The Washington herald., 1906-12-03
ADMIRAL PILOTS TUG
COghlan Saves the Army and
Navy from Dayy Jones.
.P0WHATAN BADLY RAMMED
Party Returning from Football
Game at Philadelphia Has Excit-
Ing Time Getting Away from Jer-
sey City-"YOu're Cut-uP," Is
What Gen. Grant Tells CoghIan.

New York. Dec. Rear Admiral J. B.
| Coghlan took the wheel of the navy tug
Powhatan on Saturday night in hurry.
rather than see a heavy railroad car float
send the army and navy 10 join Nc
Ginty.
Aboard the Powhatan with Admiral
| Coghlan we're Mrs. COghlan. Mai. Gen.
and Mrs Frederick Dent Grant, Lieut.
Col G. P. Scriven. and Lieut. Col II. c.
Carbaugh. two Of Gen. Grants staff; Mrs.
/ Scriven. and several of the admirals
/ stan and their wives.
The party was returning from the army
and navy football game at Philadelphia,
having made the trip aboard the private
car of Col. Robert NJ Thompson, presi-
dent Of the New York Metal Exchange
| Col Thompson was graduated from the
Naval Academy. and since his retirement
/ from the service has made it a point TO
attend the annual field contests OF the
war colleges
/ At the Pennsylvania Railroad station.
/ Jersey City. shortly before s O'Clock, all
/ but Col Thompson boarded the Powha-
tan, which had been summoned from its
station at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Or
ders were given to Skipper John Hen
nessey to touch at Governors Island for
! the army's benefit.
II was a crisp night. with hardly a rip
pie upon the water. and bright moon.
! Skipper Hennessey cleared his mOorings
after the boarding party had snuggied
aft into the tiny saloon of the vessel, and
made down the harbOr at a good clip.
I'VE handed it TO you at the football
game. general" Admiral Coshlap re
marked to Gen. Grant Come into the
pllot-house and / will initiate you into a
few more navy pranks."
Little Cabin Rammed
The suggestion appealed to the women
in the party who begged to be taken
along. It was lucky. for fifteen minutes
later the cabin was badly rammed and
flooded with moonlight through a yawn-
ing hole where her port side wall had
been. The pilot-house is spacious and
soon all were chatting. Skipper Hennes-
sey. seemed to take little interest in the
proceedings. and when Admiral Coghlan
directed his attention to heavy car float
coming up from the direction of Pier 4
North River, and bearing rapidly down
on them he replied indistinctly The
Powhatan was going east at a good cir
in mid-stream between the Manhattan
and Jersey shores off the Battery.
Jam your helm hard over. skipper.
cried the admiral few, minutes later
when, after a conversation, he again
looked out into the channel and saw the
heavier vessel less than twice HIS crafts
length away and coming at full speed.
Instead of replying, the skipper re-
leased his grip on the steering wheel and
fell in dead faint upon the floor.
COghInn Takes Wheel.
Something's got 70 be done here. and
quick. said Coughlan. jumping to his
feet and grasping the wheel.
Gen. Grant got into action and ordered
that not person move or speak Or
ders We're obeyed. The admiral jammed
his helm hard out and a string of or
ders were sung down the speaking tube
to the engineer that made him sit ur
and take notice.
There's going to be something in the
way of a smash-up." said the admiral
Hang on to this distress sireen string
general"
Gen Grant, it is said, grabbed up a
hand grenade by mistake
Here, Iandlubber. this amt a bonn
bardmenL" COghlan shouted with 3
laugh. If you don't grab that sirer
string quick you'll go to the brig in
; irons
Hardly had the admiral spoken when q
! bump threw the passengers off their feet
: The other vessel hit them squarely abaft
midshtps abreast of the engine.
What in damnation are you trying q
dO?' sang out the other pilot in the still
night. You amt plotting snails on tht
Erie Canal"
Take it easy; deyilish easy shouted