Free Four Degrees Celsius by Kerry Karram Page A

for this runway was another challenge. Cruickshank measured and marked off an area behind the Révillon Frères Trading Post. The area was littered with small stones, which could create a hazard for the skis, so the men worked for hours with pickaxes and shovels to make a runway passable for the aircraft. Although he wasn’t sure that it would even be used, Cruickshank wanted the men to be active and have something to do in light of the fact that freeze-up had not yet taken place. A purpose-driven man, Cruickshank knew the importance of keeping busy. His goal was to keep the men occupied both mentally and physically to prevent any further loss of morale.
    As anticipated, despite the hard work and clearing, the makeshift runway strip remained unsuitable for takeoff. The temperature had been dropping during the day and the broken ice that had been driven in towards the shore during the storm on the 17th, once frozen solid, again produced a very rugged but thick surface on which to take off and land. Cruickshank decided to try a second runway on the shore of Baker Lake, so once again all hands then went to work with ice picks, shovels, and axes. Once this was complete, the search team was then able to taxi the planes over to where the gas had been cached. Cruikshank’s diary entry, dated October 21, 1929, Baker Lake, noted: “Got SO over today and gassed up all machines. Test flew SQ. Running quite reasonable. SL brought over, [but] rudder does not seem to be properly adjusted. Expect to leave for Bathurst tomorrow. All machines tested.”
    Cruikshank used the wireless to notify Western Canada Airways of their imminent departure for Bathurst Inlet. On October 17, 1929, The Northern Miner reported on the actions of the rescuers, whom they labelled “Canada’s Wild Geese.” In the article, these men were portrayed as engaging in work that called for nerve, expertise, and courage. Canada was enthralled with the accounts of the group of Canadian men who were part of an effort that was unique in the world, pilots who had to rely on their skills and resourcefulness, rather than solely on their equipment.
    The four remaining planes — the Fokkers ’SQ, ’SO, and ’SL, and the Fairchild ’CZ — were now ready to fly to the Arctic coast. Cruickshank was not happy about leaving Vance and Blasdale at Baker Lake, but until parts arrived for the damaged plane, they would continue to work on ’RK. It was some consolation to know that they would have both company and warm shelter with the other men living at the trading post. The searchers packed up their kits, loaded the four planes, and prepared to head northwards towards Bathurst.
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    Meanwhile, October 21 at Dishwater Point began with dashed hopes. The departure date the Domex men had awaited for weeks had finally arrived, only to be delayed yet again. The thought of staying on in the collapsing sod house was more than they could bear. Baker decided a bribe might just be what was needed to get the Inuit to leave Dishwater Point. He asked Pearce to get the rifles and ammunition, and presented them to the Inuit.
    Harnessing the dogs and loading last minute provisions on the sleds. The rifle, given to the Inuit, is propped up against an igloo.
Courtesy of Daryl Goodwin.
    From the time of the arrival of the Europeans in the North, guns were a sought-after possession for the Inuit. The caribou migrations had been changing and game was not as plentiful as it had been, causing the Inuit to begin to change their subsistence way of life. [7] The relentless hunt for game such as caribou, muskox, fox, and Arctic hare, more easily killed with guns, made gun ownership very desirable. In fact, the Arctic fox was the standard of value for trade, and twenty Arctic fox skins were worth one rifle. Trading skins for items such as flour was becoming increasingly popular, and hunting with a gun enabled the Inuit to more easily provide for his