Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-01-01
WOUNDED MEN ON
Continued from page one)

thousand ton steamer ran into the rocky
shore while travelling at moderate
rate of speed.
Her position will be perilous if a
wind storm comes up.
Repeated attempts have been mace
snd are still being made to float the
hospital ship, it was stated at the port
of embarkation office in Hoboken. If
she is not floated soon, the men must
be removed, it was declared.
Number on Board.
Official figures of the number of men
aboard rs announced at the port of EN-
barkation are: Wounded, 1744; casual
troops (unwounded), 710, and 466 crew.
Efforts to float the hospital trans
port Northern Pacific at high tide this
morning failed.
The ship is on an even keel, hard and
fast on the sandy, shelving beach of
Fire Island, about 40 miles from New
York bay.
The hospital transport Solace is stand
ing by and the 2100 wounded soldiers
will be transferred to her if it is i'm
possible to pull the Northern Pacific
! into deep water.
( A fleet of rescue vessels is at the
scene, including the cruisers Des Moines
and Columbia, the transport Mallory,
eight destroyers, three lighthouse ten
ders, eight tags and six submarine chas-
ers.
Captain B. W. Blamer, chief Of staff
to Admiral Gleaves, is directing the res
cue operations from New York by wire
less. He is in constant wireless com
lmunication with the Northern Pacific.
| At II a. m. he announced that a life
| line had been shot across the ship by
men from the Fire Island life saving
station. A breeches buoy was rigged on
this lien and if necessary those aboard
will be taken ashore by this means.
Is Broadside onto Shore.
The Northern Pacific, Captain Bla-
mer said, is broadsde onto the shore,
one mile east of the radio station on
the west end Of Fire lslsnd. His lat
est report from the ship was that all
was well on board.
The position of the Northern Pacific
is believed to be good. The shore il
rocky in places but she escaped striking
the reefs.
A 90 mile wind, direction south to
southeast, was blowing this morning. In
| dications were that it might increase
to 80 miles an hour. Unless the wind
shifts there is no immediate danger.
I Attempts TO pull the big steamer off
the beach were rendered more difficult
by choppy sea- The weather was
thick and rainy.
4 storm is due to srike the coast this
afternoon, according to official weather
bureau warnings issued at 1890 a. m.
Hoist Storm Warnings
"Hoist storm warnings 10 a. m. from
Jacksonville, Fla, to Eastport, Maine,'
said the warning. "Storm of consider
able intensity over Great Lakes moving
eastward. Will be attended by south
erly winds this afternoon and tonight
shifting to westerly THURSDAY"
The fog was so thick when the North
ern Pacific grounded that the Fir
Island light was shrouded from view.
In answer to her wireless calls fo
help, destroyers and navy tugs DASHED
to her assistance. They are standing
by.
1t is believed there is no danger o
any loss of life.
. The Northern Pacific was due in New
York today from Brest, with her cargi
Of wounded , american soldiers ana fcV
passengers. Most of the men aboar'
are too badly hurt to walk.
Used as Hosp tai Transport.
Since shortly after the United State
entered the war the Northern Pacifi
. has been in use g hospital transport
, Besides her Pacific coast operations sh
! made several rips to the Hawaiiai
! Islands. The vessel was built a
: Cramps shipyards, Philadelphia.
! The place where she struck on Fir
: Island is considered one of tie mos
dangerous on the coast. It is about 4