Evening star., 1922-02-08
FORMER TRANSPORT
DESTROYED BY FIRE
Swift Steamer Northern Pa.
cific on Way to Dry Dock.
Crew Saved.
BY the Associate ted Press.

NEW YORK, February S.-The
former transport Northern Pacific
which last claimed headlines in 1919.
when she crashed on to a sand bar
off Fire island with 5000 American
France-today was destroyed by fire
forty miles off Cape May. N. J.
A crackle Of the radio early this
morning brought word that fire had
broken out aboard the swift steamer
and that she was mass Of flames.
Later messages reported that she
had been abandoned by Capt. William
Lusti and her skeleton crew OF
seventy-five. who were taking her to
dry dock in Chester. Pa.
Rescue OF all her crew by steam
ships which had rushed to the scene
next was recorded.
Drifting in Southeast Course.
The latest message stated that the
vessel. blazing hercely and listing
hard to starboard. was drifting south
The contract for reconditioning the
Northern Pacific had been awarded
the Sun Shipbuilding Corporation OF
Chester, Pa, it was announced here.
H. r. Alexander, president of the COM
pany. said the vessel was to be COM
approximate cost of 100000. She
was then to have been renamed the
H. F. Alexander and placed in service
by the Admiral line between Seattle.
San Francisco and points on the
southern California coast. 1t was in
tended the ship would leave for the
Pacific coast on May 81.
The Northern Pacific was 500 feet
long. sixty-three feet wide and had q
depth of twenty-one feet. Her regis
tered gross tonnage was s.255.
Wireless Tells Of Fate.
From early this morning the stac-
cato notes OF wireless told the swift
story Of a gallant craft meeting her
fate in cracking flames and leaping
seas.
For several months the former
transport was tied up in Hoboken.
Then, purchased from the govern
on the Pacific. she left last night for
Chester under command Of the man
who had tramped her bridge during
the stirring days of the war. She
carried no passengers.
The tanker Herbert e Wylis. oound
the steamer Transportation were the
first vessels to reach the doomed
craft. They promptly reported by
radio rescue of all the crew. who had
taken to small boats.
Mexico. also reported for assistance.
but proceeded on her way when she
found there was nothing she could DO.
From Cape May the coast guard
cutter Kickapoo put out to the aid OF
the Northern Pacific
Number Reported ON Beard.
Omcials Of the Admiral line were
unable to state Aow many persons
were on board the steamer: Radio
tation and the tanker Herbert g.
Wylie indicated, however. that there
were twsnty-seven members OF the
crew and four employees OF the Sun
Shipbuilding Cooperation.
TWENTY-FIVE members OF ships
porsstion. pesw h9M W %irslsss. % Five on tanKs,
Herbert q. wylie. That accounts fol-
all hands In crew. Ship now burning
throughout length. Impossible to
board at this time"
The wylie radioed she had stood BY
the burning vessel until daylight
The limited States coast guard cutter
Gresham left Staten Island to SO to
the burning steamer ct 7:4b o'clock
II was expected the Gresham would
arrive shortly after noon.
Vessel Built in 1916
The Northern Pacific was built in
1915 by the William Cramp g. Sons
shipbuilding Company Of Phtladel-
phia, for the Great Northern Steam steam
States entered the wan the vessel
Was taken over by the American
|Eoyernment az q transport. and was
Ia operation during virtually the en-
tire period Of the suhseauent strug1ie
on JsHufFsy ~ Fy. Ii isi.na' asls xhs . Min. iss
take in tbs lights shown along the
scnthern shore or Long ialand con-
fHssd her pilot. At this time she
had aboard 5000 American soldierA
being brought back to America from
the battlehelds Of France. TIE
was at last fioated on January 1S.
Plays Heroic Role.
Almost a year later, on January 20,
rushing to the aid Of the Steamer
Powhatan, now the Hudson. which
was drifting helplessly of tho Nova
|seotian coast She took OF the pss,,
senRers OF the Powhatan and landed
them in New York.
tinction on this trip to be carrying
the last regular contingent Of re-
DurinE the early summer ef 1sse
the Northern Pacific carried Gen.
PeeahiAg On his trip through ths
AAEulo9 &0Q SIs0 SS@ETIuoaub OuS 0f1N
came to grief at San Juan, HoFtn
Rico, where she went ashore at the
harter entrance. closing the port fos
some ,timo. Upon her release she
returned 10 the United States.
TIE vessel was offered for sale on
|Decomber 12, last, by the United
Statas Shipping Board. but 10 far
as available records show, ahe was
etfl under government control when
the are broke out this morning.
GETS NEW DUTTES.