The sun., 1906-12-27
CUSTOMS FOULS PEARY'S SHIP.
ROOSEVELT'S CAPTAIN SPENDS A
SAD, SAD DAY ASHORE

And Returns on Beard Sputtering rndiS-
nantly About Fool Questions Grew
Not Paid On-7he -Four VINO Did Mako
Land for Christmas Found Small Joy.
The crew Of Commander Peary's ship
were still shy their pay yesterday and the
Roosevelt remained at anchor in the North
River Of the foot OF Forty-second street.
Since they couldn't have their pay In time
for Christmas the men on the Roosevelt
don't seem to care very much whether
they get 1t now or in a week. Everybody
agreed that all hands would be paid to-
morrow at the latest, for the Roosevelt
Is to be drydocked in Hoboken then.
There were two separate and distinct
tales OF woe on the Roosevelt yesterday.
One was the piteous story Of the four men
who went ashore for Christmas and the
other was a sizzling narrative about custom
house officials and more or less red tape.
There were four men on the ship who
had a little money left over from their
landing at Sydney, the two George Clarks,
able seamen; Bo's'n Jack Murphy and
Steward Percy. These four comrades went
ashore early Christmas morning and
travelled just as far as their money would
let 'em, which wasn't much. When night
came they we're stranded on the Forty
fourth street pier and passed some time
wondering how they could get back to the
ship.
1T was cold last night, you know said
Steward Percy yesterday, -and thought
we'd have to bunk on that freezin' pier all
night, but pretty soon a kind, generous
boatman consented to lend US little money
and uuo ant and uOf hara Rtt3 the
worst Of il was we didn't get back on the
ship here till 10 o'clock this mornin'. Think
of 1t. not till 10 o'clock" And he shook
his head sadly.
on the Roosevelt. He was hoarse and
shivering and until he had swallowed three
cups of tea and eaten some Of the stewards
newly made biscuits he could only sputter
his indignation. IL appeared that he had
started out at half past eight in the morn
ing and had gone to the Custom House.
HDid you have-to waltz" he was asked.
~No, but lspit, spatl / spent four hours
there lsputterl and a lot Of red tape lspitter,
spatterI and a bunch Of crazy questions
[spitter, sputter, sputl!" he croaked.
All the silly questions you ever heard OF:
Did we have passengers on boardp and what
was the value Of our cargo? And then the
customs inspector pointed an accusing
finger at me and said, You have skins on
board, and l said yes, Of course, but only
Wndt Luc HIGH DIOuknb uOiuo 90 bOEb Va
souvenirs, and then he asked what was the
value OF 'em, and told him didn't know
will you have to pay duty on the skins?'
one listener asked.
Il don't know" replied the captain
drearily. but think they're going to make
us pay about $50 tonnage
There was a custom house man aboard
here to-day" said the bo's'n, sympathetic
ally. He asked US did we haveany Chinese
on board. and a lot of other foolish ques-
tions.'
The little launch which takes sightseers
from the foot of Forty-fourth street 10 the
Arctic ship made two trips yesterday with
considerable difficulty, and turned away a
great many people who wanted to visit
Peary's vessel. Quite a number made the
trip, however. The dogs, which attracted
especial attention, lay on the coal in the
open hold all day trying to make the most Of
life before they strike Bronx Park. Some
Of those who could not get on the sight
seeing launch took the ferry over to Wee
ha vixen and hired rowboats there to take
them out to the Roosevelt.