The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1919-01-03
625 TAKEN OFF
j, s. TRANSPORT
ASHORE IN GALE
Troopship Northern Pacific Still
Aground Off Fire Island and
May Break Up.
WOUNDED CAST into SEA
Efforts to Rescue Soldiers Are Halted
After 234 Soldiers and II Navy
Nurses Are Landed-Captain
Says Ship Is Safe.

Fire Island, N. Y, Jan. 3.-Breeches
buoys were pressed into service to
transfer passengers from the strand
ed transport Northern Pacific and
some were taken in small boats to
other vessels lying as near the troop
ship as safety would permit. Latest
reports say that the total number re-
moved from the transport was 625.
Three lifeboats were capsized by the
heavy seas and wounded men were
hurled into the surf. Eight of the
wounded were unconscious when res
cued by coast guards who rushed
through the breakers to save them
from drowning.
After these mishaps the breeches
buoy was rigged and the soldiers were
brought ashore two at time. troll
ley boat also was run on a cable be-
tween shore and the transport, bring
ing twelve to fifteen men to land at
each trip.
No Danger, Captain Says.
The Northern Pacific is resting cas-
lily and is in no danger, according to
wireless message received from Cap
tain Connolly, commanding. Another
attempt to float the vessel will be
made at high tide today.
Each end of the ship rests on
ssndbar, with an open space beneath
Its middle. The wind and high seas
drove the heavy vessel farther inland
during the night and it was only $50
yards from shore-only $50 yards from
safety
Women Rush Into Surf.
AS the lifeboats came through the
surf many Of the Red Cross women
waded waist deep into the chill water
soldiers, who were drenched to the
skin, and to give them hot coffee.
The soldiers on the transport are
tranquil In spite of their precarious
situation. Far into last night the
watchers who kept vigil on the shore
could hear the blare Of the band on
the Northern Pacific and the voices of
men singing ragtime.
When the first coast guard boat
managed to get alongside the stranded
ship this morning the lifesavers were
greeted by cheers and a barrage of
doughboy wit.
Say" yelled a doughboy who has
there any danger of my getting my
feet wet7 If there is I'm not coming
I've Just got q new shoe"
Ore More War Incident.
This is the spirit of the 1854 wound
ed Inerl, which latest reports give as
the exact number, on board the North
ern Pacific. The unwounded men are
just as tranquil. They are taking 1t
as just one more incident of war.
I've nearly been killed seven times
now, six times On land and once at
sea, but I've got nine lives,' declared
one Of the first of the wounded SOL
diers brought ashore.
Lieut.. A. w. Broughton of Brooklyn
stepped from a lifeboat to be clasped
In the arms Of his wife and mother.
They had kept vigil on the beach all
night, knowing he was on the threat
ened transport.
Hospital Cases Serious.
There were four wounded men In
the first boat to land. The first Of the
four ashore was Private Albert Litch-
ner from Buffalo. He was followed by
Lieuts. Robert III. Wilson, Brooklyn !;
Robert w. Thorp Of Washington, Ind,
and Joseph Logan Wilton, from Penn
sylvania.
The officers declared the stranded
troops were In the best Of spirits and
were, In fact, making merry over their
predicament.
Many of the hospital cases on the
Northern Pacific are extremely seri-
GUS. augmenting the difficulty Of res
cue. The wounded are veterans Of the
terrific fighting in the Argonne. Among
them are number of shell shock and
mental cases, and there is one Yankee
on board without arms or legs.