The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-04
LAST Of WOUNDED
BEING REMOVED
Stranded Transport North
ern Pacific Developed
List During Night
STRETCHER CASES
HARD TO HANDLE
But Clearing Skies and an Even Sea
Tend to Tighten Work Transferring
Manned Soldiers to Hospital Ship
Solace-Exciting Rescues Yesterday.

FIRE ISLAND, " Y, Jan. RE
moval Of 300 wounded, the last of the
soldier passenger list aboard the strand
ed Northern Pacific, was begun today un-
der clearing skies in an even sea. Sub
marine chasers and naval launches car
ried the men to the hospital ship Solace.
Two powerful wrecking tugs made an ef-
fort at high tide to free the vessel
To rescue the wounded naval launches
drew alongside the ship which developed a
heavier seaward list during the night and
the Solace took position closer inshore,
but many of those remaining on board
were litter eases. thus adding to the diff
culties OF the rescue.
Twenty one hundred wounded soldiers
climbed down rope ladders from the sides
| of the vessel yesterday, and made diff
cult landings on the decks of small boats,
which were kept in continual melton by
moderately stiff sea.
! The crews of the antisuhmarine patrols
and coast guard craft, which took them
caught and steadied the men as they
reached the bottom Of their dancing rope
ladders and helped them down. The
small boats, difficult TO manage because
of the wind and sea, kept staggering inte
the hull OF the transport and then pull
ing away the length OF the hawser il
sometimes proved a tantaGzing task Il
ljnggle man safely from the dangling
ladder to a wobbhng deck. Some of the
men who were landed at Hehoken yes
terday said it was like the Hallowe'er
lseort Of bstbing for apples
Some of the men who were trans
lferred yesterday had lost their sight TEN
porarlly or permanently in the fighting il
France Ropes were made fast about
their bodies to keep them from dropping
into the water should a Slip oceur be
tween the rope ladder and the small
boats, and they struggled down the lad
der until they were grasped by the mer
on the cutters and patrol boats.
Several Of the men taken off had onl,
one leg each Their esutches were lowere,
first OF the small boats Then the frs
one made his way down, supporting him
self only by his grip ON the sides Of tn
ladder, as he removed his enc foot from
"A rung of the ladder and thrust it abou
until he got firmly placed on the next one
lie made remarkably quick time, and wa
soon followed by his fellows. Thes
crpples were sure of their ability to de
scend the ladder in this fashion. and non
of them had a rope bound aronnd him 70
safety.
Some of the men had only one arm i
good working order Others had bandage
about their heads or bodies over unheale
wounds All were so eager, however, t
get away from the big ship. which ha
shaken and groaned necessarily under tn
battering of the surf. that they wer
ready to take any chances. Some {
them were badly bumped and bruised b,
fore they reached the small boats.
The coast guard and antisubmarine p;
: troll boats worked in relays, sometime
three of them lining up at one time h
side the helpless transport, As fast 8
they were filed with soldiers they move
: ont to safer waters, where by anoth'
rough and ready process they shifted Il
wounded men to the decks of destroyers