New-York tribune., 1911-04-07

esleep felt crunching sound as her Keel
rubbed the sandy shoal and knew at once
that she was aground.
Instantly the engines were STOPPED. A
minute later the twin screws were re-
versed at full speed but it avaiied noth-
ing. The Irene was hard and fast broad
eide on the sand bar and faced reced-
ing tide BY way of comfort TO those IN
charge of her gentle surf rolled up
against her starboard side and confirmed
their belief. if continuation were neces-
sary. that she was wedged well into the
shoal
The engines we're sent again at fuii
speed astern but the liner did not bulge.
When this had been repeated several
times Captain Won Letten-Peterssen de-
cided that the best thing he could 90
was to send a wireless call for tugs At
1:45 a. m. the local office Of the line
had dispatched two Of the Merri't-
Chapman wrecking tugs 10 the strand
ed vessel Practically at the same hour
the derelict destroyer Seneca ana the
revenue cutter Mohawk put out from
ICmDklNSNlit lOi i-oiC Ai-'i'
When the fog cleared away the men
on the bridge looked toward shore ana
found that they were only about three
hundred yards off shore and withih
plain sight Of the Lone Hill hfesaVihs
station, which is about ten miles east
of the Fire Island Light. The stopping
of the engines and the hustle OF the
crew on deck awakened the passengers
who fiocked out on deck without much
careful dressing 10 learn that they laoeu
ar indefinite sojourn on the beach' 1here
was some alarm among the passengers
a, first but the ships officers soon al
layed anxiety by the assurance thaI
there was no danger. The skipper al
though worried over the mishap TO hlS
ship. assumed an unconcern that Kept up
the courage of the passengers.
After the failure of the tugs 10 move
the Princess Irene at high water yesteT-
dav the Merritt Chapman company"lred
IN Norfolk. Va, for the big wrecking
tug Rescue. Word came back that sie
had started in the afternoon and wouid
nrohablv reach the Irene by noon TO-
dav. The serious view taken OF 'he
situation by the wrecking company was
further proved when it chartered the
powerful seagoing tug John j. Timmins
for two days at $3.50 day.
Plans for the Passengers.
Wireless reports sent from the stranded
sh,o last night told Of the high surf ana
the shift of the wind; and the posi-
bintv o. an increase of danger in taking
the passengers through the surf. Inc
line was then' confronted with the pos
sihle risk cG taking the passengers 10
New York through rough sea on
barges.
After summing mp the situation her
man Winter. Of the North German Lloyd
Line. decided that the lest and safest as
well as the most convenient way OF
Transporting the passengers % the city
would he by steamship. He lSen or
dered the liner Prinz Friedrich VIII
helm. now in port. 10 make ready u
leave for Fire Island at { a. m. to-day.
Captain Prehn was ordered TO take the
Prinz Friedrich out as close as possible
10 the stranded Irene and await the
transfer. Lighters were sent out last
night. and will be in readiness 10 trans
fer passengers and baggage TO the Prinz
Friedrich The Prinz friedrich Wilhelm
will stop al Quarantine and take one OF
Health officer Doty's men TO examine
the ship. If she has clean bill or
health the Customs officials. who will 90
aboard the Prinz Friedrich at Hobokea
before she sails, will he permitted TO go
aboard and attend to the baggage Of
the cabin passengers. II is expected
that the Prinz Friedrich will land the
Messengers Of the Irene in Hoboken
late this afternoon.
a late report from Lone Hill lfesaving
station said that the pounding Of the
surf had caused the Irene to roll. 1t was
said ashore that that would not alone
bury her deeper in the sand. but would
probably spring some Of her lower plates.
II is contepded, however. that the Irene
would have 10 he punctured in many
places before she could fill with water.
AS soon as her keel rolled into the sand
In the morning yesterday it is said every
watertight compartment door was closed.
In fact - had always been the custom Of
Captain Won Letten- Petersen TO close
his bulkhead doors whenever he en-
oountered fog, and it is believed that it
was done many hours before the Irene
grounded
The Princess took on most Of her pas
sengers at Genoa and Naples, A few
went aboard at Palermo and at Gibral-
tar. the liner clearing the latter port on
March q. Her cargo, which consisted
chiefly Of lemons. macaroni, silk, dive
oil, tale, straw braid and'wine. Will prob
ably have to be lghtered before she can
be drawn from the shoal. According to
the soundings taken by the tugs around
the Irene yesterday, there is depth Of
about forty feet some two hundred yards
off her stern.
lifesavers Feared New Fog.
The lfesavers were a trife uneasy
Yesterday lest another fog should come
up on the see. While the mist is usu-
ally accompanied by calm water. the