Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-08

Life saving officers who inspected
his log say the entries show that his
engines We're turning up - knots al
hour in spite Of the dense fog. III,
WAS taking somdings regularly, but
an Indication of his speed is given
in the fact that the latest cast Of
} his lead gave him IS fathoms depth.
level not be found within half 4
mile to sea OF the point NJ which he
grounded He has been brave and
capable officer. conspicuously decor
atrd for bravery at sea, and he feels
| his position kccnly.
There WAS little sleep for the pas
+! sengcrs aboard the Princess Irene last
night and this morning the hours were
! hanging heavy on their hands. Not
! withstanding the natural uneasiness.
! however, nearly all bore themselves
with courage. especially the wo:ncn
who displayed remarkable cool head
ed gaiety, Some of them played
bridge. other sat at the piano and
sang and q few went to bed as usual
| but the greater part sat up all night
watching Il lowering sky ia.d wonder
ing ii freshening wind would yet
! prove gale. At sunrise their fears
were Gained. when it was seen that
the wind showed signs of veering
fron the dangerous southwest into a
E; favorable northwest
The hours dragged on with the tugs, the
revenue cutter Mohawk and the derelict
destroyer Seneca lowering about unable
to offer assistance and there was no sign
to the watchers on shore of the relief
ship Prinz Frederick from New York. al
though the busy wireless had informed
the ships officers that she was heading
| their way.
| The first indication that this news had
been received ON board the Princess Irene
was at 11.45 \. NJ, when a string of flags
broke out at the forepeak reading: IF
| l. which in the international code means
| send boats suitable to carry passengers" :"
| Immediately there was hustle on board
the Seneca and the Mohawk. Before they
| had put off any boats. however, another
| string of flags ran up spelling this time:
IS Q. r. or "off the land" Evidently
| it was intended to summon all available
, small boats from shore and Ships in at
/ tendance.
The guess was right, for a minute later
the boats swung out from shore towards
the Seneca and Mohawk
Almost at the same moment the Prinz
Friedrich Wilhelm began to rise rapidly
above the horizon
Although heavy ground swell was
| pounding into nasty. surge onto the
| beach, the Lone Hin made a pretty
! launching sswas ever seen at Fire island
without shipping drop' Captain Frank
! Rorke Of Blue Point, who followed had
no such luck. His boat was washed back
broadside to the beach by roaring
comber that filled her TO the gunwales
He had to haul her ASHORE dump the
| water and put out again. this time with
better success.
! Meanwhile the starboard bow of the
| Princess Irene began to show signs of
| life. A rope loaded with wooden rungs
was thrown over the side, followed by a
companionway. The first passenger off
a woman OF the steerage-had a goodish
drop from the ladder to the lifeboat and
had to be spry at leaping. She was bun
died down at just 123o and handed into
the stern sheets. Tenderly her baby was
passed from hand to hand after her until
she held it safely.
BY this time the Prinz Friedrich was
standing five miles out. headed northwest
into the wind and working slowly shore
ward, She crept in as far as she dared
and then dropped anchor. Astern of the
Princess Irene were the Mohawk and the
Seneca. half mile out. The two tugs
that later were to do duty as ferries lay
dead astern of the stranded ship.
At l2.45 the first lifeboat put out
a.. l,,l.
At o'clock the tide had risen far
enough to be of some service and the
tug Timmons seeing her chance. slip
ped under the stern of the Irone's great
hulk and was Immediately in safe and
comparatively smooth lee water From
THAT moment the work of transfer was
lgrcatly expedited. The tug Nichols
followed the Timmons and on" lifeboat
lsucceeded another until there were IL
iof them clustered about the ship and
tugs.
| At l50 the after r-eompanionWay fol-
cabin passengers was lowered within
reach of the roof OF the Timmons
cabin, and descending passengers step
lped on board the tug direct. Twenty
minutes later she had a full load and
headed for the Prinz Friedrich. The
work of transferring the passengert
now went on with precision and al.
most with automatic smoothness. 1
took about Is minutes to load tug
10 minutes tor her journey to the re.
lief ship, and Is minutes to unload her
Two tugs alternated and befor
nightfall all the rejoicing passenger
were safe on the Prinz Friedrich
4 Wilhelm. Shortly after 0 o'clock sh
hoisted her anchor and headed for Nev
York.
For the passengers it had been a
experience full of alarm. but the
seemed to appreciate the adventure Oh
the beach, si.htseers squatted by ope