The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-02
NEW SHIP
HOOOOOED
Death and Suicide on
Princess Irene.
MAIDEN TRIP. !.
Chief Officer Dies From Injury By
Hawser Breaking and Steward
browns Himself.

YOKOHAMA, Dec. 20.-The North !
German Lloyd steamer Princess Irene, :
which is making her maideA-trip to
the East, and which is due TO arrive
in Yokohama tomorrow, has had
somewhat eventful voyage. The Chi
ma Mail states that on the morning
of the 29th of November, about l
O'Clock, while experimenting the
mooring cf the vessel on her arrival
in Colombo harbor, the chief officer,
Mr.. Hellemann, was knocked dewn by
the hawser, which snapped from the
strain in bringing the steamer up to
the buoy. His right leg was badly
fractured. the muscles and arteries
being SO torn that the unfortunate
man lost a considerable amount of
blood before receiving prompt surgical
aid. In addition to the ships doctor,
there were two medical officers on
board ON their way to China. To them
it was apparent at once that the acci-
dent was serious one. In order that
the patient should receive every posi-
BILE chance of recovering, after first
aid had been rendered, he was trans
ported to the hospital in Colombo,
where the leg was amputated above
the knee. Relatively speaking, con-
siderable time had elapsed between the
moment of the accident and the coma
pietion ofvthe operation, threeSor four
hours, and M4I4 Hellemann had SUI
fered so much from the shock that he
never rallied, and finally succumbed
His remains were buried later in the
day, the funeral being attended by
Captain Victim, many of the passen-
gers, the ships band and as many of
| the crew as could be spared, as well
as a detachment of German soldiers on
| their way to China The deceased OIL
GER, who was very popular on board,
was only thirty-eight years OF age, and
was making his last voyage as chief
officer, previous to taking up the COM
mand of one Of the company's steam
ers. He leaves a widow and two child
! rem to mourn his untimely death. The
! incident cast deep gloom over the
passengers, and Captain Victim felt
/ very keenly the loss of such an able
and trustworthy officer. Mr.. Helle-
mann was an officer in the German
naval reserve.
Two days out from Colombo, in the
! Bay of Bengal, another incident occur
ed to deepen the gloom of the passen-
gers. The band had just finished
playing, and the passengers were
about to sit down to the midday meal,
| when one of the stewards jumped
/ overheard from the after part of the
| steamer Several of the passengers
witnessed the affair, and one young
fellow, a Dane, with great presence of
mind, dropped a lifebuoy a few yards
from the man, and was only restrain
ed from jumping overheard to his res
cue by representations that the man
was insane, and his gallantry might
only result in the loss OF another life.
At the time the steamer was travelling
at the rate of about sixteen knots per
hour and the man and the three life
buoys were rapidly left astern- The
1 steamer was promptly turned round,
and a boat was launched, but no trace
of the unfortunate man was found.
For few minutes after jumping over
board he was seen to float, and, had
he been so disposed he could easily
have reached the first buoy thrown
to him. But he made no attempt to do
SO, and threw up his hands and dis
appeared The case was one OF delib-
, ate and premeditated suicide On the
, previous night he had complained OF
| being tired of the work on board, and
i spoke Of his desire to be finished with
it ALL He was from twenty to twenty
, five years of age, of a CHEEKY disposi-
, ton rather than otherwise, and was
well liked by the passengers with
whom he came in contact. He was a
, capable musician, and played the cello
, in the band.
, It may be mentioned that the Prin-
} zess Irene is a sister ship of the well
: known Koenig Albert, and also has
been built by the Vulcan Wharf al
{ Bredow, near Stettin. She has ac-
] commodation for 300 passengers oi
; first class, 100 of second class, and
| she can take up 200 passengers OF the
third class The crew numbers 20s
men. all told Provided with twin
screws and powerful double engines
the vessel is expected to attain a speed
/, of fifteen knots, and as she has side
keel on each =ida her gtahf'ity alst
will be very satisfactory, so she vii
prove a frst-rate passenger boat.
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