The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-25
TRANSPORT HAD AN ACCIDENT.
M'PHERsoN WAS PICKED UP BY A
FRUIT STEAMER.

hNo>e "er smart at sea ana Had
Been Drifting HeIpIessIy-Had
Many Bodies of Dead Soldiers on
Board and 1GS Passengers ana
Crew, Who Were Put on Half Ra-
tions-she VIII Probably Go to
New York in Tow.
Norfolk Va. Feb. 24.-The United States
army transport MCPHERSON Commander
Hutchins was towed into Hampton Roads
this morning by the Jamaica fruit steamer
Admiral Sampson, which found the big
transport drifting he,p,essly about at sea
several hundred miles off Charleston, S. c.
The Mcpherson broke her shaft Mon
day and had a severe experience in the
storm of last Wednesday night. She will
be brought to the Norfolk navy yard for
repairs.
Later in the day II was ascertained that
the Mcpherson carried an extra shaft
piece and it was ordered that the vessel
be sent to the ship yard at Newport Newa,
provided the necessary repairs could be
made there without much delay. Other
wise the vessel will be towed to New
York for repairs
hFOuSht SOIu1erS' Bodies.
The Mcpherson is in charge of Maj
Hutchins, quartermaster, L. S. V. She
brought number of passengers from San
tiago, including several discharged soy
diers; also the bodies of ninety-six SOL
diers who died in Cuba and q miscellan-
eous cargo. All the passengers who choose
10 do so may disembark at Fort Monroe
The vessel is now anchored off that
post.
The soldier dead are to be brought to
this city for interment in the national
cemetery at Arlington. In case of de-
lay in making the repairs, it is probable
that the bodies will be brought direct to
Washington from Fort Monroe, instead
of being allowed to remain on the vessel
until she reaches New York.
The Mcpherson, now lies off Old Point
helpless. The story of the voyage from
Santiago and San Juan and the mishap
of the transport were cleaned tonight by
representative of the Associated Press
from eX-Assistant Quartermaster C. E.
Norton and Lieut.. Macklin. Mr. Norton
went to Cuba and Porto Rico for the pur-
pose of assisting in the eXhuming and
shipment to America of the bodies of our
soldiers who died in Cuba and Porto Rico
as the result of wounds, accidents and
disease. After a number of months of
labor his duties were completed and he
left Gibara, Cuba, on the Mcpherson,
Feb. II for the United States. The destin-
alton of the MCPHERSON Is New York city
The transport had on board about 165
bodies. sixty-five of them being bodies of
soldiers who died of yellow fever.
Encountered Heavy Weather.
When several days out of San Juan the
Mcpherson encountered very heavy wealth.
er and on the night of the 21st her main
shaft broke and left her helpless. Distress
signals were flown each day and at night
her searchlight was elevated to the top
to get the possible range and distress sig
mails constantly made.
After four days the fruit steamer Ad-
miral Sampson, bound from Jamaica, saw
the Mcpherson, steamed up and took her
in tow, and dropped her off Old Point Com
fort tins morning a bout o'clock.
The Mcpherson now lies off the fort. and
it is understood that she will probably not
be repaired here, but will go to New York
in tow.
MAJ. Hutchins, who is in command OF
the McPherson, was severely injured dur
ing the storm by being thrown against a
deckhouse.
During the storm, after great difficulty,
four of the sailors succeeded in Iashing
the propeller so it would not turn and
beat the rudder post. A leg of mutton
sail was rigged and this gave progress
enough to permit steering.
On Thursday an unknown Ward liner
came along, remained by the Mcpherson
for three hours, then concluded the latter
could get into port without assistance,
and steamed away.
While the disabled transport was drift
ing along, those on board, numbering in
all 1853 persons, were put on half rations.