New-York tribune., 1911-04-07
TUGS MOVE HER SLIGHTLY
Wind Shifts to East as Night
Falls, and It's Increasing Force
Causes Fears That Liner
May Not Be Floated.
LIFEsAvERs ABOARD VESSEL
Other Crews Stand by All Night, Ready
in Case Quick Action Is Necessary
Too Rough Last Night to Make
Transshipment in Small Boats
Deeirable-Tugs Rush to Aid
of Stranded Steamer.


The North German Lloyd liner Prime
zoss Irene. from Naples. went aground
in the fog off Lone Hi lfesaving sta
ton. Fire Island. at 6:1j a. m. yester-
day. At 80 O'Clock this morning tugs
had pulled her off about - degrees from
her broadside position on the beach.
There appeared 10 be little hope Of drag
ging her clear as the tide had begun to
cbb soon after | O'Clock.
The wind shifted to the east about 10
=. m and blew at about twenty miles
an hour. According to later reports. the
wind is increasing and has kicked up
a had surf. The Princess Irene has on
heard 235 cabin and 4 49, steerage pas
sengers and 2.7S0 tons of cargo. 1t 10
planned TO take the passengers on this
morning on the Prinz Friedrich WILL
helm. now in port. which will leave
here this morning at Z o'clock.
Her position last night was practically
broadside to the beach, about a mile
and a half east of the Lone Hill lite-
saving station and about three lundred
wards off shore Soundings were made
around the vessel. and it is believed that
fully three quarters OF her 30 feet are
embedded in the sand.
The activity of the high surf. II was
said ashore late last night Is neipiAs
the big liner to drive her 1o,Wo tons OK
bulk deeper into the sand. The shittins
NJ the wind from south southwest 10
east is not likely to be OF any adNa"-
"a ge TO the vessel. the stern OF wnich -
resting in only about fifteen feet OF wa
ter. Observers from shore declared tnat
her starboard propeller could pe see"
plainly when the big combers rolied ny
her toward the sea.
The long delay in getting the Irene
clear has caused much Anxiety 10 'iioSe
on board. and were il not for the ciose
attention of the lfesavers on shore anu
on the vessel il is believed that there
would be something more than anxiety
The first knowledge any one on shore
had Of the plight Of the Irene was when
Hill Station, patrolling the peach a'
about s:l5 a. m. heard the blasts from
the vessels whistle. As the day orohe
he WAS able TO make out the contour VI
the liner. and sent out alarms right away
~ the stations at Point of the Woods 10
tho west and Blue Point. 10 the cast
Lifesavers Ready for Work.
The men from the Lone Hill station.
Under command Of Captain George Coz
dard. got out their beach cart ana
breeches buoy, and part OF the ere"
went out 10 the stranded vessel IN ire
boat Meanwhile the crews from 'he
other stations assembled on the beacn at
MACE near the Irene and wigwagged 70
the men on board. Just before dark inc
Ifesayers on board signalled that they
would stay aboard all night, ana the
men on shore replied that they wouid
keep in touch throughout the night ana
morning from shore.
The presence of the lifesayers ana tho
proximity of five powerful tugs maze .'io
Messengers feel bit more comfortaoie
as night came on. Shortly after III p. M
tho Merritt Chapman wreckins tug Re
uef and the |. j. Merritt, OF the same
company. took out hawsers from '"o
stern. making ready to haul. the liner
seaward with the tide. which would Do
full at midnight.
While the lifesavers were pacing inc
beach a card foated ashore from the
stranded steamer and was picked up py
Harry Hildebrand. OF Sayville. En-
eraved on one side was the name OF MIS-.
Monroe F. Ellis. and on the back. written
! in penciI. was Mrs. Anna S. Wey. NO.
a West 18th street" and Mrs. Iait'
Penn Yam. ~ Y"
one of the lifesavers declared last
night that the Irene was Lying easy
but that the high surf and the twenty
| mile blow from the east would hinder
rather than help her.
IF II became necessary to take on
passengers tonight in this surf he de-
clared, something serious would hap
per | should hate to take fifteen or
twenty people in one OF these boats in
the surf that is running now BY all
odds the passengers are safer aboard the
vessel than they would be if We at
tempted To take them ashore"
Good Weather in Atlantic.
The Princess Irene cleared the Strait
OF Gibraltar on March 81 She had fairly
good weather across the Atlantic. until
she came near TO port. after midnight
Wednesday. when she encountered fog.
She reported herself as S73 miles east Of
Sandy Hook at 6 o'clock that morning.
When the mist shut down upon her
Captain Won Letten Petersen. her mas
ter. reduced his speed and picked his
way slowly toward Sandy Hook. II Is
believed that the mist had so enveloped
the liner that those on the bridge were
not absolutely sure OF their bearings for
"A wireless message from the vessel sent
out before she grounded gave her posi-
tion as abeam Fire Island Light At S: so
A. m A few minutes later the men on