New-York tribune., 1909-09-12
THE ROOSEVELTS DELAY.
Report Of Serious Injury Caused to
VesseI by Ice.

St Johns y. F. Sept. 11-According TO Gap
tain Nielsen, Of the fishing steamer Taft. which
arrived here tonight from Battle Harbor, Lab
rador. Commander Peary's steamer Roosevelt
was badly damaged BY ice in the north and
may not get to North Sydney before September
25 The Roosevelt struck a rock while entering
Battle Harbor and was fast for six hours. but
was not seriously damaged in this accident
The Taft left Battle Harbor early yesterday
morning with a cargo Of fish for a wholesale
merchant in this city. She was in port last
Wednesday when the Roosevelt arrived from
Indian Harbor. The Roosevelt put IN for the
purpose of taking on a supply Of coal and also
TO give Commander Peary an opportunity to
send details of his far northern trip to the United
States by way of the wireless station at that
port Captain Nielsen says that when entering
Battle Harbor the Roosevelt encountered a fish
ing schooner at anchor in the channel and that
in attempting to feel her way by, the steamer
struck rock and was held fast until the rising
tide enabled Captain Bartlett to back off. The
steamer was not badly damaged by her contact
with the ledge.
While the Roosevelt was stranded Captain
Nielsen went aboard to offer his assistance and
was thanked by Commander Peary and Captain
Bartlett, who decided that they would be able to
work the steamer free at high water. Captain
Nielsen says that Commander Peary and Cap
tain Bartlett showed him over the ship and told
him that the pole had been captured. When
Captain Nielsen asked Peary if ne was certain
that he had found the pole the commander de-
clared:
oh I got there; YOU NAV rest assured of
that"
When the commander of the Taft asked Peary
what he thought of DIR. Cooks claim Commander
Peary replied that Cooks Esquimaus had as
sured him that Cook had scarcely gone out of
sight of land. Captain Nielsen says that Peary
appeared to be thoroughly convinced of his own
success and Nielsen tonight said that he fully
believed Commander Peary's report.
Captain Nielsen added that the Roosevelt had
been badly battered and that her hull showed
the bruises made by jagged pieces of ice. He
said that the oakum dropping from her
seams when she reached Battle Harbor and that
Peary engaged twenty men there to assist the
crew in giving the ship complete 'overhauling
cleaning and painting. He also said that when
he left Battle Harbor yesterday it was the in
tention of Messrs. Peary and Bartlett to run the
Roosevelt TO AssiZe Harbor where she would re-
main for ten or twelve days in order that the
men might not be hampered I'm their work by
stormy weather. Captain Nielsen said that the
expedition expected to reach Sydney about Sep
tember 25.
The crew of the Roosevelt all we'll. but
look thin and tired, and according to Captain
Nielsen the most worn looking member of the
expedition is Commander Peary himself Nell
informed that the Peary party under
went severe hardships in their night and day
marches during the fnal stages of the dash to
the pole The expedition encountered blizzards
and according To Captain Nielsen. was obliged
10 kill dogs for food Professor Ross Marvin
was drowned and Esquimau lost his life
Captain Nielsen said that the Roosevelt pre-
sented a curious sight About forty heads of
musk oxen and reindeer were suspended 10 dry
ON the deck were twelve dogs. the last of nearly
two hundred taken the trip to the pole. Above
the deck house were kennels containing foxes
and other animals which Commander Peary is
taking to the United States for museums In
the hold of the vessel was a large supply Of
skins and furs a number of Esquimau skeletons
and bones of strange animals.
When the ship reached Battle Harbor her
bunkers held only five tons of coal At that
place she took on board sixty tons to carry her
TO Sydney.
The crew and explorers are dressed in semi
Arctic attire All were eager to hear news from