The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-03
ADMIRAL AT The TUGS HELM
SAVES ARMY AND NAVY FROM
SEAGOING RAILROAD TRAIN.


Rear Admiral ]. B. Coghlsn took the
wheel Of the navy tug Powhatan on Satur-
day night in a hurry rather than see a heavy
railroad car iost send the Army and Navy
to join McGinty.
Aboard the Powhatan with Admiral
Coghlan were Mrs. Coghlan. Major-Gen.
and Mrs. Frederick Dent Grant, Lieut.
Col. g. p. Scriven and Lieut. Col. H. c.
Carbaugh, two OF Gen. Grants stsff, Mrs.
Scriven and several OF the Admiral's stan
and their wives.
The party wa returning from the Army
and Navy football game at Philadelphia.
having made the trip aboard the private
car OF Col. Robert NJ. Thompson, president
Of the New York Metal Exchange. Col &.
Thompson was graduated from the Naval
Academy and since his retirement from
the service has made IL a point to attend the
annual field contests OF the war colleges.
Once arrived at the Pennsylvania Rail-
road station. Jersey City, shortly before
8 o'clock, all but Col. Thompson boarded
the ~Powhstan, WI en- had been summoned
from its station at the Brooklyn navy yard.
Orders were given the skipper, John Hem
Messy, to touch at Governors Island for
the Army's benefit.
IL was a crisp night with hardly a ripple
upon the water and a bright moon. Skipper
Hennessy cleared his moorings after the
boarding party had been %snuggled aft into
Nh. .snv aaIAAn ~ NhA xraaaol md mazda
down the harbor at a good clip.
I'VE handed il to you at the football
game, General" Admiral Coghlan re-
marked to Gen. Grant. Come above into
the pilot house and I'll initiate you into
a few more navy FRANKS"
The suggestion appealed to the women
in the party. who begged TO be taken along.
Ii was lucky, for fifteen minutes later the
cabin was badly rammed and flooded with
moonlight through a yawning hole where
the port side wall had been.
The pilot house is spacious and soon all
were chatting. skipper Hennessy seemed
to take little interest in the proceedings,
and when Admiral Coghlan directed his
attention to a heavy car float coming up
from the direction of Pier 4, North River.
and bearing rapidly down or them, he
replied indistinctly. The Powhatan was
going east at a good clip in midstream be-
tween the Manhattan and Jersey shores
of the Battery.
jam your helm hard over there. skip
peri" 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 released
his grip on the steering wheel and fell in a
dead faint upon the floor.
Hell! Something's got TO he done here
and quick" said Coghlan, jumping to his
feet and grasping the wheel.
Gen. Grant got into action and ordered
that not a person move or speak. Orders
were obeyed. The Admiral damned his helm
hard over and a string of orders were sung
down the speaking tube to the engineer
that made him sit up and take notice.
There's going to be something in the way
OF a smashup," said the Admiral. Hang
on TO this distress siren string, General"
Gen. Grant, it is said, grabbed up a hand
grenade by mistake.
Here. l~andlubber, this amt a lombard
ment!" Coghlan shouted with a laugh. IF
you don't grab that siren string quick you'll
go to the brig in ironsl'
Hardly had the Admiral ceased speaking
when a bump threw the passengers of their
feet. The other vessel hit them squarely
abaft midships abreast of the engine.
What IN damnation are you trying 10
do?" sang out the other pilot in the still
night. you amt plotting snails on the
Erie Canal"
Take il easy -devilish easy" shouted
Coghlan through a handy megaphons.
Don't back out there. We may he sink
ing"
He ~signalle1 his own engineer TO back
water and vaulted deity out OF the front of
the vide cabin window, making a hasty
examination. The two vessels were locked
together and were drifting down stream
In the mean time the irate commander Of
the lighter had cooled down and ordered
the lifeboats out.
The army contingent by this time had
succeeded in reviving Hennessy, who said
he was subject to such spells. He jumped
10 his feet, but was brushed aside by the
Admiral, who, finding the door locked,
entered as he had left, through the window.
Cheer up, folks" he cried merrily.
We've kicked up a bit Of a row and been
properly rammed, but il you stick quietly
by the old man I guess he can get you home
tonight without life preservers.'
He was not 20 sangIine a. he made out,
and before he would give the word tn the
other vessel to pull out he asked that its
lifeboats, two in number, be made fast to the
Powhatan. This precaution taken, the
lighter backed away and the navy tug, which
had listed badly to starboard, righted itself
and except for the port side scars was APP
parently shipshsps.
Skipper Hennessy insisted upon resum =
ing his place, but was admonished by Adj
miral Coghlan.
You had 'er once" the Admiral said.
God knows what would happen if you
took another try"
With this the crew OF four men were
summoned to the pilot house and provided
with various orders. In a few minutes the
craft was hauled about, having now dnftet
nearly of Governors Island in a practically
deserted channel, and the officers landing
dock was made with a nicely that would
have been a credit TO a harbor pilot.
You certainly showed us a few navy
pranks, Admiral" said Gen. Grant a. he
a.a.nAI a,k.-, aV.nIo 4, -ov,,Iu Nasktn v