Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-13

opportunity to send details OF his Far
Northern trip to the United States
by way of the wireless station at that
port. Captain Nielsen states that when
entering Battle Harbor the Roosevelt
encountered a fishing schooner al an
Choir in the channel and that In at
tempting to feel her way by the steam
er struck a rock and was held fast for
six hours until the rising tide enabled
Captain Bartlett to back off, The
steamer was not badly damaged by
her contact with Their ledge.
While the. Roosevelt was stranded
Captain Nielsen went aboard to offer
his assistance and was thanked by
Commander Peary and Captain Bart
lett, who declared that they would be
able to work the steamer free at high
water,
Captain Nielsen says that Comman-
der Peary and Captain Bartlett showed
him over the ship and told him that
the pole had been captured When
Captain Nielsen asked Peary IL he was
certain that he had found the pole the
commander declared:
"Oh, got there; you may rest as
sured of that"
When the commander Of the Taft
asked Peary what he thought of DR..
Cooks claim, Commander Peary re-
piled that Cooks Esquimaux had as
sured him that Cook had scarcely gone
out of sight Of land. Captain Nielsen
says that PearY appeared to be thor
oughly convinced of his own success
and Nielsen said that he fully believed
Commander Peary's report.
Capt. Nelson further stated that
the Roosevelt had been badly battered
by the seas and ice and that her hull
showed the bruises made by jagged
pieces of ice. He said that the oal1um
was dropping from her seams when
she reached Battle Harbor and that
Peary engaged 20 men there to assist
in giving the ship complete over
hauling, cleaning and painting. He al
so said that when he left Battle Har-
Dor it was the intention of Messrs.
Peary and Bartlett to run the Roose-
welt to AssiZe Harbor where he would
remain for 10 or II days in order that
the men would not be hampered in
their work by stormy weather Capt.
Nelson said that the expedition ex.
PNSlS" ~ ACoSh ~ HCy dUOut toeDI. 10.
If Capt. Nelson is correct the Roose-
welt, by a curious circumstance will
be moored near the steamer South
ern Cross, which at one time was en-
gagged in the Antarctic exploration SER
vice.
The crew of the Roosevelt are alt
well but look thin and tired, and ac-
cOrding to Capt. Nelson, the most
worn looking member of the expedition
is Commander Peary himself. Nelson
was informed that the Peary party
underwent severe hardships in their
night and day marches during the final
stages of the dash 20 the pole. The
expedition encountered billiards. ana
according to Capt. Nelson was oblig-
ed to kill dogs for food.
The party journeyed over 400 miles
or sledges over fair ice conditions
although ar one time Peary and sew
era1 of his men had a narrow escape
from being carried away by a break
up of an ice foe. The Roosevelt was
mcored at latitude $3.50 during the
winter season.
Capt. Nelson said that the rigging
of the Roosevelt presented a curious
sight. About 400 musk oxen heads and
heads of reindeer were suspended,
anu on the deck are IL dogs, the last
of 200 taken poleward. Above the
deckhouSe are kennels containing fox
es, and other animals which Com
mander Peary is taking to the United
States for museums.
In the hold of the vessel is a large
supply Of skins and furs. number
of Eskimau skeletons and bones of
strange animals.
When the shin reached Battle Har-
Dor her bunkers held only five tons
of coal. At that place she took on
board SO tons of coal to carry her to
Sydney
The crew and explorers are dressed
in semi-Arctic attire and all We're
very anxious to hear from the outside
world, little of which they obtained
at Indian Harbor, the first port en-.
tered after the Roosevelt left the
frozen north.
A ROUSlNG RECEPTION