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    The Last Voyage of the Karluk: Shipwreck and Rescue in the Arctic
    The Last Voyage of the Karluk: Shipwreck and Rescue in the Arctic
    The Last Voyage of the Karluk: Shipwreck and Rescue in the Arctic
    Ebook281 pages4 hours

    The Last Voyage of the Karluk: Shipwreck and Rescue in the Arctic

    By Captain Robert A. Bartlett

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    About this ebook

    On January 4, 1914, the Karluk was stuck in ice when the ominous sound of the ship’s stern being ripped open by pack ice was heard by all on board. It sounded like the firing of a cannon. Bartlett immediately ordered supplies be unloaded on the ice. The Karluk began to break up on January 10, and all on board were ordered to abandon ship. When everyone was safely on the ice, the captain himself went back to his cabin and, all alone, put Chopin’s Funeral March on his Victrola. As the water rose in the cabin, he whispered "Goodbye," left the sinking vessel to the mournful sound of Chopin’s music and hurried out on the ice. It was to be the beginning of one of the greatest feats of valour in world history.
    From the foreword by Paul O’Neill
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFlanker Press
    Release dateApr 26, 2007
    ISBN9781771171649
    The Last Voyage of the Karluk: Shipwreck and Rescue in the Arctic
    Author

    Captain Robert A. Bartlett

    Captain Robert Abram “Bob” Bartlett was born in Brigus, Newfoundland, on August 15, 1875. He was the son of William Bartlett and the grandson of Abram Bartlett, both prominent sea captains. He was educated at Bishop Feild College and eventually completed his Master certificate at Halifax’s Nautical Academy in 1904. In 1909, Bartlett commanded the Roosevelt on Robert E. Peary’s North Pole Expedition, and in 1913, he was approached by Vilhjamar Stefansson to master the Karluk on his Canadian Arctic Expedition. In 1925, Captain Bob acquired the schooner Ethie M. Morrissey. From 1926 until his death, apart from numerous fishing and hunting trips in his little schooner, Bartlett also made twenty voyages to the Arctic collecting specimens, aiding in archaeological surveys, correcting geographical charts, and collecting animals for zoos. After a life spent doing what he loved, Bartlett died of pneumonia in New York City on April 28, 1946, and was buried at his birthplace. His boyhood residence, Hawthorne Cottage, is a National Historic Site.

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    • 4/5
      After Captain Bartlett returned to civilization from his disastrous journey of Arctic exploration in 1913-1914, he came under official scrutiny. However the public lauded him a hero and he went on to captain other ships. This memoir published in 1916 played a big part in rising his reputation publicly and it's easy to see why. In his account (co-written with a professional writer) Bartlett is level-headed, self-assured but not cocky, hard-working but delegating authority, competent but willing to recognize his mistakes. In short, he is the perfect captain and hero. Thus unlike some polar exploration books, in this account there is little conflict, nobody goes crazy, no grudges or blame is lain, it's as polite and politic as a Victorian gentleman. But there was more to the story the book leaves out: accusations of treachery, murder most likely, and more besides. For those darker currents one can find no better summary than the Wikipedia article (featured). However I believe my passage of discovery is the best: Barlett's story first which gives a solid and enjoyable book, and it was the first major account of the trip.

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