The Washington times., 1918-02-15
PASSENGERS TAKEN
FROMR|VERCRAFT
WHEN ICE TIES Up

The naval tug Booth Bay, COM
manded by Chief Boatswain r. A.
Nickerson, and the Norfolk and wash.
ington steamboat Northland are stuck
fast In an ice jam blocking the chan
mel of the Potomac OF Giesboro
Point today. All passengers from
both boats have been landed without
Inishap, the Navy Yard reported.
Three naval tugs, the Teeumseh.
Choceau, and the Bridon. manned by
crews OF twelve men each, are night
ing the fee gorge holding the Booth
Bay and the Eorthland. These three
tugs are eating their way into the
gorge in an effort to. disengage the
tug and the river liner.
Crews Not In Danger.
No fear for the crews OF the two,
or the office OF the Norfolk and Wash
ington Steamboat Company.
Twenty-Five passengers of the Booth
Bay, coming from Indian Head to
Washington. were safely landed yes
terday afternoon at the wharf OF the
Washington Steel and Ordnance Com
pany on Giesboro Point. The escape
from the boats across the huge sheets
Of ice was thrilling.
Eliza, Of Uncle Toms Cabin" fame,
had nothing on the sixty passengers
of the NorthIand, bound from Norfolk
to Washington. who walked across
the ice foes when their boat became
stuck hard and faspin the ice direct
ly in front OF the town OF Fort Foote.
Nd. and landed on terra hrma-
The town was thrown into turmoil
by the megaphoned calls OF the cap
tain OF the, stranded steamship. They
were answered by George H. Shan
non, a village grocer. and the skipper
requested that the Offices of the Nor
folk and Washington Steamboat Com
pany in Washington be telephoned OF
their crafts predicament.
This Mr.. Shannon did. and then in
formed the captain that three tugs
had been started out TO their rescue.
Fearing complete isolation, the
passengers, one by one, started to
walk the 900 or more feet across
the ice foes TO the shore. Sixty-odd
made land 10 this manner, many Of
whom were army officers.
Mr.. Shannon's automobile was
pressed into service, along with
teams belonging to his neighbors,
and the passengers were carried to
the Congress Heights car line, and
made their way into the city.
Girl Braves Trip on Ice.
Seven persons. including Miss sigma
Hutton. who was making the trip
from Indian Head to Washington on
the tug Booth Bay, made their escape
across the ice from mid-Potomac.
Walter Ferguson, another passenger,
twice saved the life OF Jack Hulton
when the ice gave away. plunging
him into the water.
The Booth Bay left indian Head
with its passengers early. yesterday
morning. She struck her first snaE in
her run up the icy river just on Fort
Foote. at 10 o'clock.
1t took her three hours to smash
the way from Fort Foote to Geisboro |
Point. about four miles. At o'clock |
the Booth Bay came in contact with |
the ice jam blocking the channel.
One hour later the Northland on
It's trip from Norfolk had the same |
experience. TLe Northland has a crew
Of about sixty men.
The same three naval tugs that are
smashing away at the ice today were
with all haste from the
navy yard. and worked steadily from
until = o'clock without making
much Roadway.
Docks At Alexandria,
The Booth Bay, with night ap-
preaching backed out OF the Ice gorge
md made its way down the river to
w'nere she docked for the
ilght. II is believed that the chief
,oatswain ordered this fearing that
he gorge might smash the rug.
The Nortbland. however. faced tbe
am all night.
The Booth Bay left Alexandria again
his morning. and At 1880 was or
ieisboro Point, visible from the navy
ard at the foot OF Eighth street,
ioutheast. The Booth Bs,- carried no
PROVISIONS for its crew and passsn-
Sers. u