The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-10
AWFUL EXPERIENCE
m. TAFTsS NAMnB0w ESCAPE
 FROM DROWNING.
en. wa Aboard snsan Tender During Fierce storm At isea-Boat Nearly DxIveA Agafnst
 The R0cks.

On Board the steamer Presioent Grant. in the English Channel Dec s.. by wiriess Telegraph to London-Mrs. Taft. wife of the American secretary of War, joined her husband on board this steamer early this morning at Boulogne. On the trip out on harbor. tender, the party had an exceedingly narrow escape from wreck and disaster.
 Mrs. Tan, SITS. George Post Wheeler, wife or the Second Secretary of the American Embassy at Tokio, and the other passengers for the President Grant Boarded the tender Holland last nleht within the harbor works al Boulogne Very heavy seas were run ming outside and this delayed the de. parture of the Gender. but at half past one this morning, 1t being supposed that the President Grant was inside the break water, the Holland started out to take the passengers alongside.
 Soon after the leaving, 1t was discov- cred that the President Grant mad not come inside. The Holland got caught in the heavy seas. A giant wave broke her rudder and the small tender drifted tossed about on the waves like cork and rolled almost on her beam ends l. There was danger of capsizing or peins dashed upon the rocks. The passengers were thrown about in every direction. 1. Mrs. Taft and Mrs. Wheeler were CT0ucnlnk III Ln6 GaptaAhs Q Ne>.AA
 some fixtures above them came down with . crash. Fortunately, they were not injured.
 Near the light house the Holland managed to get grip with an anchor. and this, improved the situation. Re- pairs were hurriedly made. The Prest- dent Grant came in at o'clock and the messengers from the tender were transferred without further incident
 Among those who came on on the Holland were M. Rischmann, sub-pre- feet of Cologne, who greeted Secretary Taft in the name of France. The sub prefect expressed his regret at the H. timed start of the Holland.
 Secretary Taft made an appropriate reply. expressing his deep appreciation of the consideration of the French xovernment and regretting that the change of plans made 1t neceksary Tor him to asandon his proposed visit to
 The President Grant is eight hours behind her time on account of the storm. After taking on the Holland passengers the President Grant sailed for Plymouth.
 rhe experience on board the Holland came as the continuation to day or much discomfort and some danger. Mrs Taft and Mrs, Wheeler arrived al Boulogne Sunday at noon. They were
 
 States Consul Miner. In the alter noon the ladies went shopping. As they were coming out of store, a large glass window was broken by the force of wind and crashed down to the sidewalk at their feet. Fortunately both of the ladies escaped injury.
 The trip out on the tender Holland was a terrifying experience. There were forty passengers on board. The night was very wild The women among the passengers were terrified and every one thought that the tender would be driven against the rocks and ali hands lost When the Holland first threw her anchor it would not hold and the waves broke over the tender as she dragged her hook. Another an. chor wa sthrown out and finally one oi them caught and the tender swung to The crew then set to work desperately to fix the rudder.
 While Mrs. Taft and Mrs. Wheeler were alarmed, they were calm. The President Grant finally moved in behind Rhe brakewater and the passengers were transferred. The President Grant carried away an achor during thii n1afeuyer, which was most dangerous on account of the narrowness of the rhanneI. The passengers on the tender by the time they got on board the President Grant, were completely ex- Aausted by the strain and fright.
 The first lines thrown from the biz pteamer to the Holland parted one after mother and the tender had to take her position again and again. Finally a line held long enough for the transfer ,f passengers to be made. The tender then steamed away through the heavy YeaS.