Surviving the Arctic: The Remarkable Journey of Ada Blackjack
©Andrzej Philips
Ada Blackjack Johnson (1898-1983) was an
Inupiat woman who gained fame as the sole survivor of the ill-fated 1921
Wrangel Island Expedition. Her story is a remarkable example of resilience and
courage in the face of the harsh Arctic environment. Her role was to serve as a
cook and seamstress for a group of four men who were to conduct research on the
remote island located north of Siberia. Ada agreed to join the expedition
because she needed money to pay for her son's medical treatment.
The was an ambitious but ultimately tragic
attempt to claim Wrangel Island, a remote Arctic territory, for Canada.
Organized by Vilhjalmur Stefansson, a well-known
Canadian Arctic explorer, the expedition sought to establish a permanent
settlement on Wrangel Island, located in the Chukchi Sea, north of Siberia.
The
Expedition Team
The
expedition team consisted of five members:
- Allan
Crawford (20 years old): The leader of the group, a Canadian who had previously
worked with Stefansson.
- Frederick
Maurer (28 years old): An experienced American sailor with Arctic experience.
- Milton
Galle (19 years old): An American from Texas who served as the expedition's
assistant.
- Lorne
Knight (28 years old): An experienced explorer who had already participated in Stefansson's
previous Arctic expeditions.
- Ada
Blackjack (23 years old): An Inupiat woman hired as a cook and seamstress. She
was a single mother who joined the expedition out of financial necessity to
support her son.
Life on Wrangel Island
The team
arrived on Wrangel Island in September 1921, bringing with them a limited
supply of food and equipment. Stefansson had promised that a resupply ship
would arrive the following summer, but the harsh Arctic conditions made life on
the island difficult. The group had to rely on hunting for food, and the
expected resupply ship never arrived. As the months passed, the situation
became increasingly dire. By the summer of 1922, it became clear that the team
was in serious trouble. Their supplies were running low, and hunting proved
difficult in the harsh Arctic environment. The team was forced to eat the
meager game they could catch, but it wasn't enough to sustain them.
The Tragic Outcome
In January
1923, three of the men—Crawford, Maurer, and Galle—attempted to reach the
Siberian mainland on foot across the ice in search of help, but they were never
seen again. Lorne Knight, who stayed behind with Ada Blackjack, became gravely
ill, likely from scurvy and malnutrition. Ada, despite her initial reluctance
and lack of experience in hunting, managed to take care of Knight for as long
as she could. Unfortunately, he died in June 1923, leaving Ada as the sole
survivor.
Ada Blackjack's Survival and Rescue
Ada
Blackjack spent several months alone on Wrangel Island, surviving through sheer
determination and the survival skills she had developed. In August 1923, she
was rescued by a relief party sent by Stefansson, who had finally realized the
dire situation on the island. Ada was the only survivor of the expedition.
Aftermath
The 1921
Wrangel Island Expedition ended in tragedy, with the deaths of all four men
involved. Stefansson's reputation suffered significantly as a result, as he was
widely criticized for the poor planning and lack of support that led to the
disaster. Ada Blackjack, who had joined the expedition out of desperation,
returned to Alaska and lived a quiet life, though her story eventually became
well-known as a testament to human resilience and
survival.
Vilhjalmur Stefansson[1] is widely known, with numerous publications dedicated to his life and
work[2]. Besides the Wrangel Island expedition, Stefansson resumed his
explorations by sledge over the Arctic Ocean (locally known as the Beaufort
Sea), departing from Collinson Point, Alaska, in April 1914. On May 28, 1986,
the United States Postal Service issued a 22-cent postage stamp in his honor.
Similarly, Canada commemorated Stefansson's 1914 expedition in its 1989
"Exploration of Canada" series. The Marshall Islands also honored
Stefansson in their "Arctic Explorers" series, issued on April 14,
2009.
USA stamp commemorating Vilhjalmur Stefansson
Stamp and the set “Arctic Explorers” edited by
Marshall Islands
Canadian stamp commemorating Vilhjalmur Stefansson
.jfif)
Full Canadian set
Petition
to United States Postal Service
It's
curious that no postal administration, particularly American, has ever
dedicated a stamp to Ada Blackjack Johnson. I have sent a petition to United
States Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp in honor of Ada Blackjack
Johnson.
Early
Life
Ada
Blackjack was born in 1898 in a small Inupiat village in Alaska. Raised by
missionaries, she lost her parents at a young age and had to learn how to
survive in the challenging conditions of the Arctic. In 1917, she married Jack
Blackjack, with whom she had a son named Bennett. Their marriage ended in
divorce, leaving Ada as a single mother in Anchorage, struggling to support
herself and her son, who was suffering from tuberculosis.
Return
to Civilization
Ada was rescued
in August 1923 by a relief party that found her as the sole survivor of the
expedition. Upon her return to Anchorage, she became a hero, though she was
reluctant to give interviews and avoided the spotlight.
Later Years
After her
return from the expedition, Ada continued to struggle with poverty and tried to
provide a better life for her son. She eventually settled in Seattle, where she
spent the rest of her life. Although she never achieved significant fame or
fortune, her story became a symbol of courage and perseverance.
Ada
Blackjack passed away in 1983, leaving behind a legacy as a quiet hero whose
life was a testament to the extraordinary strength of the human spirit in the
face of overwhelming adversity. Her story was later chronicled in books and
films, ensuring that her remarkable life would be remembered by future
generations.
More about
Ada Blackjack life you may read here:
Ada
Blackjack: Forgotten Queen of Arctic Expeditions
https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/ada-blackjack-forgotten-queen-of-arctic-expedition-survivors
and Ada
Blackjack
https://raunerlibrary.blogspot.com/2012/04/ada-blackjack.html
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