Diary and recovered note cast new light on defection and assassination on Fiala-Ziegler Polar Expedition, 1903–05

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Vedoe, Douglas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2003
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Franz Josef Land; Sullivan; Polar Record; Rudolf Island
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247403003061; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247403003061

An article by Walter Sullivan in The New York Times of 30 January 1969 speculated that a note discovered by a Russian party on Rudolf Island, Franz Josef Land, was evidence of defection by three members of the Fiala-Ziegler Polar Expedition, 1903–05. Sullivan indicated that the Soviet Novosti news service had reported that the partially decayed note, which was dated 2 July 1904, started: ‘We the opposition’ and was signed by ‘Tess, Veddy, and Ralliet.’ Examinations of the diaries of a member of the expedition and of expedition leader Anthony Fiala's book Fighting the polar ice show that it was impossible for these men to have been together on 2 July 1904, but that they were together a year later, and that they left a note then, at the place where Novosti reported the Russian party to have found one. Fiala and the diary show that the reported version of the note is not consistent with the circumstances at the purported time of the writing. When the note of 1905 was written, the trio was on a mission to assist Fiala. Defection and dissent by this group are contrary to available documents and publications, as well as the text of what is undoubtedly the original note, newly brought to light. In addition, the foundation for the issue of assassination and defection as raised by William Hunt, who referenced Sullivan's story in his book To stand at the Pole , is challenged.