The New York herald., 1922-04-05
PILOT OF 42TRIPS
TO RUN LEYIATHAN
Capt. Bernard to Be in Com
mand on Way to Newport
News on Sunday.

III the fog holds off next Sunday
morning and there are no other natural
perils to worry seamen. the Leviathan
greatest ship that ever sailed the seas,
save one, will leave her pier at Hobo
ken. where she has laid idle for three
years. to 20 to Newport News to be re-
conditioned at a cost OF 81. 100000.
The problem of swinging the giant
steamship from her pier. of turning her
in the Hudson and of navigating her
safely out of the habor and down the
coast and over Thimble Shoals and into
Hampton Roads and the Newport News
Channel is one that has furrowed the
brows of the International Mercantile
Marine officials and of Shipping Board
and other Government heads.
The Tremendous bulk of the Leviathan,
54.2s2 gross tonnage. and her great
length. $50 feet over all. exceeded only
by the bulk and length of the new Ma
jestic; coupled with the fact that she
has been idle for three years and that
moving her woud be something of
delicate experiment. overawed many
merchant captains who might have been
asked to take charge OF her on the
trip. A
Two or three that were approached
backed out. saying they would not dare
take a chance. After a conference Of
the authorities 1t was decided that the
obviously intelligent coarse would be
to put the Leviathan in full charge OF
Capt. w. j. Bernard. marine superin-
tendent OF the Army Transport Service
all through the war.
+. III. Gibbs, of the International Mer-
camille Marine. who knows more about
the Leviathan. probably. than any other
person. having studied and surveyed
her from stem to stern ana from deck
to keel, said yesteday:
weather permitting, the Leviathan
will 60 out on Sunday In charge OF Capt.
Bernard It was he who handled the
Leviathan in the forty-two voyages she
made while in the transport service. At
first he directed her docking and her
departures from the dock at Hoboken.
Then he made II rule to be aboard of
the ship herself. accompanying her to
Ambrose Channel or joining her at AM
brose on her way in. In all these times
there was never an accident.
"'rhe pilot in New York waters will
be Capt. w. F. Mclaughlin. who piloted
the Leviathan in and out of New Yori;
Harbor in her transport service. He
was recommended by the Pilots Associa-
ton. The executive officer under CART.
Bernard will be Capt. J. J. Moran. who
was In charge OF the ship while she lay
at Hoboken. and who sailed on her many
times. There win be fourteen officers
and s75 men.
"The plan is to take the Leviathan out
fairly early on Sunday and to send her
down the coast at about a fifteen knot
pace. Her engines have been thoroughly
overhauled and this speed will be moth
ing for her. We don't want speed. All
we want is to get to Thimble Shoals at
the Virginia Capes in time for the tide.
Arriving at the Capes. the Leviathan
will be boarded by Capt Peake, fam
ous pilot OF those waters. who will take
her over the shoals. through Hampton
Roads and into the Newport News Chan
mel. Buoys have already been put down
| in the channel to mark her exact course
and TO indicate an anchorage for the
! time.
'.It might be we'll to state for public
interest that the Leviathan, In whom
every American citizen should feel pride.
| Is In first class shape SO far as engines
and solid parts are concerned. 1t Is
the general refitting and redecoration
for passenger service that she needs.
She is as sound as a dollar and stories
about her having sadly deteriorated in
| idlencss are nonsense. When turned out
OF dock at Newport News she VIII be
the finest ship IN service"