Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-24
PRESIDENTS SHIP
LOSES BEARINGS
IN FOG AND RAIN
Came Near Grounding Off
the Beach at Thatch-
cr's Island.
SNOW FURRY SWEEPS
DOWN ON PORT QUARTER
Presidential Party Docked in
Boston Harbor Early Sun
day Evening.
WILSON TO RETURN TO FRANCE
Believed lie Will Convince Congress
Of Advisability OF Establishing
"a League of Nations.
SNOW FURRY SWEEPS
DOWN ON PORT QUARTER
WILSON TO RETURN TO FRANCE
Believed Hc Will Convince Congress
Of Advisability OF Establishing
League of Nations.
iBv Associated Press.

IN BOARD THE l. =. =. GEOltGi.
WASHiNGTON Feb 23.-Thc prcs!-
dents ship and its destroyer escort,
the Harding. los, their bearings in
the heavy log and rain on the Massa-
cbusetts doast this afternoon while
running for Boston Light, and came.
perhaps. 1000 yards Of grounding, on
the beach At Thatchcr's Island. Cape
Ann.
dead rcck koning about 3 o'clock with
mo Harding as guard ship ahead.
covered land, and the destroyer gave
ave blasts On her whistle and made
quick turn across III. Washington's
ooa The wind WAS iandward and
the sound Was carried away from the
George Washington. instead OF toward
her
The washinr,on's deck officer, how-
ever: saw the tive iet: OF steam from
thc iiardug's whistle and, giving three
short blasts OF the big liners whistle.
Signalcd the cnginc-roo Tor fun speed
ruivcrcd with the thrcbbinG of the
mighty engines as they churncd the
nation any OF the passengers and most
OF tho crew had ot what was going on.
PRESIDENT COMES ON
DECK TO OBSERVE
Prcsiden, Wilson noticed the motion
At once, and, with ADMIRAL Grayson.
rent on deck lie was quite uncor-
ccrncd, however, and his attitude vas
more ono of curiosity and interest,
Troops and passengers piled on decks
~ The same time and saw the rollers
or the candy beach and the summer
ing on in the main dining saloon. ho*
ever. continued 20 hold the attention OF
man? OF the Messengers.
Although going tuil speed. The Wash:
ir.,ton stopped quickly and easily, and
began backing away. while the de-
stroycrs turned TO waliow!ng abou.
auickiy. and deep water Immediately
wus reached. Passengers. crew and
troops did not seem TO regard the
incident as possib!iity OF danger,
many OF thcm thinking II rather
good joke played b. the fog on the
nav!gators.
tain McCaulcy dropped anchor 10 make
observations and get bearings, while
,hc' dcstroycrs formed ssmicircle
abou, the Presidents ship. The wind
whipped Up u bit. and a snow furry
swept down on the port quarter. maxi
:ns observations even more difficult.
DOLEFUL, STEADY WAII.
OF FOG HORN WARNS
The destroyer Paulding came along
side, and the photographs were set go
ing. Then from over the starboard
Dow came the doleful. steady wall OF
Officers recorded the blasts by stop
watch, hoping TO identify the station
by its manner Of blowing Meanwhile,
y
message 10 the Paulding to proceed
cautiously. and attemp, 10 identity the
zisnal In a moment a.; the de des'royer ,e.s;is
of bIask smoke from her tunnels. but
she had hardly started when the wind
shifted and drove the snow hurries or
the officers perched on the upper deck
sang out: "Thatchers Island dead
ahead"
Through the dissolvins mist the two
lighthouse Of the Cape Ann station
became visible and the suspense was
over. The Washington and her convoy
above Eastern Point. Gloucester. and
still further north from Marblehead.
moment and before an hour had quite
passed it vas possible to see from four
to six miles. The Washington then
saekGa sa ason Gn s 'THas wheic s9u' rot Was
waiting at the buoys At the mouth OF
The channel
PREsIDENrfAL PARTI
DOCKS IN BOSTON
Prcsidcn, Wilson'S ship arrived in
Ecston harbor early this evening and
anchored, with all tho presidential
party remaining aboard. Tomorrow.
some time before noon. the President,
ard those accompanying him from the
Paris conference viii come ashore for
brief ceremonies of welcome. and a
chanics' Hall. The whole party will
leave for Washington by special train
ut 1880 in the afternoon, arriving
Tuesday morning.
Tho President still plans TO return
TO Franco on the George Washington,
sailing from lIoboken about March 5,
unless something unforeseen occurs. Tho
condition Of the French Premier. NJ.
C.lcmcnccau may prove to be a largo
factor The possibility of a change in
tho French government, should the
Premier not rcspond to treatment for
his wound, and the further possibility
Of a delay. in the. peace conference. or
even change in the delegation OF
France. compiicatc tho situation.
Although the President held several
conferences ,fe during the return voyage,
he did not give any expressions on the
work or prospects of the peace con-
I,rcmas further than TO indicate I've
zion :; Insisting that the making Of
;,cnce ard the creation of a league Of
na5lnns ;re inseparablc propo&i.iors,
not to he dissociaiod.
STEP IS ACCoMPLISIIED
Mr. Wilson has told friends and all
visers that with the draft Of the
The conference he considers the first
great step an accomplished fact. and
s Is it not, By viii The oe we4KeS
over changed in many respects. and
probably in tho end be quito a differ
cnt document
! known to feel that In the end the un.
derlying principles he has proposed
will he accepted in the conference. The
countries and in the United States. the
President considers as another step TO
he dealt with when the league OIL ma
lions plan ia pcrfcrtcn.
4 While he has been following kccnly
the opposition and adverse criticism
of the plan in Congress: tho President
old REPRESENTATIVE llelvering. Norton
Continued on Second page.)