The Washington times., 1920-01-22
POWHATANAT
LOWER LEVEL
Transport With All Persons
Aboard Now Being lowed
to Port.
CONDITION is "PRECARlOUS"
Passengers to Be Transferred
Only II Situation Grows
. Worse, However,

The Canadian steamer Lady
Laurier now Is towing the dis
abled transport Powhatan Into
Halifax, the Army Transport
service was advised today.
The steamer Western Comet,
after towing the Powhatan, had
trouble with It's tow-lines, and
the Lady Laurier had to take up
the work, M
Wireless reports from vessels
standing by the disabled trans
port indicated she had sunk to
the level of the water, which
had leaked into her compart-
meuts. The bulkheads have
been shored up, It was reported,
and are withstandlng the strain,
but II they should collapse the
ship might 60 down.
A wireless declared the vessel
was In . "preeafious condition.
but that it was hoped that she
could be brought to port. Grave
fears were expressed for the
health Of the passengers.
Brigadier General Hines took
steps this afternoon to afford
relief to the passengers at both
Halifax and New York, as it is
not definitely known which port
the vessel will be brought to.
HALIFAX, N. S. Jan. 22.-Th
United States transport Powhata
started for Halifax this morning i
tow Of the Dominion government
steamer Lady Laurier, according t
a wireless message from Captai
Randall, of the Powhatan, time
l0:10 q. m. and intercepted here.
Captain Randall's message adde
that there was no change in tn
condition of the ship and that pas
will not be transferred UT
less everything is absolutely favo,
able.
The Lady Laurier succeeded i
throwing tow line to the Pow
hatan at $3.50 o'clock.
NEW YORK, Jan. 22.-The disable
United States army transport Pow
hatan Is still battling heavy seas an
has been unable to transfer her pat
sengers to other steamers, according
to a wireless report received her
early today by navy officials. TIL
gave her position as Al.
north, 81 AS west.
The wireless communication report
ed that the weather is so heavy tha
the Powh atan was unable to pick VI
a tow line.
The destroyers Sharkey and Lear.
and the steamers Northern Pacifi
and Western Comet are standing b,
the Powhatan.
There are Al persons aboard tn
eighty-six of whom ar
Engine Room Flooded.
Word by wireless yesterday n
garding the Powhatan was reassurins
but the fact remained that the vesse
with 271 passengers aboard and
crew OF 200, had been wallowing d
the seas about 400 miles southess
of Halifax since Monday, her engine
stopped by her flooded frerooms an
those aboard her without light Q
heat.
A wireless from her yesterday aft
crnoon read:
Attempted transfer OF passenger
stopped on account OF weather cor
ditions, which are growing rapid
Powhatan in safe condition
Please send seagoing American tugs.
This was signed by Capt. w. I
Randall, her commander. 1t was b,
lieved by naval officials here that tn
Sharkey and Leary prob
ably had made an attempt to take o.
the passengers.
The freighter Western Comet &c
a line to the Powhatan despite tn
heavy seas on Tuesday night an
towed her forty-eight miles towar
Halifax. when the line parted and tn
transport fell of again into the roll
ing sea.
The transport Northern Pacif
bound here from Antwerp. came u
with the disabled ship yesterda
morning after racing as fast as hs
engines would drive he
and sent the following wireless q
noon, which was received by th
Naval Communication Service her,
"Noon position Northern pacin
li.J4 NJ, 6i.2S W. Now standing h
waiting weather to moC
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