The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-24
WILSON SHIP COMES
NEAR GOING AGROUND
Heavy Fog and Rain Almost
Cause Accident at Cape Ann.

On BOARD U s. S. GEORGE WASHING
TON, Feb. 23.--While running for Boston
light in a heavy fog and rain President
Wilson's ship and her destroyer escort
all ran head on toward the beach at
Thatcher's Island Cape Ann. at O'Clock
this afternoon, but stopped probably d
thousand Yards oTshore before there
was danger OF grounding. About AN
hour was lost before the ships got their
bearings and proceeded,
/ The weather was very thick and the
Presidents ship and her escort were run
ming on dead reckoning with the destroy
err Harding as n guard ship ahead. Sud
denly the Harding's lookout discovered
land and the destroyer gave five quick
blasts on her whistle and made quick
turn across the Washington's bow.
The wind was laudward and the sound
was carried away from the George
Washington instead OF toward her The
Washington's deck officer. however. saw
the FIVE jets OF steam from the Hard
ing's whistle. and giving three short
blasts Of the big liners whistle signalled
the engine room for full speed astern.
The big ship trembled and quivered with
the throbbing OF the mighty engines as
they churned the water. and that was
the first intimation any of the passengers
and most OF the crew had OF what was
going on.
President Wilson noticed the motion
n: once and with Admiral Grayson went
on deck. He was quite unconcerned
however, and his attitude was more
one of curiosity and interest Troops
and passengers piled on decks at the
same time and saw the rollers on the
sandy beach and the summer cottages.
a motion picture show going on in the
main dining salon. however, continued
to hold the attention OF many of the
passengers
. Although going fun speed the Wash
ington stopped quickly and easily and
began backing away. while the destroy
era turned to. wallowlng about the big
liner. The lead was got going quickly
and deep water Immediately was re-
ported. Passengers. crew and troops
did not seem 10 regard the incident as
a possibility Of danger, many of them
thinking K rather a good Joke played
by the fog and rain on the navigA'Grs
Of all the ships.
IT don't care u It is the beach" ex-
claimed one soldier. "It's the good old
L. s. A, whatever Il Is, and l say
Murray for it,
After backing short distance Capt.
McCauley dropped anchor to make OBJ
servatiuns and get bearings, while the
the Presidents ship waiting for orders.
The wind whipped up bit and a blind
ing snow furry swept down on the port
quarter, making observations even more
difficult.
The destroyer Paulding came close
alongside and the Photographs were got
going. Then over the starboard bow
came the dolcful, steady wall Of a fog
horn dealing out its warning Officer,
recorded the blasts by stopwatch,
hoping to identify the station by it,
McCault" flashed "A heliograph message
to the Pauldng to proceed cautiously
and attempt to identify the signal
In moment the destroyer got under
way splitting long trails of black smoke
from her tunnels but she had hardly
started when the wind shifted and
drove The snow furry OF 10 the north
the fog lifted and one OF the officers
perched on the upper deck sang ont
| "pagtoher's island dead ahead. :"
Through tho dissolvng mist the two
! lighthouses OF the Cape Ann station be
came visible and the suspense was over
| The Washington and her convoy haC
! beCn healed toward shore, lust aboF,
Eastern Point, Gloucester, and still fur
Their north from MarbleAead, one OF the
passengers sweeping the shore witf
| glasses, declared he could NIiainly Sc,
| hts summer cottage, and remarked M
would have no objections to being LANDED
| there In a breaches buoy.
! Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, VIII
| took the bridge Immediately with Capt
I McCauley, had Vacated the waters II
which the Washington lay, and gave !
as his guess just before the fog life,
that the ship and her escort were in tn
! vicinity Of Marhlahesd It. turned on
! that the Secretary was very nearly aG
curate in his guess.
The weather continued To- clear ever
moment, ara before an hour had Quit
passed II was possible Ia see from fpu
20 siN miles TAe Wa-h.aStol tae