The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05
PRINCETON HAS
CLOSE CALL ON
WILLAPA BAR
Cruiser Bound for Central Amer
ica Swept Through Break
ers by Fierce Tempest
Vessel Is DeIuged With Heavy
Seas and Thought Doomed
When Keel Hits Bank

rooms and cabins and made cheerless
mess generally an over the lower deck.
For a time ii seemed to those on deck
that the vessel was doomed. The in
slant the vessel struck Captain Hayes
realized where he was and rockets
were sent up as signals Of distress.
The life saving station answered the
signals. but could lend no help. The
Princeton. however, was not doomed
70 destruction on Willapa bar. The
Breakers that threatened TO destroy the
ship finally boosted her over the bar
and few minutes later the cruiser
was at anchor in smooth water.
A pilot boarded the cruiser next
morning and when told by Captain
Hayes that the Princeton had 'just
dropped in" to set away from the
storm outside declared that the cruiser
was The only vessel that had ever
safely performed that feat
CRUISER ESCAPES DAMAGE
A thorough examination of the ship
by divers showed that the, cruiser had
sustained absolutely no damage and
Wednesday morning the 3voyage was
resumed. Comparatively fine weather
favored the ship for the remainder Of
The N-oya ge and at o'clock yesterday
morning the Princeton anchored off
California City.
After q king on stores and about $50
IONS OF coal the cruiser viii proceed 20
CorintO calling at Acapulco for final
orders. The Princeton VIII sail prob
ably early this morning and the run 10
h.rl- 7. mil -r1 ~ pfghf Ia
AS TO his share In the Nicarag guam
campaign Captain Hayes has nothing to
SAY
"The Princeton" he said yesterday,
''Was put into commission for the pur-
pose of relieving the Vicksburg on the
Central American coast
KNOWS REVOLUTION BELT
Except that we were ordered away
sn = good deal of a hurry we are, for
anything I know TO the contrary. mere
1y going down there TO take up the
Nicksburg's work. duty that was in
view for as when it was decided TO put
she ship into commission.
Captain Hayes has put in FIVE years
on the lower coast already and knows
The revolution belt like a book. He
was on the Hartford during the trou-
ble fla Peru and was on the Yorktown
with Admiral Evans during Fighting
Bob's strenuous visit TO Chile
The Princeton was out OF commission
Tor more than three years. The little
Tvarship rates as third class cruiser
and carries 15S men. 1t has been
equipped with a powerful wirsless ap-
paratus and an up 10 date outfit for
rapid signaling at night.
The Princeton's officers are: Captain
&. H. Hayes. Lieutenant L f. lands,
Paymaster Kutz, Doctor Casio, En-
signs Shute, +. r. King, P. H. McCrary
and Gifin.
Transport Prairie Still Aground
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. with near
IS all her coal and great quantities Of
ler stores on lighters the transport
Prairie is still fast tonight in the mud
fats of Pea Patch island, where she
grounded Thursday night while speed
ing down the Delaware river on her
way TO Central America
Another attempt. the third since she
became fast. was made al food tide this
afternoon to float the vessel, but she
was not moved. The big transport is
Embedded FIVE or six feet in the soft
river bottom and il is now believed that
her cargo viii have 10 be taken off be-
fore there win be a chance to free
her
The officers and 700 marines on board
The Prairie are chahng at the delay in
getting away, but are working vigor-
ously 10 help float the ship. The ma
rines have been put to good use in
lightering the vessel
The work Of preparing the transport
Dixie, now at the navy yard. has pro
gressed so far that the ship can sail
within a few hours to take the Prairie's
place.
Mexico Is Neutral
CITY OF MEXICO, Dec. 4-Mexico
has done nothing SO far in regard to
The Nicara guam matter. II is taking
sides neither with Nicaragua nor the
United States.