The Last Voyage of the «Karluk».

Gordon Turner is the author of Empress of Britain: Canadian Pacific’s
Greatest Ship and the editor of SeaFare, a quarterly newsletter on sea
travel.

In the early 20th century much of the Canadian Arctic was unexplored. Little was known about its geography and geology or flora and fauna. Eskimos, as they were then called, were simply seen as an exotic species of mankind. To correct this situation, the Canadian government decided in 1913 to send a scientific expedition, headed by Vilhjalmar Stefansson, to investigate this inhospitable and nearly inaccessible region. Their ship, Karluk, was commanded by Captain Robert Bartlett, a Newfoundlander who had acquired an outstanding reputation for his skill in Arctic waters. Karluk left Esquimalt on June 17, 1913, but after she reached Arctic waters impenetrable ice halted her progress; by January 14 she was trapped and began to break up, forcing everyone to set up camp on the ice. Captain Bartlett had to devise a plan to ensure their survival and rescue. He did so by dividing them into groups, a strategy that has been criticized in recent years.

Bartlett’s own role was to travel with only one companion, Kataktovick, an Eskimo, and a dog team in the hope of reaching Siberia and arranging to rescue the survivors. They departed from the shipwreck on an unbelievably arduous journey of several hundred miles, and months later arrived at Siberia where Bartlett arranged for the survivors to be rescued. By the time this was achieved, several had died.

Bartlett writes modestly about his accomplishments, but his resilience, courage, and perseverance are testament to what the human spirit can achieve in the face of almost unparalleled adversity. This account is written in simple and straightforward language by a man who was modest about his accomplishments.

After his book was published in 1916, Captain Bartlett was feted as a hero but eventually his star dimmed. However, there is no doubt that Bob Bartlett was a man of uncommon determination and through this book and his other writings he has earned a secure position in the annals of Arctic exploration.