The New York herald., 1920-01-25
OF BRAVERY
Perils Endured by Women as
They Suffer in Cold and
Don't Complain.
TRANSFER PERSONS AT NIGHT
Passengers Sing as They Cross fhe
Water Under Glare Of Searchlights
from Assembled Ships.

\ story worthy OF the best traditions
Of the United States army and navy came
into port yesterday when the transport
Northern Pacific, with 27l passengers
from the transport Powhatan aboard, ar
rived at Hoboken. The Northern Pacific
also brought in 22s members of the A. F.
F.. the last American soldiers in France
The dramatic rescue a night Of the pas
sengers of the Powhatan and the trans
fer to the Northern Pacific as search
lights played over the seas is an incident
worthy of a thrilling sea yarn. Despits
the hazardous nature of the work and the
fact that it was done in the night, in spite
OF heavy seas the rescue was accom-
plished in true American style without
Single untoward mishap
The courage and devotion the heroisyn
and fortitude OF the officers, the crew and
the passengers Of the Powhatan make an
other chapter of pluck and daring fit 10
iiVe IN tho memory of those who follow
the sea For four days and twenty hours
suffering hardships from exposure and
cold the passengers and crew waited
grlmiy for the assistance which finally
arrived Then, when the time for ths
transfer came, the unwritten law of the
sea that women and children should 20
first was adhered to in every respect.
Only One Passenger ILL.,
When the Northern Pacific came up the
bay she was greeted on all sides as
rescue ship. every craft in the harbor
lwhistling a greeting. At Pier 8 Hobol,en
crowds of relatives and friends as well
as an army band, were on hand 10 greet
her. Despite the severity of the weather
through which the transport stood by the
Powhatan, only one passenger was i'll
Mrs. John A. Worden, Of Mckinney.
Texas. wife of a lieutenant colonel who
us attached to the American Legation in
Paris, was suffering from a slight at
tack Of pneumonia. Mrs. Worden trav-
elled with her three children
| The PoWhatan left Hoboken for Antwerp
when the Northern Pacific came into port.
on January i6, having on board a detach-
ment OF soldiers known as Replacement
Unit No. Is. for service in tho Army Of
Occupation in Germany. There also were
on board sevcnty-fivc men OF the Graves
Registration Commission. practically all
one-time service men. who were bound for
France to take part in the removal OF tho
bodies of American soldiers from Trance
TO the United States There also were
twelve women and eight children on board
When the Powhatan was about zoo miles
loff Halifax a syphon used TO effect ashes
from the engine room into tho sea broke.
lCausing the bulge pipes TO get out Of order
and forcing quantity of waste water
hack into the engine room. This happened
on January rs. As the water seepcd bac
into the engine rooms the fires were even
tually cXtinguished and II was necessary
TO resort TO the hand pumps.
rrnisc Captain aud Crew.
TO Captain \. b. Randall and tho crew
of the Powhstan, the rescued passengers
gave unstintcd praise. As soon as ~
learned of the dangerous condition in tho
Iengine rooms. Captain Randall summoner
the passengers and informed them or tn,
trouble. Then he took his position on y.
bridge, leaving there only at long Intervals
Ito give cheer and encouragement 10 thu
suffering passengers 81 MS ship. \ tall
was told Of a Chinese coal passer who
dived repeatedly into tho black. du
choked water IN a vain effort 10 locate tn"
clogRed pumps.
a suggestion Of the privations which thp
passengers and crew Of the Powhstan or
dured so cheerfully is obtained when 70
is known that for more than four days. IL
the biting cold off the coast OF Nova
Scotia there was no heat Of any Kind o.
any hot food TO be served on board tn,
ship. 4 little lukewarm coffee was the
best thai could be obtained.
Officers and crew OF the Pcwhatan
Joined In praising the pluck OF their pas
sengers and the calmness with which they
faced danger. The grit Of the women wa
especially marked. When they were being
transferred to the Northern Pacific they
laughed and sang. showing few signs %
the hardships that they had endured. A.
the Northern Pacific steamed away. theN
lined tho sides OF tho vessel and gave three
rousing cheers TO the officers and crew
OF the Powhatan. left behind in tow o.
another ship
Captain Lustie's story.
Captain Alvin o. Lustie. comma ndor o.
the Northern Pacific. gave a detailed sc-
count OF the rescue or the Powhatan's pas
sengers.
I'VE were one thousand miles from tho
Powhatan on the 18th at one O'Clock In the
afternoon he said when we received
the latters : @ S call. relayed by another
vessel Her position was right In our
path and we simply kept on. picking up
our speed 20 about nineteen knots against
a buckng sea Monday morniN~ I got d.
rect orders from the transport service 10
proceed to tho assistance Of tho Powhatan
and 7 reached her position without trouble
at twenty minutes past six o'clock on the
afternoon Of tho GOTH The Shipping Board
steamship Western Comet then had lire
q board and was attempting 10 tow. the
weather being very good. shortly after
we arrive dthe tow line TO the Western
Comet parted and we made immediats
TO transfer the passengers.
Ne ran up TO the windward OF the Pow
hatan and put our three lifeboats over the
side. No. in command OF the first officer.
s. serrao: No. i'm charge OF junior sec
ond officer l.. Larsen. and No. 10 in charge
of Boatswain G. G.. Brown. Mr.. Larsen's
boat reached the lee side OF the Powhatar
and the other two took up positions under
her stern. The Pow whatan also put out
two OF her boats.
Change In Weather.
"The weather took a sudden change. and
as the sea was picking up IL was decided
after two hours wait not to attempt the
transfer al that time. Mr. Larsen's boat
got back 10 us. but the other two driftee
sstern our position and ] asked the de-
strover eIary TO pick them UP. Lifeboats
tCoufinurd on Pare Five, Col. Srx-l