New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
271 Rescued
From POWhatan
s afe in Port
Continued from page L

daughter' Nancy, who is twenty-five
months old. She was taken YESTERDAY
70 the Army Base Hospital at Fox
Hli-s, 5. l., where it was said that she
most likely would recover
Inc Powhatan's trouble. which was
somewhat obscured in the radio mes
sages received from the disabled
transport, were made clear Yesterday
by brlgadier General William D. Con-
nor, chlet of staff of the Department
ol supply, who was Passenger on
me Nortnern Pacific He made public a
report that had been given to him by
Colonel John NJ. Dunn, L. S. A.. one
OF the Powhatan's passengers.
Motive Power Lost
s-2ncra tonnor explained that the
slft o2 ash eJector became clogsed and
bf <" and through it food of sea
w ser poured into the ongjne-room'
80 sudden intake of the sea clut-
te'sd the pumps with coal dust and
p.t them out of commission, making
~ impossible to cope with the food.
lHe water soon got to the fires and
eH eH,'nguished them and the motive
pc~er of the Powhatan was gone.
IN water waist high the courageous
hremen of the Powhatan groped about
w. nre and engine rooms trying to
that the fight was hopeless and the
oulkhead doors were closed. These
were snored up to make doubly sure
that they would hold and after an in
spectlon Captain Randall was satisfied
that the ship was safe and so advised
his passengers.
Captain Alvin O. Lustie, master of
the Northern Pacific, told how he got
the hrst 5 o S of the Powhatan when
1000 miles away from her, and how he
pucked his way through terrific seas
at speed OF nineteen knots The call
came to him at l p. M. January 1S. by
rely from another vessel. He had the
Powhatan's position and was we'll on
MS way to assist her when he received
orders from the transport service to
go TO her.
He said he reached the Powhatan at
$40 D. M, January 20. Running to the
Wlndward of her, he put out three life
boats. The weather took q sudden
turn, and he decided, after await of two
hours, that the task of transfer must
be postponed for smoother weather.
Passengers Transferred
"On Thursday" said Captain Lustie,
with the Canadian steamer Lady
Laurer having line on the Powhatan
and weather conditions good, the sec
ond and successful attempt to transfer
was made. We put over two large life
boats and the Powhatan put over three
Of her whaleboats
1--WE began to transfer the pas
sengers about p. m. The two de-
strooyers and coast guard cutter
gathered around and rendered excel
tent and valuable assistance by food
ing the sides of both ships and the 500
yards of intervening water with their
searchlights.
The women and children we're first.
They came to our side and were taken
aboard through side port without ac-
cldent. Then the men followed as
last as they could be ferried over.
They came singing and laughing, and
It was as if they were used TO being
transferred that way every day They
were certainly cheerful lot.
At $3.50 the last passenger was on
BOARD. | sent boat for my men. who
had taken refuge on the destroyer
Leary. and at 1890 p. m. was on nv
way back to New York"
Music Plays Big Part
Music played its part in the rescue
and the homecoming Of the Powhatan s
passengers. When the courageous 271
travellers lined up on the deck of the
PO40 ~ ~ OVpt tHe SlUe INTO the
llfeboats Captain Randall asked his
band to play. and at intervals during
the four hours of transfer the mu.
slclans played "Where Do We Go From
Here >"
As each boatload was hauled aboard
the Northern Pacific the band of that
transport played Hail, Hail. the
Gangs All Here The band music on
the pier in Noboken yesterday was
Home, Sweet Home
Miss Edith Gardner and Miss Dor
otny Dunn, army nurses on the Pow
hatan, protested against leaving the
vessel when they were told to make
ready to enter lfeboat from the
Northern Pacific
Our place is here with the crew"
said Miss Dunn to Captain Randall.
"Of cour-. 1t is.' insisted Miss Gard
this vessel become i'll after the pas
sengers have left They viii need US
to care for them. We will stay with
the ship
Captain Randall laughed at this,
saying: "Young ladies, the officers anc
crew Of the Powhatan and myself ap-
preciatc your spirit and admire your
courage, but ! am boss of this job, and
respectfully command you to leave
for more comfortable quarters aboard
the Northern Pacific.''
The Northern Pacific was greeted
down the Bay yesterday by 200 mem
bers of the Rocky Mountain Club, who
chartered the steamboat Princess to
greet what is generally accepted as the
last Of the A. Z. F. to return to Amer
ica.
-