When Stefansson bought Polar Bear from Captain Lane in 1915, as part of the deal he also bought the gasoline schooner, Gladiator, from Fritz Wolki for $7,000. Stefansson "stayed at Baillie Islands with the Gladiator for another 6 days waiting for an Eskimo Alingnak and his wife. When they arrived at Kellett he transferred to the Polar Bear and as the North Star was not available Louis Lane had to take the Gladiator to go out with" (Wilkins Diary, October 29, 1915).

Captain Lane had been unable to get out beyond Herschel Island in the Gladiator that summer and had gone out overland during the winter, selling the ship to Ole Andreasen.

"D. Sweeney bought Schr. 'Gladiator' from Ole Andreason for $2000.00 cash. The schooner had been bought from Capt. F. Wolki by V. Stefansson in 1915, traded to Capt. Louis Lane, who in turn traded it to Ole Andreason who brought it to Nome this month. Ole Adreason has decided not to go back north this year, as his brother has not arrived, nor the Polar Bear from which he was to get supplies. Capt. Sweeney intends to go north again this fall if possible" (R.M. Anderson Diary, August 26, 1916).

Sweeney left Gladiator at Nome after his unsuccessful attempt to salvage Captain Lane's new ship, the Great Bear, which had been wrecked on a rock in the Bering Sea.