Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-10
TAFT and PARTY
CLOSE TO WRECK
Ocean Crash Narrowly Averted
by Quick Thinking of Of
ficers of Two Ships.
SIGNALS ARE CROSSED
Northland Barely Misses Mayfiower,
the Latter Enroute From
Capital.

Old Point Comfort, Va, June 10
The presidential yacht Mayfower with
the president and Mrs. Tart and party
Of their distinguished guests aboard,
narrowly escaped a collision early Sun
day with the steamer Northland of the
Norfolk and Washington line not far
from Point Lookout, where the Poto-
mac empties into Chesapeake bay.
Only the vigilance of the officers of
the Northland and the Mayfiower and
their prompt action prevented what
AS it happened, the Northland mar
rowly missed the Mayfower. Officials
and one or two persons on the passen-
ger boat who were looking only got
momentary shock
INVITED GUESTS ON BOARD.
The Mayfiower left Washington Sat
urday night about g.: 80 o'clock for
Hampton Roads. In addition to the
president and Mrs. Taft, General Viii
liam CroZier. Representative F. H. Gil
let Of Massachusetts, Clarence H. Kel-
sey and Mrs. Kelsey of New York
Mrs. Francis G. Newlands. wife of the
Nevada senator, and Major 7. L.
Rhoads, U. S. A, and Lieutenant T j.
Timmons, L. S. A, aids to the presi-
dent, were invited guests.
The Northland on its regular trip TO
Old Point Comfort and Norfolk left
Washington shortly after the May
flower Although it kept the presiden-
tial yacht in sight until dark, and al
though 1t is much speedier boat, Cap
tain Posey made no attempt to pass
the president.
Shortly after the Northland passed
into Chesapeake bay, however. where
there is plenty of sea room, the officer
on watch decided to forge ahead of
the Mayfiower. At that time the navy
boat was probably a third of mile in
advance of the Northland, and a few
hundred yards to the starboard of the
! Northlands course.
MAYFLOwER CROSSES SIGNAL.
| The fragment of moon and plenty OF
bright stars made the bay almost light
enough to permit reading, while there
was hardly pun Of wind. The North
land gave a signal that it wished to
pass on the Mayflower's port side, and
a few seconds later came the response
from the yacht, one whistle blast
meaning that it wished the Northland
TO pass not on the port side but or
the staTbOard.
Officers in the Northland's pilot
house were astonished when they
heard the Mayf1ower's one whistle, but
they were even more surprised wher
the Mayfower began slowly to cross
its bow
1t was a few seconds before they
grasped just what was happening, bu'
when they did, four or five sharp, short
blasts shot from the Northland's whis
tie, meaning, the seas over, Danger
look out"
The quartermaster of the North
lands wheel was given a sharp order
He flung the wheel over, and the en-
gines of the liner were slowed down.
CRASH NARROWLY AVERTED.
1t sheered to port with a shudder
and the Mayfiower made its way across
the Northland's course with a gulf O
deep green water between that uuickl,
narrowed to less than a thousand feet
Once beyond the NorthIand's course
the Mayfower seemed to slow I'D anc
the Northland passed on its starboarC
quarter.
The Northland came into Old Poin
Comfort at 7 O'Clock Sunday mornin,
on time. The Mayflower dropped an
Choir off Fortress Monroe shortly afte
o'clock. President Taft was not toI,
Of the incident this morning, but it wa
discussed in the aid room Of the Nav
flower and among the officers OF tn,
Northland