The New York herald., 1922-01-12
LEAKING TRANSPORT
FIGHTS WAY TOPORT
The Crook, With Two Cutters
Standing By, Expected
to Win Out.
942 SOLDIERS ABOARD
Wireless Late Last Night Says
She Is Progressing Under
Own Steam.
e42 SOLDIERS ABOARD

After battling wild weather off
Grand Banks for three days with
water gushing between sprung plates,
the army transport Crook from Ant
werp was reported last night creeping
toward New York at a FIVE knot rate
in the teeth Of the same hurricane
that swept over this city yesterday.
Aboard her are S42 soldiers from the
American Army of Occupation on the
Rhine, a number of soldiers dead and
several women.
Reports received at s:47 last night
said the Coast Guard cutters Ossipee
and Tampa. which, had been dis
patched in answer to desperate o 8
calls. were standing by to take of
the passengers and crew. II necessary,
or give such other assistance as might
be needed.
Marine opinion in New York, based
upon the tenor Of messages received.
was that removal Of passengers would
not DO necessary and that the Crook
eventually would be able to make port
under her own power, despite her
crippled condition. Her position was
not given in the night message.
-Four Feet Of Water I'm Hold.
Capt. Joseph Reppa after g. gallant
effort to stop the leaks sent out his
first radio on Tuesday night calling for
help.
There we're four feet OF water in the
forward hold when the skipper decided
to let the world afloat and ashore know
his peril, and the leaks were gaining
five inches an hour over the pumps. The
radio appeal was Immediately answered,
and three Coast Guard cutters and the
transport St Mihiel were dispatched to
the position given by the transport, about
675 miles east of Sandy Hook.
But before the succoring squadron had
gone many miles seaward Capt. Reppa,
at 8 80 yesterday morning. announced
he had conquered the inrushinS sea and
was proceeding at nine miles an hour.
unacco,npanied. but with "ships In close
proximity" Ha radioed he had all leaks
calked and cemented and that he re-
garded the danger passed unless he en-
countered very bad storm.
Capt. Reppa gave his position at noon
yesterday as about $50 miles east Of
Sandy Hook and added the transport was
making eleven miles with a light fol-
lowing breeze and sea, winding up In
the usual nautical style Of confident
shippers with "All's WE'LL
New Gales Threaten.
This bright prospect for the Crook
inspired the army transport base In
Brooklyn, Col. Louis II. Bash In COM
mand. to recall the 81. Mihiel which
headed back TO the Hook. Then the
Weather Bureau sent out wireless
storm warning to all ships off the coast
telling OF the coming Of mighty gales
from the northeast. shifting TO north
est
The ie-ceness OF The local wind
and the direful prediction or the
Weather Bureau caused the transport
experts to turn the st. Mihiel back on
her course. and a message was sent
to the Crook. 90 her skipper might pre-
pare for the worst
In response to this Capt. Rsppe indi-
Gated that there were no storm cordi-
tions whore he was and. as before. ex-
pressed confidence IN getting through
safely unless heavy weather should hit
him. The Coast Guard cutter Ossipee.
sent out from Eastport. Me-. and the
: Tampa, from Boston, continued on their
course toward the last position given by
the Crook. keeping In wireless touch with
her meanwhile.
Another cutter put out from New
London. Col. Bash said II was likely,
unless she should become disabled. the
Crook would come directly TO this port,
discharging her soldiers here.