9

Padlirmiut couple standing
1922
Arviat, Nunavut, Canada


Credits:
The Fifth Thule Expedition
National Museum of Denmark

10

REPORT OF THE BATHURST INLET PATROL, ROYAL NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE. 1917-18.
Next spring, reports reached civilization that they had been murdered by the Eskimos on 5th June, 1912. Under date of 31st May 1913, Sergeant W.G. Edgenton, who was in command of the post at Fullerton, reported the occurrence, the particulars as he received them roving to be substantially accurate. A few days later one of the Eskimos who had travelled with the ill-fated men from Schultz Lake came to Chesterfield Inlet, and gave a statement to (Mr. Ford) to his immediate superior in the following letter, under date of 11th June, 1913:
"The Eskimo Akulack, who took the Radford party from Schultz Lake to Bathurst Inlet, arrived to-day and reported that both Mr. Radford and Mr. Street were murdered by the Bathurst Inlet Eskimos. Cow-muck, Mr. Ford's trader at Schultz Lake, was the first to bring down the news, but as I ... I placed very little confidence in it until I saw Akulack myself.
"Both Mr. Ford, and myself questioned him twice to-day, and his version of the story was practically the same as Cow-muck's.
"Akulack left Mr. Radford about the 5th of June, and spent the summer a little south of the Eskimos, but came in contact with them several times, and also bought a wife from them some time after the murder, whom he bought with a rifle..." (Introduction)

ROYAL NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE REPORT OF SERGEANT-MAJOR CULKIN
SERGEANT-MAJOR T.B. CAULKIN-BAKER LAKE TO CHESTERFIELD INLET AND FULLERTON, AND RETURN.
Baker Lake Detachment,
March 27, 1916.
The Officer Commanding,
R.N.W.M. Police,
Baker Lake Sub-district.
SIR,-I have the honour to submit herewith report of the patrol to the mouth of Chesterfield Inlet, and north to Cape Fullerton, made by Constable Kennedy, A.B., native "Akular," and myself, with dog-team (10 dogs), leaving Baker lake detachment on Thursday, February 10, in accordance with your instructions.
The objects of the patrol being to connect with the Nelson and Churchill, patrol, and exchange mails, also to patrol to Fullerton with a view to collecting the duty on the goods shipped to G.G. Cleveland, trader, per the schooner A.T. Gifford, arriving from the U.S. last fall...

"ELLIS ISLAND TO FULLERTON

At about mid-day on September 2 (1916) Corporal Joyce, Constables Convway and Walker, with some Fullerton natives as crew, left Ellis island in the whaleboat bound for Fullerton. This was in accordance with instructions received from Churchill. A few moments after we raised anchor and left Ellis Island bound for Churchill. On board McTavish were Sergeant MacArthur, Corporal Reeves, Constables McMillan and McDiarmid, Special Constable Ford, natives Pook, Tuperlock, Bye & Bye and his wife and myself (Inspector Pelletier)..." (P. 161)
The McTavish lost its anchor and was badly shattered in the bow. On September the 10th (1916) he crew were forced to go to Cape Fullerton on a police whaleboat.

REPORT OF THE BATHURST INLET PATROL, ROYAL NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE. 1917-18.

In 1911 two white men, Mr. H.V. Radford and Mr. T. G. Street, undertook a journey in the Far North. Mr. Radford was an American who had done some exploring in the northern areas, and had made collections for the United States Biological Society of Washington; Mr. Street, who was a younger man, was a Canadian, a native of Ottawa. They wintered near Schultz Lake, and early in 1912 reached Bathurst inlet, intending to proceed westward along the Arctic coast to Fort McPerson; at Bathurst inlet they found an encampment of Eskimos of a tribe which had had little interaction with white men. The Eskimos who had brought them on their way from Schultz Lake turned back; the travellers had arranged to procure assistance in travelling from the Eskimos among whom they now found themselves. This was in the first days of June, 1912.

Next spring reports reached civilization that they had been murdered by the Eskimos on 5th June, 1912. Under date of 31st May, 1913, Sergeant W.G. Edgenton, who was in command of the post at Fullerton, reported the occurrence, the particulars as he received them roving to be substantially accurate. A few days later one of the Eskimos who had travelled with the ill-fated men from Schultz lake came to Chesterfield inlet, and gave a statement to (Mr. Ford) to his immediate superior in the following letter, under date of 11th June, 1913:-
"The Eskimo Akulack, who took the Radford party from Schultz Lake to Bathurst Inlet, arrived to-day and reported that both Mr. Radford and Mr. Street were murdered by the Bathurst Inlet Eskimos. Cow-muck, Mr. Ford's trader at Schultz lake, was the first to bring down the news, but as I ... I placed very little confidence in it until I saw Akulack myself.
"Both Mr. Ford, and myself questioned him twice to-day, and his version of the story was practically the same as Cow-muck's.
"Akulack left Mr. Radford about the 5th of June, and spent the summer a little south of the Eskimos, but came in contact with them several times, and also bought a wife from them some time after the murder, whom he bought with a rifle..." (Introduction)

ROYAL NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE
REPORT OF SERGEANT-MAJOR CULKIN

SERGEANT-MAJOR T.B. CAULKIN-BAKER LAKE TO CHESTERFIELD INLET AND FULLERTON, AND RETURN.
Baker Lake Detachment,
March 27, 1916.
The Officer Commanding,
R.N.W.M. Police,
Baker Lake Sub-district.
SIR,-I have the honour to submit herewith report of the patrol to the mouth of Chesterfield Inlet, and north to Cape Fullerton, made by Constable Kennedy, A.B., native "Akular," and myself, with dog-team (10 dogs), leaving Baker Lake detachment on Thursday, February 10, in accordance with your instructions.
The objects of the patrol being to connect with the Nelson and Churchill, patrol, and exchange mails, also to patrol to Fullerton with a view to collecting the duty on the goods shipped to G.G. Cleveland, trader, per the schooner A.T. Gifford, arriving from the U.S. last fall...