Towlines to Rudderless Vessel Three Times Parted The story of how the str. Bessie Dollar was rescued in mid-Pacific, after she had lost her rudder, the U. S. Shipping Board freighter Pomona, was told on Monday after the latter steamer arrived in port. Captain Thomas Johnson of the Pomona, who has sailed the Pacific for more than a score of years, paid a glowing tribute to his crew for their heroism during the 14 days his vessel had the Bessie Dollar in tow. On the night of February 4, the Pomona picked up wireless distress signals from the Bessie Dollar stating that her rudder had been carried away and was at that time about 100 miles distant, and approximately 2,000 miles from Yokohama. Captain Johnson steamed under forced draught to the stricken vessel, sighting her in the forenoon of the following day. A heavy sea was running and great difficulty was experienced in getting a tow line across to the Bessie Dollar.
Captain Johnson maneuyred the Pomona as close as possible and then drifted a "catch" line to leeward which was picked up after considerable difficulty. A stout manila hawser was then attached and made fast round the Bessie Dollar's forward anchor chain bitts. In a similar manner a second line was sent across and_ shortly before nightfall the Pomona headed toward Yokohama. Before dawn the day following both wind and sea had freshened considerably and the Pomona was foreed to reduce her speed to a bare eight knots, but despite this precaution, first one tow line snapped, and an hour later the second one parted. Although Captain Johnson did his utmost to get another tow line across, his efforts proved fruitless and as darkness came on he signalled that he would stand by until dawn when another attempt would be made. By morning both wind and sea had abated considerably and it was possible fo float another line across to the Bessie Dollar which was made fast.
During the next three days all went well, but on the night of February 8 this third tow-line snapped duc to chafing against the Pomona's stern chocks. On February 9, the Bessie Dollar sent two lines across to the Pomona which were again made fast and the vessels proceeded on their course. Additional men of the Pomona's crew stood watch to lessen the strain on the lines as much as possible, but even this precaution was useless since both ropes parted again. The wind increased in force, attaining a velocity of 80 miles an hour, which made any chance of floating another tow line across out of the question. It was not until 18 hours later that the Bessie Dollar was again taken in tow and on the night of February 17 was about 1,200 miles off Kobe, when both Jines again snapped. This time
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.