The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-10
PRESIDENT IN
NEAR ACCIDENT
Yacht Mayflower Narrowly
Avoided Collision With
Steamer in Open Sea.

Old Point. Va. June 10.--The presi-
Dental yacht Mayfiower. with the
president and Mrs. Taft and party of
their distinguished guests aboard.
narrowly escaped collision early
of the Norfolk and Washington line
not far from Point Lookout, where
the Potomac river empties into Chesa
pcake bay. Only the vigilance of the
officers Of the. Northland and the
Mayt1ower and their prompt action
prevented what looked for a minute
like an accident.
AS it happened the Northland mar
rowly missed the Mayflowcr. Officia Is
and one or two persons on the pas
senSer boat who We're looking only
got a momentary shock. 1t was A
perfectly still moonlight morning, with
no sea running and theliGhts of pass
in gvessels could be seen for miles
The few passengers awake showed no
signs of panic, but they looked re-
lieved when the danger was over
The Northland on her regular trip
to Old Point and Norfolk left Wash
ington shortly after the Mayf1ower.
Although she kept the presidential
yacht in sight until dark and although
she is a much speedier boat, Captain
Posey made no attempt to pass the
president. Shortly after the North
land passed into chesapeake bay
however, where there is plenty of sea
room, the officer on watch decided to
forge ahead of the Mayhower. AT
that time the navy boat was probably
d third of mile ahead of the North
land and few hundred yards to the
starl,oard of the Northland's course.
The fr1rYoanf nf nd h,
OF bright stars made the bay almost
light enough to read by, while there
was hardly a. puff of wind. The
Northland gave 4. signal that she
wished to pass on the Mayflower's
port side and few seconds later
came the response from the yacht
one whistle blast. meaning that she
wished the Northland to pass, not or
the port side. but on the starboard.
Officers in the Northland's pilot
house were astonished when they
heard the Mayf1owers one whistle, but
they were even more surprised wher
the Mayf1ower began slowly to cross
her bow. 1t was Il few seconds be.
fore they grasped just what was hap
pening. but when they did. four or
five sharp. short blasts shot from the
Northland's whistle. meaning danger
look out. The quarternaster at her
wheel was given sharp order He
flung the wheel over. the engines of
the Northland were slowed down per-
ceptibly. She sheered to port with a
shudder, and the Mayflower made her
way across the Northland's course
with gulf of deep green water be-
tween that quickly narrowed to less
than a thousand feet. Once beyond
the Northland's course. the Mayflower
seemed to slow up and the Northland
passed on her starboard quarter.
The Northland came into old Point
at o'clock this morning on time The
Mayaower dropped anchor off Fort
ress Monroe shortly after o'clock.
President Taft was not told of the in
cident this morning. but it was dis
cussed in the aide room of the May
flower among the officers of the
Northland.
The president had only one engage
ment here today. With Mrs. Taft and
their guests he took breakfast with
DR.. Fl. 3. Frissell of Hampton insti-
tute. of which he is a trustee. He
later watched the institute battalion
drill and attended chapel where he
made brief speech to the students,
declaring that although education
along scientific lines is useful. "voca-
tional education for the negro is bet
ter for the present, at least" He
shook hands with several hundred STU
dents afterwards.