Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-02
LOADED TRANSPORT
bTR|KES SAND BAR
The Northern Pacific During
Heavy Fog Runs Aground
Off Fire Island
2,4sO SOLDIERS ABOARD
Ship Is Said to De In No Danger and
Troops VIII Probably BE Landed
To-day If Wind Shifts
2,4SO SOLDIERS ABOARD

>-.,,. vi, r. q, p,., r. -
-, .a,' 'el''.iSeS . u me"
poOa,u 'ne Oi'i'ou "t"'cs 'ra"Spoi' Nor'n
e." lhclhc, asrounu OH sahu par OH
IRE iSiai'u' neeu nave no rear Tor their
ealetE, according 10 wireless message
A'oill Oap'"li NohiieHg, commanding re-
ceIVeu to-nlsht oy the Associated Press
| NoItHeTh FacInc IN no uanSer, said
>"p'ain 'onheiy message kelatiVes
81 So'dlers ana crew have no fear for
yIhelr SAFETY. The soldiers in all proha-
3bihty VIII be landed Tomorrow or when
ver the winds shift to northward of
west
The naval authorities are taking every
grecaution, however to guard the lives
of the 2iso soldiers aboard the transport.
nearly 100 of whom are sick or wounded.
A breeches buoy has been rugged from the
shore to the vessel ready for use at any
time if deemed best to risk further injury
70 the stretCher cases by removing them
from the craft, while 13 destroyer and
naval tugs are standing by to lend assist
hnce in emergency.
| The TRANSPORT. which struck the sand
Mar in n heavy fog at 33O o'clock this
Ynornine was resting more easily to-
night and was approach ching an even
keel although she had listed heavily
earlier in the day, making progress
which high seas were washing. She
was a considerable distance off shore
when she went aground but now has
been driven to within less than 400
yards OF the beach
The wind was still blowing from tn q
southwest Tonight but had abated
somewhat, although the sea continued
rough and there was heavy fog off
ehore Mariners predicted. however
that the wind would shift to the north
west before morning making condi-
tions favorable for transferring the
troops aboard to destroyers If this
Is done the men VIII be brought direct
70 New York
The Oak Island coast guard crew.
under command of CAPTAIN Joseph
Tuttle, went alongside in a small boat
this afternoon after two attempts to
fire a line across the TRANSPORTS how
had proved unsuccessful From the
line which the coast guards carried
!. svith them. the brecches buoy was rip-
Eed
Unless the danger increases. how
ever, the buoy will not be put TO use
hut should the soldiers be landed on
Fire Island, a fleet of small craft. hail
snG from points along the shores of the
great south bay, will he utilized to
t,
naval air station has been turned into
n huge emergency hospital with med-
cal and food supplies rushed from New
York by the Red Cross. A large num-
ber of ambulances are assembled there
ready to transfer the sick and wounded
from the boats to the hospital.
When he returned after taking the
life line aboard, Captain Tuttle report
td that the transport had listed to
such an extent that 1t was difficult for
him to keep his footing on the decks.
Notwithstanding this fact, he said, sol
diers who were able to be about, lined
the rails. cheering Justify any attempt
to aid them.
Breaking through the fog which to-
night shrouded the Northern Pacific
were the lights of destroyers and tugs,
while on the shore burned great flares,
lighted by coast guards. These guards
stood watch, prepared to put out in
small boats II any immediate danger
1nenaced the transport.