Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-18
AMERICAN CONSUL
SAVES VALUABLE
FEDERAL VESSEL
ugP Potomac, F inest in nNavy,
Rescued From Newfound-
land Ice Floes byResource-
full Amateur Engineering.

The United States naval tug Potomac
which was solidly frozen in the New
foundland ice fields last January and
given up for lost, was turned over to the
Government at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
few weeks ago through the efforts of
Ozro C. Gould, of the United States Con-
sular Service.
Mr.. Gould, Consul at Bay of Islands.
N. F., saved the powerful oceans going
tug Potomac from becoming a total loss
and turned her over to his Government
practically unscathed, but a few days
ago he returned to his post not one
penny the richer as a reward for his
clever engineering work. United States
property cannot be salvaged and the Gov
ernment pays no extra reward for gal
liant work performed by its employees.
The saving of the Potomac was a dar-
ing engineering feat. The rescue of the
tug was effected only after the most
difficult kind Of work in the ice fields off
Newfoundland.
ON ERRAND OF MERCY.
The Potomac, the finest tug in the
navy, was dispatched to Newfoundland
from Norfolk, Va. January % to cut out
Bucksport, Me-, which was fast in the
ice. The crew Of the Potomac also re-
ceived orders to liberate the schooner
George Campbell, which was also held
in the ice, but the latter vessel was de-
stroyed the day the tug left Norfolk.
The Potomac reached Bay of Islands
on February and two days later sailed
in search of the Hiram Lowell. Imme-
dately the rescuing tug ran into ice
and was blown out to sea In a blizzard, to
become caught in the Ice herself. Consul
Gould had given the captain of the tug
explicit directions as to the location of
the Lowell, and when he did not hear
from her in a few days he ordered look
outs along the coast to keep a sharp
watch for the Potomac. On February
he received a report that she was fast
in the ice and drifting nOrthward. The
next day. February 10, the tug was re-
ported AT Roche Harbor at the entrance
to Bonne Bay.
Immediately Consul Gould secured 30
men and dispatched two tons of food TO
the crew of the tug. 1t was necessary for
the 10 men TO make two trips with the
fool as each carrier was able to carry
only about 30 pounds over the Jagged ice.
Mr. Gould was confined to his bed at
Bay of Islands with badly injured foot.
but when he learned of the location of the
Potomac and her predlcament he left
for Bcnne Bav, travelling on snowshoes,
and arriving February II.
Upon his arrival he found that the Off
GERS and crew had abandoned the Poto-
mac, leaving everything but light effects
aboard the seemingly doomed craft. II
was necessary to get the crew of the tug
back to Bay of Islands, and for three
days the consul put the 81 men through
a course in snowshOeing. as the trip had
a. ha do
covered mountains. After two weeks
snowshoe trip the party arrived at Bay
of Islands, February %. having been just
two weeks.
ORDERED TO RESCUE TUG
On the day of his arrival back at Bay
of Islands with the crew of the Potomac.
he wired the Secretary of the Navy of
the condition of affairs, and he was
ordered, by telegraph, To save the
Potomac II was a most unusual order,
as the Navy Department had no reason
TO believe that Consul Gould knew any
thing about seafaring life. Naval experts
OF Newfoundland declared it would be
impossible To save the vessel; that she
was sure to he crushed by the ice in the
Straits of Belle Isle.
But | had sailed my own sloop con
siderably i'm those waters in the two years
have Deen StallOntu at nay OF lSldllAlS,
and felt that the Potomac wasn't going /
through the Straits of Belle Isle" de-
clared Mr.. Gould in Boston the other day, |
my knowledge of her position in the .
ice, a close study of the drift of the ice
and the other conditions that prevailed /
gave me confidence that the Potomac |
could be saved -
First of all the work was divided into |
three Jobs. II was necessary to get men /
a aboard the Potomac and keep them there, |
SO half a dozen were engaged 20 board /
the icebound craft, build and maintain /
fires in her boilers and prevent the loot
ing of the tug. A shore crew was secured !
to provide fuel and several hundreds OF /
cords of green and dried brentwood was |
carried on board for consumption. The |
went aboard March IT !
and did excellent work until May 8, when /
MIR. Gould appeared on the scene in /
person,
QUELI.S MUTINY ON POTOMAC
Upon his arrival. however. the crew
They apparently foresaw the
escape of the tug with the breaking up
Of the ice. and they made unreasonable /
demands They were not satisfied with I
the pay agreed upon, although the wages
might be considered extraordinary How
ever, he stood them off all alone until
MAY u, when they surrendered.
The second part OF the expedition con
sisted In making arrangements TO have
4 vessel pick up the Potomac the moment
she should become free and to this end
he steam trawler the Wren. of Halifax,
Has chartered. II was feared that wnsn
he Potomac should ahoat her engines
might be useless because OF their long
inactivity and the severe cold, and In
that case there was danger OF her being
driven easterly or through the Straits Of !