The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-14
SISTER Of KING
IN STORMS GRASP
Fearful Ten Hours Off Gil
bralter for Princess
Louise
MAN BOATS AND
REACH LIGHTHOUSE
Through Terrific Rain and
High Seas Safety IS =.
Gained by Royal
SeafarerS

GIBRALTAR, Dec. 13.--After a
never-to be-torgotten twelve hours.
in which were experienced all the
perils of a shipwreck, the hazard of
rescue, long trip in an open boat
through terrific storm, and rough
voyage on the British cruiser I'm
piacable, which was sent to bring
them To haven of safety, King
Georges sister. the Princess Royal,
Louise. her husband, the Duke of
Fife, and their daughters arrived
here late tonight. and are now safe
iy in the royal suite at Government
House. Acre IS the Strait OF Gibral-
tar, the Peninsula and Occidental
liner Delhi, on which the royalties
and a number of American tourists
were proceeding &c Egypt for the
winter, is hard and fast on the rocks
near Cape Spartel. all her passengers,
however. being safe.
It was still dark this morning
when the Delhi, having lost her bear
ings in the dense fog, was blown by
terrific gale. on the rocky shores
of Cape Spartel The passengers were
all In their cabins when the boat
hit. and the first warning they had
of any danger was when the big liner
began pounding. There was almost
"a u.
the ship were prompt IN their action,
and soon succeeded in calming the
fears of the passengers, All of those
on board however. rushed into the
main saloon and attempted to go out
on deck. but were restrained by the
officers, who knew that their dan
ger would be only increased by open
ing the doors In the face OF the ter
,,hle storm. Finally. when the pas
sengers were convinced that the YES
sci was safe for time at least. near
" all returned to their cabins to
secure warmer clothing and make
preparations for abandoning the ship.
Life Boats Used.
The life be ats were at once man
ned and made ready. As soon as day
light had fought It's way through the
SIN offering fog. the Princess Royal
and her daughters, together with all
the other women and children on
board. were put into the boats and
the start made for shore. Time and
again II was feared that the terrible
swells would swamp the boats. and
groan after gre an went up from the
men assembled on the upper deck
many of them with their wives and
children in the disappearing boats
as a huge sea would lift the small
boats to the crest OF a giant wave
and an instant later sent it plunging
to a depth OF thirty feet to meet a
still larger swell. In the course OF
an hour or two they were landed at
a point Ave miles from Cape Spartel.
were driven through drenching rain
to the lighthouse, wet to the skin,
and were hurried to hotels In Tan
gier, where extra clothing was FUR
,,irhaA u,oa nagpgSNrv n admin
lister stimulants to manys Of the
frightened and exhausted women.
The life boats at once returned to
the wreck and with the aid furnished
by other boats. among them the life
boats Of the French cruiser Friant.
which had by that time arrived. all
other passengers were safely taken
from the Delhi and landed. 1t Is be-
lieved that the Delhi will be a COM
plete loss. as she lies in an expo sed
position. and the storm. which ia one
OF the worst experienced in years.
has whipped up sea that will soon
batter the boat to pieces. Prepare
tons were made to savage sucn
part Of the cargo as could be taken
off.
Wireless messages carried the news
OF the Delhis plight to the British
several members e the royal family
were on board. all was excitement
and hustle In q moment. The two
cruisers, the Duke Of Edinburgh and
the Duke OF Weymouth. were at once
dispatched to aid the stranded pas
sengers. The British ship London.
which was also in the vicinity OF Cape
Spartel, flashed word that she. too.
had picked up the wireless alarm
and was on her way at top speed TO
the Delhi The distance was nc
great and the Delhi was soon sur
rounded by boats, all aiding in res
cues
The ImplAcable was caught by
wireless and instructed to put in at
Tangier. Here the shipwrecked roy
alties, who had been cared for by
the British minister. were placed on
board.