Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-02
TROOP TRANSPORT
 AGROUND OFF FIRE ISLAND
(Continued from page one.)

| ! was issued this afternoon showing that in the army and navy personnel were 2,549 officers and men and nurses the latter numbering seven teen. The officers and crew of the Northern Pacific number about J30.
 The vessel was rolling heavily i'll sea which appeared to be getting rougher, and navy officials deemed it advisable to remove the troops im- mediately.
 In the brooches buoy the uninjur- ed men were to be brought ashore, while the wounded and nurses were to be removed in tugs and small beats to rescue fleet, which in cluding cruisers and Gestroyers, was sent from the army emharkation port, Hoboken, in response to 9 wireless message received from the stranded transport
 Rescue vessels have been sent to Fire Island with instructions to re- move the troops who are wounded. 1 The weather at the time the Northern Pacific went, off her coure was thick off Fire Island known among mariners as 'the graveyard of the Atlantic coast" A chilly south wind was blowing and rain fell at times.
 The exact location of the vessels grounding was between Fire Island , and Point of WoOds-about two miles east of the former place. At 9 o'clock a. m nearly six hours after the Northern Pacific ground ed d half mile off shore, it was stat ed officially that she was not in a dangerous position and that it was hoped to float her at high tide this afternoon Meanwhile the work of removing all those on board except the ships crew proceeded. Rescue craft included the United States cruisers, Columbia and Des Moines, the transport Mallory, the hospital ship Solace, six destroyers and five tugs. The tugs went along side the Northern Pacific, rcon aboard the troops and transported the sick to the Solace and the Mall 1 lory, and the well ones to the cruis CTS and destroyers.
 | On the Northern Pacific, which is a navy transport of S.2o5 tons gross, ] were 1,GE9 troops who ale wounded CT sick. 625 troops who were well, | 17 navy nurses, 7o sailors, 7S army casual officers and eleven navy cas- ual officers--in all 2,4S0 men and women.
 1 On shore the coast guard crew 1 made ready for any emergency. There are no hospitals in the vici- nity. Captain Albert Hahonic of tue | life savers sent appeals to families to be prepared to open their homes to the wounded in case they were landed on the beach. A small conn 1 fort station with food supplies was set up by the lie savers. A message received at Hoboken at ] II a. m from the captain of the Nor therl, Pacific reported "everyhody or toard safe"
 i At that hour the transport was so enshlouded in the fos that she Was not discernible by observers on shore. Additional dimes were made fast to her but these snapped. Weather conditions were not ia. | vorable for the immediate transfer | ring of the troops. A cruiser and submarine chaser were standing by | fore and aft. but the heavy seas made it impossible for small boats to attempt to make fast to the trans port. which was lying broadside to the beach with the waves pounding against her, but not breaking over her decks.
 l When he returned this afternoon after taking life line aboard. the Captain of the Oakland coastguard crew, reported that the transport had listed to such an extent that 1t was difficult for him to keep his footing on lthe decks Notwithstanding this fact, Inc said, soldiers who were able to be about lined the rails cheering Justify any attempt to aid them. l The coastguards declared tonight that had the vessel struck certain other bars in the vicinity she would have been smashed to pieces in a re- |latively short time. The shore Is dot ted with hulks of other ships. It was near this point, the U. s. $. San Diego was sunk last summer.
 A relief expedition of loO medical officers, nurses, and hospital order- lies left Hoboken this afternoon for Fire Island. The party was command ed by Colonel Valentine, Inspector General and Colonel II. $. kerrick, |Superintendent of transportation. On his return tonight Colonel ker- Trick reported that there appears to be Inc cause for undue alarm over the lsafety of the troops and there is ab- lsolutely no occasion for worry at the