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Thoughts through Space – Sir Hubert Wilkins and Harold M Sherman

I went for a walk along the river. The sun had set, the stars were brilliantly clear overhead, and as I walked I was thinking of Sherman.

Sherman’s report for that night-January 24 - includes, "it seems to be clear tonight for a change, but too late now for you to undertake search flight until next month. You observe heavens and contemplate mystery of space . . . are you looking at sky and thinking of me? I seem to get this impression."

The words in my diary are: "'Walked along river bank. Saw ptarmigan track and one lemming track-nothing alive-(thinking of Sherman)."

Sherman’s report continued:

"Thoughts go to stars in the sky and more definite sensing your conscious thought in my direction. You seem warmly clothed - see face clearly - hooded garment - fringe of fur about face - heavily lined head covering - outdoor apparel - thick coat coming a little below waist, baggy heavy trousers tapering to ankles, heavy boots, combination moccasin - galosh (type hard to describe)-you are out somewhere. See plane clearly - not your plane. You talk to mail pilot."

The Edmonton mail pilot left that day, and I was at the plane to see him take off.  The description of my dress is correct and complete. The boots were of the type known as arctics---soft rubber bottoms, felt tops.

On January 27th, Sherman recorded among other things: 'A dog seems to have been injured at Aklavik and had to be shot--quite a strong feeling here."

I have no record of the incident in my diary and would not swear as to the actual day, but I well remember that about this time, as I was walking along the river, I came upon the body of a dead dog: it had been shot through the head.

I thought about this strongly for some time, and wondered the reason for the killing.