The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-09
SAVING YES Sci
DOUBTFUL TASK
Strength Of Princess Irene Is
Being Tried to the
Utmost.
MAY BREAK IN TWO
Captain Himself Was on Bridge
When She Ran
Aground.
MAY BREAK IN TWO.
lSpccial 10 The Times Dispatch.l

Especial 10 The Times Dispatch.l
New York, April S.--Captain Won
Letten Peterssen's own story OF the
voyage or the Princess Irene Which
ended ut dawn Thursday on the sands
captain himself was on the bridge
when the vessel struck. with Second
Officer kocnnickc and Fourth Oi1icer
Nessering. but they were fifteen miles
+ north or the course believed 10 have
been set, Five minutes before the
Irene stranded the captain believed he
was passing seven miles south ot Fire
Island Light, and sent two men into
the crows hest to which for the
beacon.
The low. sandy spit which separates
Great South Bay from tic ocean, was
admittedly taken for strip OF heavy
fog, with the result that the snip.
With more than 5000 persons on board
including the crew. heaved into the
sands ut full speed with the same sen
sation that IL toboEgan mounts q,
slight elevation in its course and then
stops with a bump.
The water ballast was Immediately
discharged in an effort to get back
into deep going. but the Irene would
not heed the straining OF her power
fn engines. and was so high up on
the beach tina she listed forty-ny de-
Srces 10 seward. 1t was this that so
greatly frightened the 1920 pnsscn.
gers, who knew there had been an nc
cident but were helpless under bat
tened matches and between closing
hulkheads. they felt the ever IN
creasinE listing. which made them be-
lieve the ship was turning turtle The
Irene was righted by the force or the
sand driven in BY the surf
The Princess Irene now lies further
fhan ever up on the beach, resting
omidship on the inner bar. her nose
deep IN the sand and her stern in
clear water. With every swell shr
lifts and rocks Oh her bar. The great
strain Is trying hcr strength, ana if
heavN sea should run there is a
probahiity Of her breaking in two.
!. Doubtful Task.
Even under most favorablo we,,,,o.
conditions the saving OF tho Princnss
irene is Very doubtful task All &c.
'orts 10 improve her position hnyc
mus Tar proved u,lavniling
respite the expected belief OF az
ports that it Will he Impossible to haul
the irene off the sand there was
cheering bit Of news late to day.
/, an officer from the revenue cutter
mohawk returned from the Irene and
reportcd that the lrcnc's stern had
been hauled two more degrees seward
py me tugs. and that possibly she was
moved q little astcrn from her sandy
Imprisonment. #
with this good news that the shin
nad been moved q little tho company
decided immediately to sing heavier
anchors seward and double tic length
OF he former cables.
Thar there was not serious panic
and 8 loss or life in the steerage was
Cue 70 the quick work Of Captain En-
resta Menza. the representative Of the
itshan government assigned 10 the
Irene As soon as it was possible cart.
Msnza hurried from compartment, TO
compartment ana told his country
men III their native language that they
We're safe, although the ships officers
dld not know the exact location Of the
vessel or her condition until many
hours later This officer has been voted
by all the one hero OF the situation.
The transfer Of the passengers Of
the grounded ship 10 the Prinz Fried