Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-24
ri PASSENGERS LAND
| IN NY. FROM POWHATAN
Eleven Women, Eight Children
and Last Of Douehboys From
Disabled Transport; Only
One Ill.
nx Assortatekl Prees 70 Kvery Nvsnsns

ny Associate<i Pgnss TO Evsry Evvnsn9
Now York, Jan. 24.--Bringing safely
back tn port the 271 passengers Of tho
luckless transport Powhntan ~ we'll ~
the last contingent OF American troops in
france, the transport Northern Pacific
docked Mt Hpboken today
Although they suffered from tho cold
while the lenking Powhatan was tossci
about on storm swept sea far off the
Nova Scotiafi const, the passengers here
were rather inclined to treat their dis
comfort RS lark. Only one Of them was
n when the Northern Pacific reached her
pier. That was Mrs. John A. Worden
Of Mckinney, Texns, wife Of q lieutenant
colonel who il attached 10 the American
delegation in Paris, who ia suffering from =
light attack of pneumonia.
The transfer Of the passengers, who in
Guided eleven women and eight children,
was made without accident late Thursday
The pcrIlous task began ut 2 p. m. and
was finished three and one-half hours later.
Advantage was taken ri the first calm
sea after the vessel rprang leak last
Sunday.
The civilians on the disabled transport
were praised for their calmness and
courage by the army officer. ubo we're their
fellow passengers. The pluck of the worn-
On was praised especially. When they
went aboard the Northern Pacific they
were laughing and singing and showed
faint signs Of the hardship they had un-
dergonc.
When it was found that the pumps of
the Powhatan could not keep down the
water flowing into the ship, the passengers
were not kept In Ignorance. Captain Ran
dali called them together before dawn
Sunday morning and explained that some
thing had gone wrong with the ash ejector
which sends ashes and cinders from the
engine room into the sea. He assured the
men and women gathered about him that
there was no danger and they took him at
bis word. There was no sign OF panic then
or afterwards.
When the water rpse until 10 flooded the
engines, putting out the fires and leaving
the ship without heat or light, with a
tempest raging, the passengers tool their
discomforts philosophicaily. IL was inn
possible To serve them even with not food,
but the cooks did the best they could and
the coffee was at least luIlewarm.
Sunday night, when still heavier
storm blew up and there were many cases
OF seasickncss, Captain Randall told them
rescue ships were on their way anGl that
there was no danger Of the Powhatan going
down for days. even II help did not arrive
and the storm did not abate.
Halifax, r.. s.. Jan. 24.--Misfcrtune
again today attended the attempt to
bring the disabled United States transport
Powhatan TO port. Captain Travis,
master Of the Canadian government
steamer Lady Laurier, which yesterday
was slowly but steadily towing the Pow
hatan towards Halifax, advised the marine
agent here this morning that one OF the
tow lines had parted and that progress
bad stopped.
Reports taken To Halifax by the British
steamer Bardie that eight lives had been
logt Ia en- attempt TO transfer tho pas
scngers were without foundation. Not
life WAS lost and no one was injured
Two boat loads of searnsn from the
Northern Pacific had narrow escapes,
however, when they tried To reach the
Powhatan In heavy sea- They failed in
their attempt and then headed for the
destroyer Lesry. Their boats were sent
crashing against the side OF the warship
bu. al the psssen gers ciambered ABOARD
unhurt
All the way Up the bay from quarantine
the Nortkern Pacific was greeted rs
rescee ship and every craft IN the lsarbor
whistled welcome 70 her. The rails OF
the transport were lined with the Pow
hatans passengers and they maintained
their delight at being near shore. The
pier where they landed was crowded with
relatives and friends waiting 70 welcome
them.
Among the women taken of tho Pow
hatan we're Misses Dorothy vi. Dunn and
Edith Gardner, army nurses.