooper of the Corwin. Prof. John
Muir, later author of 1.-The Cruise of
the Corwin": F. L. Owen, engineer
officer of the Corwin; Edward w. Nell
son. a passenger. now in Washington
with the biological survey, and him.
self.
The diary was evidently written on
the night of the twelfth, after return
from the adventure.
We were called early this morn
ing" the record says, land found the
vessel Steaming toward land; w8were
ready for start in a short time.
did not sleep well last night-the
others say the same-for l was con-
about to make and antici pating nu-
merouS encounters with bears. The
wind had blown fresh during the
night off shore and had loosened the
ice considerably. and the vessel could
get much closer in. Kept SteaminS
through the ice, which was quite
heavy in some places, and getting
nearer the land until we were within
few hundred yards of the beach, and
then dropped anchor in a large clear
of ho of NJ
were cheated out Of a trip over the
ice. 1 was glad the vessel got in, but
l would have been willing to give a
months pay if I had gone over the
ice and got there a few days before
her. The goal was at last reached
pliShed.
Boat Was Lowered.
"A boat was Immediately lowered
and captain, doctor. Mr.. Owen, Prof.
Muir. Mr.. Nelson and myself got in it.
1 took flag. We were soon at the
beach; captain jumped out and waded
ashore. I was right beside him, being
the first to land. 1 offered captain
the flag to take possession. but he
told me to keep it and place it on the
bluff, so I waved the glorious en-
blem Of American liberty above my
head. and in the presence of one or
two other officers and the boats crew
took possession of the land in the
name of liberty and the government
of the United States of America.
Cheer after cheer was given by the
crew aboard ship as we landed and
waved the flag, and the steamers
whistle Saluted number of times;
We responded to the cheer with a will.
while most Of them were enGag-
ing in searching for evidences of the
land ever having been visited by
NAH. Mr.. Owen. DR.. Rosse and l, with
several men, went on top of a cliff
to plant the flag; we took with us
4 Iong,pol found on the beach-a
quantity of driftwood was found
near the mouth of the river. The flag
was lashed to the pole and l COM
menced the hole that was to re-
ceive the flagstaff: after the other
two officers had tried their hands at
digging the hole, it was finished by
-thei men. A large bottle, containing
a New York Herald and record of
the Corwin's visit was lashed to
the staff, just below the flag. The
next operation was to raise and plant
the pole. and we all shared in that
work, each being anxious to have
something to do with the erection of
the, Star Spangled Banner. 1 never
felt so proud of the Stars and Stripes
before as / did when it waved to
the breeze over our heads, on Wran-
gels Land. Three hearty cheers and
a tiger were given, which were re-
spohded to by three times three from
the. ship.
hours on shore, as the ice was in mo-
tion and he was afraid 1t would close