Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-01
Troop Graft on Rocks
Off Long Island-None
Rescued at Noon

New York, Jan. THE Ameri
can transport Northern Pacific
which left Brest, France. on ChristY
mas day with 2,400 wounded ana
well American soldiers, sailors and
nurses, went aground al Fire IS
land, one of the most dangerous
points on the Atlantic coast, in the
rain and fog at $3.50 a. m today.
seven hours later, with weather
conditions unfsvorable, rain and
snow falling intermlttently and a
southerly wind blowing, the vessel
was hard in the sand, navy officials
saw no prospect that the ship could
be fioated before late tomorrow.
The coast guard crew threw ont
lines and in the breeches buoy the
uninjured men were brought ashore.
while the wounde and nurses were
being removed in tugs and small
boats to a rescue feet which, in
Guiding cruisers and destrOyers,
was sent from the army embaTks
ton port, Hoboken. in response 10
a wireless message received from
the stranded transport.
at IL o'clock from the captain OF
the Northern Pacific reported 'ev-
erybody on board safe"
Rescue vessels were sent to
Fire Island with instructions 10 re-
move the troops who are wounded
The weather ct the tine the
Northern Pacific went OF her course
was thick off Fire Island, which is
known among mariners at the
graveyard of the Allan tic coast.
A chilly south wind was hiowicg
and rain fell at times.
The exact location Of the vessels
grounding was between Fire Island
and Poinr~ of Woods, about two
miles east OF the former place.
Meanwhile the work Of removing
all those on board except the ships
crew proceeded. This was expected,
10 he an all days task. Coast Ea1ard !
men had prepared IN the early
morning to take of the wounded
and sick with the brooches buoy.
but instead the troops remained on
board until the arrival of rescuers
craft from New York
Vessel Rolls Heavily.
Later in the forenoon the sea be-
carle roUgher, but reports from Fire
island said the transport did not
appear l. be in any danger. Tho
vessel was rolling heavily. The
Nortdern Pacific's position IS direct
ly opposite the naval radio service
station. The disemDarking troops
from the vessel expressed the opin-
ion that the heavy fog was entirely
responsible for the transport 3
plight.
These vessels included the Unit
ed States cruisers Columbia and
Des Moines, the transport Mailory.
the hospital ship Solace, six de-
stroyers and five tugs. TIE tugs
went alongside the northern Pacific,
took aboard the troops and trans
Lorted the sick to the Solace and
the Mallory, and the well ones 70
the cruisers and destroyers. On the
Northern Pacific, which Is a navy
transport of S,255 tons gross, were
I,679 troops who are wounded or
sick. 625 troops who are well, II
navy nurses. 75 sailors, 73 army
casual officers and Il navy casual
OkuCtI iii dil @r1oo iAiSh GU
women.
Ready for Emergency.
On shore the coast guard crew
made ready for any emergency.
There are no hospitals in the Vi
cinity. Captain Albert Mahonic OF
the life savers sent appeals to fam
lilies 20 Re prepared to open their
homes to the wounded IN case they
were landed on the beach. A small
receiving station with food supplies
was set up by the life savers
None Taken OF.
At noon no one had beer taken
off the transport. At that time four
destroyers had reached the scene
and also were standing by. Tho
sea was growing rougher.
Identity Of Units Unknown.
Washington, Jan. THE trans
port Northern Pacific. aground OF
Fire island. sailed from France
Christmas day. with 2.4o0 troops.
including the Eighth trench mor.ar
battery OF the Eighth division, AMI
large number of sick and wound
cd and casuals. The identity of the
other units aboard was not given III
dispatches to the war department
announcing the departure of the
vessel.