greatnorthern

This is a breeches buoy, presumably part of the adjacent Great Northern rescue operation.
"A breeches buoy is a crude rope-based rescue device used to extract people from wrecked vessels, or to transfer people from one location to another in situations of danger. The device resembles a round emergency personal flotation device with a leg harness attached."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breeches_buoy

See Swanq comment under

"Two lines have been placed aboard the ship and arrangements have been made to remove the passengers and crew in a breeches buoy should demand arise"

Thanks Art Siegel, we'll update our catalog record.

see

Thanks Seuss., for locating a previous Bain photo of this ship. We'll add that information to this photo's catalog record.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Northern_Pacific_(1914)

254 Taken From Transport Before Night Ends Work; By Means Of A Ferry Line Wounded Reach Shore From Northern Pacific. Three Lifeboats Capsize Soldiers Drenched In Icy Water, But No One Is Injured By Mishaps. Those On Board All Safe Hospital And Private Homes Of Bay Shore Ready To Care For All The Rescued. Men In No Danger. 254 Taken From Stranded Ship Ready For The Rescue. Bonfires On The Beach. Indian Trooper Capsized. query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A02E3DC1231E433A...

The ship was the USS Northern Pacific and the date was 1 January 1919.

Presumably en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Northern_Pacific_(1914)

Very similar to www.navsource.org/archives/12/1217998115.jpg "In Drydock No. 3 at the New York Navy Yard while undergoing repairs after her 1 January 1919 grounding off Fire Island. She was in drydock from 11 February to 10 May 1919. Note that the ship's armament has been removed. She has been partially repainted, but some of her World War I "dazzle" camouflage pattern is still visible on her forward superstructure. U.S. Navy photo NH 44747" www.navsource.org/archives/12/179981.htm