Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-10
PhenomenaI|y High Tide, Unex.
pected, Works Wonders.
Steamer Though 10 Have Sus-
tanned but Tritfhng Damage.
Capt. Peterssen's Fine Record Will
Probably Save Berth.

~NC" yin, <tPl IL -bSeiiIs iio WIS.,
1ble scars except a shattered rudder
post. the North German Lloyd Liner
Princes Irene slipped away from Fire
Island this afternoon as unexpectedly
as she ran aground in the fog on
Thursday morning. After So hours of
imprisonment in the sand off the Lone
Hill Life Saving station, she cheated
the graveyard of the Atlantic" and
was fioated with the aid of tugs at
3.05 T. NJ. At $40 she left in tow for
Scotland Light, practically at the en-
trance of New York harbor, 10 an
Choir for the night.
Tomorrow morning the Irene will
come up to her dock and after divers
have examined her hull she will be
rushed to Newport News for more
thorough examination in dry dock Her
stay there will depend upon what this
inspection discloses. The vessel has
not taken drop Of water, however
and her plates are thought to be in
tact.
The North German Lloyd has been
Retcd for its kindly leniency towards
~1scientious commanders who have
mishaps and as the veteran Petersen
OF the Princess Irene will take his
ship back across the Atlantic under
her own steam, substantially undam-
aged. 1t is the assumption here among
those who profess to know. that Pet
ersen's personal grief will be his chief
punishment. He has had "a fawless
and notable record, heretofore, and
i'll New York steamship circles it is
believed that if his explanation of
the grounding
tory. his reprimand will not be severe.
To the life savers who followed the
work which was done to save the
Princess Itene, her sudden floating
today was a great surprise. Captain
George Z. Goddard of the Lone Hill
station was astounded. In his opinion
1t was "a miracle of good luck" other
wise an unusually high tide, stirred
up by southeasterly storm at sea.
Two hours before the water was
due to its full height, the ship which
had been stationary for three DAYS.
was seen to rock in the swelling tide
and 20 minutes later her bow rose
slightly. The powerful wreckng tugs
Relief aud Rescue were pulling vail
antly on her stern to both starboard
and port, and the Irene's donkey en-
gines We're straining at the cables
which were caught in kedge anchors
to the seaward. At 1903 the anchor
cables began to slacken, first sign that
the big ship would free herself from
the sandpit. Another pull and her
stern was free in 80 feet of water
and at 3.12 the six feet of the ships
red belly which had shown while she
stuck in the sand, dwindled to a mar
row ribbon of red as she slid away in
to deeper water. She was afIoat.
The red flag which she had hoisted
early in the afternoon as signal
for the tugs to start the hull, was
hauled down and the German ensign
run UP. She gave one big blast of ioy
with her siren and the tugs whistled
their shriller congratulations The life
savers stood on the beach open mouth
ed with establishment and the 200 odd
on.ookers who had gathered from the
Long Island ports waved hats and
hanikerchiefs.
Meanwhile the tugs Nichols and
Timmons. which had been standing by,
set their stub noses against the Irenc's
bow sides and edged her into still
deeper water. She lay to until it was
made certain that she was still sea-
worthy. and was cautiously lowed away
to the west. Her engines were in good
working order but 1t was feared that
the propellers might foul the shattered
rudder and towing was resorted to as
Wisest. Two additional tugs acted as
rudders and steadied her at the stern
At sunrise the big ships superstruc-
ture was covered with a blanket of
snow three inches deep. During the
ADNm the shot line" which the Lone
Mil men had put aboard the ship in
case it was necessary to use the
Dreechcs buoy, parted and mortar
was hauled abreast the ship this morn
ing, ready to put another line aboard.
The revenue cutter Mohawk, which
mad been standing by. left as an escort
10 the Irene as she departed. The cut
Ter Seneca had left the scene earlier.