HULDA A LABRADOR ESKIMO GIRL AT NAIN
HOPEDALE
Moravian missionary station on the Labrador coast
On the arrival of the mail steamer seven tons of coal were secured with which in snowstorms and head winds except for the last few miles, still following the inside passage through the intricacies of which Bartlett handled the ship with masterly skill, we reached the whaling station at Hawke’s Harbour and secured two more tons which brought us to Battle Harbour, where we arrived in the evening of November 2d.
The following day forty tons of coal were taken on board and while the work was in progress a southeaster set in accompanied by rain. From this time until the 12th, the wind continued heavy from southeast, east, and northeast, accompanied by rain, snow, generally thick weather and a heavy sea. The 12th was a clear day but the sea heaving into the narrow and tortuous entrance to the harbour, made it inexpedient to attempt to go out. On the 13th another southeaster set in with driving snow but the sea was down for a few hours and advantage was taken of this to steam round into Assizes Harbour, which affords good shelter. The entire time of our stay in Battle Harbour was a period of continuous anxiety and efforts to keep the ship from being driven ashore by the violent undertow which makes this harbour the worst on the Labrador coast when any sea is running.
During this time the Roosevelt was moored as follows: on the port bow our heaviest anchor and cable let go in the middle of the harbour, a heavy chain cable attached to a ring-bolt on shore, and a 4–inch line; on the port quarter two 6–inch manila hawsers and a ¾–inch diameter steel-wire cable; on the starboard bow our 1¼–inch light-house-test chain cable made fast to a projection of the solid ledge on shore, and two 4–inch manila lines; on the starboard side of the waist four 3½–inch lines; on the starboard quarter four 3½–inch lines, and a chain cable attached to a ring-bolt ashore.
With all these moorings the ship surged back and forth so violently as to break several of the smaller lines, tear out two of the ring-bolts let into the rocks, and break off the stock of our 2,200–pound anchor.
Bartlett’s unremitting efforts, however, kept her from going ashore. Each mooring as it parted was replaced by another in spite of every difficulty.
From Battle Harbour, the voyage was a series of head winds and sea and innumerable delays of one kind and another.