The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-02
TROOPS OFF SHIP

were volunteers in the rescue work.
Captain futile said he expected to
bring the wounded ashore within a
few hours by trolley arrangement.
The men were busy arranging lines
and getting the trolley boats ready,
while on the transport the wounded
men were being got to the deck and
prepared for the transfer. A hydro
aeroplane lowered overhead watching
operations. Red Cross workers landed
additional supplies from the main land
and distributed a great quantity OF
sandwiches among volunteers eager to
greet the boys with food and cigarets.
Captain Joe futile of the Oak Hill
life guards, made a try at bringing a
line ashore from the sip. The plan
was to rig double line of cables and
to attach q life boat to it by a-trolley
arrangement so the bedridden wound
ed could be ferried ashore in safety.
The breeches buoy rugged earlier
was still intact but no effort to use
it had been made as the sea was con-
sidered too rough.
At daylight it was seen that the
Northern Pacific had been driven
near dry land by the high wind and
the breakers, but her position was
at night.
All Messages Cheerful.
Whenever the weather lightened. it
ures on the decks of the stranded
ship. All messages from the vessel to
date have been cheerful and encour-
aging. The forecast of snow and
colder winds tonight worried some of
the relief workers. A blizzard would
make the situation much worse.
Movie picture squads and photo
graphers were arriving in steadily in
creasing numbers this morning. The
beach ives becoming crowed. Small
hat Rn md
Fire Island were at a premium.
A Pelting Rain Fell.
There was a pelting rain and brisk
wind, with a northeaster predicted by
unofficial weather forecasters.
The stricken transport, 800 yards off
the beach, was at times but dimly
discernible thru the mist which
shrouded everything in g. bleak gray
ness. The sea pounded the Northern
Pacific all night, but still the ship
Before dawn, staff of the army med
| ical corps with nurses and supplies
arrived.
Whenever the weather lighted a bit.
the transport talked to the shore by
| means of wig-wag signals. During the
night, the wife, mother and sister of
Lieut.. Averell Broughton, Brooklyn,
reached the beach when it became
light enough, signal man wig
! wagged their message to the ship.
admonition for them not to worry
| At o'clock Capt. Connolly of the
| Northern Pacific, sent this message:
''Who is in charge on the beach %
- Captain Levine from the Port Of
\ Emba rkation, replied that he and Col.
| F. I. Peace, of the medical corps, were
| in command.
1--WE have ample food, blankets and
filters in case you land any men here"
| they signaned.
| The rescue Of the 1,T44 sick and
| wounded, TO other troops and ass
crew of the Northern Pacific will be
made just as soon as wind and sea
I permit.
New York, Jan. "A breeches buoy
was rugged this morning for the re-
moval of 2.254 soldiers, including 1.744
sick and wounded, from the American
| hospital transport, Northern Pacific,
aground on Fire Island. forty miles
east of New York bay since early
New Years day. Boats will also be
4, used If the sea dies down.
The position of the 5000 ton steam
er-perilous Wednesday night when
heavy breakers washed clear over her
was greatly improved. A stiff south
east wind drove her landward during
the night, so that early this morn
ing she lay close to the beech. In
very shallow water at low tide. The
vessel which is one of the swiftest
of American built transports. was
caught on a sand bar when she first
ran aground in a heavy fog. For q
| time it seemed that she would break
across the bar. The wind late- swune
her around. drove her over the sand
| into deeper water and then TANNED
her broadsi6e against the shelving
beach where she rested at dawn
Rush Wounded To Hospital
A train with steam UP was waiting