New-York tribune., 1920-01-19
U. S. S. Powhatan, Once
the Yacht of Ex-Kaiser.
Reports Boiler Room
Flooded, Pumps Failing
Craft Will Be
TOwed to Halifax
Two Vessels Stand By to
Aid Boat, Former Ham
burg American Liner

BOSTON, Jan. 18.--The United
States army transport Powhatan, with
500 persons aboard, sent word by radio
to-day that she was in distress about
500 miles east of New York. The
boiler room was said to be flooded
with the water gaining and help from
the pumps uncertain. The steamships
Western Comet and Cedric, which re-
piled to the distress calls, we're asked
to stand by.
Captain Randall, who signed the
messages, gave the position of the
powhatan as latitude 41.05 north, long
itude 6201 west
dali said the Powhatan was in no i'm
mediate danger and probably would BE-
noated into Halifax, the nearest port.
Pipes Choked, Water Gains
The first message said the trans
ports freroom was flooded, with the
pipes choked and water gaining In
second message Captain Randall
sald: I'VE have 500 persons on board.
Boiler room flooded. Desire ships
stand by until results of attempt to
raise steam to start pumps is known"
The coast guard cutters Ossipee. at
Portsmouth, N. H.; Acushnet, at Woods
hole, and Gresham, at this port. to-
night were ordered to the assistance
of the Powhatan.
The Powhatan. which was formerly
the Hamburg American liner Hamburg.
and prior to that the private yacht Of
William Hohenzolern, the former Ger
man Emperor. sailed from New York
tor Antwerp on Friday morning, with
271 military and civilian passengers, it
was announced at the army transport
offices. She carried a crew of $50 men
and had aboard a cargo of military
supplies.
The passenger list of the Powhatan,
army officials said, was classed as fol-
lows: 1873 military, 81 War Department,
Commerce Department and 2 Navy
Department, Included among these
was party of seventy-fve service
men and officers, who were on their
way to the French battletields to be-
gin the work Of returning the bodies
Of American soldier dead to this coun-
try. The expedition was in charge of
Herbert 8. Foreman, Former artillery
officer Of the Rainbow Division.
Wireless Reaches New York
The first wireless message received
at the army transport Office in New
York from Captain Randall, the ships
commander, gave the vessels position
as latitude 41.05 and longitude 6214,
which army officials said was approx
mately 700 miles east of New York.
The message said:
"Ship leaking in fire room. Fire
room flooded. Steam not sufficient to
operate pumps. Assistance requested.
Northeastern gale blowing"
Shortly afterward anorner message
reported that the White Star liner
Cedric was standing by. Colonel Mitch
ell, in charge of the army transport
office, asked the naval authorities at
Halifax to send tugs to the assistance
Of the vessel Immediately.
1t was on the Powhatan that former
Emperor Wilhelm visited England in
1906. At this time he was reputed
to have paid the Hamburg American
line $4.256 day for the use of the
liner, which was then known az the
Hamburg
Later the vessel was used to carry
Theodore Roosevelt and his party to
Europe in March, 1909, when he made
his trip to Africa hunting big game.
In 1914 the liner was chartered by the
American Red Cross to take doctors
and nurses to the European war zone,
and made number of trips In this
capacity, under the name Red Cross.
When the United States entered the
war in 1917 the Red Cross was re-
named Powhatan and placed in the
transport service. The vessel carried
thousands of soldiers to Europe and
return without incident, beginning her
last trip on September 23, 1919