The Washington herald., 1909-06-13

Punta Delgsda. The Azores. June Il
Miraculous In the extreme was the escape
OF the 40 passengers OF the Cunard liner
slavonia. which struck on the reefs OF
Flores Island. early Thursday. according
TO the meager advices that are altering
through.
A wireless can Tor aid. sent winging
through the air. and picked up by the
operator OF the Princess Irene. 80 miles
from the scene. brought that vessel
through the haze that hung over the
Islands at top speed ana she reached the
wreck Just as It became certain 70 Capt.
Dunning that the water that was pouring
through the jagged. cruel holes in the
steel hun was making headway against
hfs pumps. although they were being
worked al top speed and the food was
closing in on the engine room 50 fast the
pumps were sure soon 10 be rendered
useless
Heard &C. q. D." CAN.
The operator IN charge Of the wireless
apparatus on the steamer Princess Irene
telegraphed that at noon Thursday he re-
eeived the can &C. Q. D." the wireless
signal OF distress.
The place Of the wreck was designated
I BY the wireless operator on the Slavonia
after he had received the Princess Irene's
answer 70 his call for help. The steamer
/ Batavia also received the cal ar the same
/ time and both vessels fastened 10 the
rescue.
They reached the Slavonia late at night
and found her on TIRE rocks two niles
south of Flores. Arrangements were al
once made for the transfer OF the pas
sengers on the wrecked steamer and this
work occupied the rest OF the night L
being accomplished without a single ao-
cident 10 either the rescuers OF the
rescued.
I The trained boat crews CT the stricken
vessel and those from the big German
liner worked until completely exhausted.
and their efforts were aided by the men
from the Batavia. Il was a 6iEcult
task. as the steerage passengers on the
Cunarder were IN a state OF panic
Passengers' Losses Heavy.
The Official messages coming TIN ough
/ indicate that the frst-cabin passengers
we're badly frightened. but they were
/ reassured by the officers OF the vessel.
and most OF them saved their valuables
and their hand baggage. although the
trunks are lost
\ Il is understood the Batavia was COM
|pelied 10 land the s1eerage passengers at
/ Velas. on Flores Island, but this IS not
confirmed fully. The crew IS now there.
and tugs chartered BY the Cunard agent
are en- route 20 care for them
The understanding here is that + was
I growing dusk when the Irene arrived IN
I the vicinity OF the wrecked SlavonIa- She
had made the 80 miles ar top speed. and
en- route all OF her big ufeboats had been
swung loose. ready 70 be put into use at
a seconds notice Capt von Lettem-
Peterson was compelled % keep his yes
sci well away from the SlavOnia because
OF the nature OF the spot, which Is very
rocky. and because Of the treacherouS
currents that swirl about the island En-
route he had been fully informed OF the
conditions that prevailed on board the
vessel: that she was taking water faster
than her pumps could care for Il. and
]
that she was on the reefs IN such a
manner that she was IN imminent danger
Of having her back broken as she rose
and fell with the waves.
Passengers Await Rescue.
He sent word by wireless that he would
take the passengers or without delay.
and maneuversd his vessel as close 10
the doomed ship as possible.
In the meanwhile the frst-class PAS
sengers had been assembled on The saloon
deck with their hand baggage. The
women and children were IN the front
rank. and on signal from the Irene the
ships boats were dropped into the water
as soon as the German vessel had been
placed
While the Hungarian crew OF the yes
SCI were lowering and filing their boats.
Co-fF,uea N p,r-e z roY,-,--