Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-12
STRUCK kOCa IN BATTLE HARB0R
Workmen Are Now Employed Making
Vessel Seaworthy for Final Home
ward voyage-Captain Nielsen
Tells What He Heard From ExpIor-
er About Dash for Pole.
(By Associated Press.)

81. JOHNS, y. r., oept- II. ~
cording 10 Captain Nielsen, OF the
fishing steamer Taft. which arrived
here tonight from Battle Harbor, La
hrador. Commander Peary's steamer
Roosevelt was badly damaged by ice
in the north and may not get 10 North
Sydney before September %.
The Roosevelt struck rock while
entering Battle Harbor and was fast
for six hours. but was not seriously
damaged by this accident.
The Taft left Battle Harbor early
yesterday morning. She was in port
last Wednesday when the Roosevelt
arrived The Roosevelt put in 70 take
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.
Captain Nelson says that when en-
tering Battle HarbOr the Roosevelt
encountered 4 fishing schooner at
anchor in the channel and that IN
attempting to feel her way by The
steamer struck a rock and was held
fast for six hours until the rising tide
enabled Captain Bartlett to back on.
The steamer was not badly damaged
by the accident
While the Roosevelt was stranded.
CAPTAIN Nelson went aboard to offer
his assistance.
"Ch, Get There"
Captain Nelson says that Com
mander Peary and Captain Bartlett
showed him over the ship and told
him that the police had been reached.
When Captain Nielsen asked Pearly If
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 Taff
asked Peary what he thought of Dr.
Cocks claim. Peary replied that
Cooks Esquimaux had assured him
that Cook scarcely went out of sight
of land Captain .Jeilsen says that
Peary appeared to be thoroughly con-
WINGED of his own success and Neil
sen declared tonight that he fully be-
Eeved Peary's report. Nielsen furth-
er said that she Roosevelt was badly
battered and that her hull showed the
bruises made by jagged pieces of ice.
He said that the oakum was dropping
from her seams when she reached
Battle Harbor and that Peary engag-
ed twenty men there to assist the
crew in giving the ship 4 complete
overhauling-
Reach Sydney Sept. rs.
He also said that it was the inten-
ton of Peary and Bartlett to run the
Roosevelt to Assize harbor, where she
would remain for ten or twelve days
so that the men would not be ham,
bered IN their work by stormy wealth
er. Captain Nielsen said that the
expedition expected 20 reach Sydney
about September %.
The crew of the Roosevelt are all
well but look. thin and tired and &C
ccrding to Captain Nielsen. the most
worn looking member Of the expeji-
ton Is Commander Peary himself
Nielsen was informed that the Pea-y
party underwent severe hardships in
sheir night and day marches and dur
ing the final stages of the dash to the
pole The expedition encountered
Billiards and. according TO Captain
Nielsen was obliged 10 kill dogs for
food Professor Ross Marvin was
drowned and an Eskimo was lost
-Four Hundred Niles or sIedeex
The party journsyed over four hun
drcd miles on sledges ever fasr ice
conditions. although ~ one time
Pcary and several Of his men had
Marrow escape from being carried
away by a break up Of an ice foe
The Roosevelt was moored in latitude
$40 during the winter.
Captain Nielsen sad that the rig
g1ng Of the Roosevelt presented a
curious SIKH. About forty musk ex-
heads and heads Of reindeer were
suspended 20 dry. On The deck are
twelve DOGS the last q nearly 200
taken aboard. Above the deck house
ere kennels containing foxes ana 9TH
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