The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-23
ELM GROVE PRIEST
In TERRIFIC GALE
FATHER PFIEeER WAS eAssEn.
GA ON STEAMSHIP
iMPERATOR.
Returned Saturday FROM Sesera,
"9ntns STAY - esrope-Siwes
Thrilling Account e. Storm.

Rev. r. Pneeer. rector OF ~. Vim
cent de Pkuis Catholic church. at
Eim Grove. returned Saturday even
inE. nom Europe where h spent
several months visiting his former
ZONE and I'm special study Father
Pfieger resumed TO this county on
be giant steamer Imperator OF the
Hamburg American line. which
reached New York last Thursday
morning. after having been hit by a
terrific gale
Wireless messages have ALREADY
told something OF the big storm. on;
they were scant when compared with
me experiences related by Fathe~
ffieger upon his return In all his
experience. Capt. Thomas kier. the
seasoned mariner. Who commands the
Imperator. declared there never has
ottn such gale as swept the biz
steamship Friday. March l3 The
captain described II as a typhoon. al
though the word is applied usually
onIy 10 he big storms OF the eastern
seas. Through IL all. however, IN,
great liner remained steady.
As visible marks Of the storm.
Father Pfieger reported the big gilded
eagle on the prov OF the lmperator
was minus its wings. These. when
We're OF metal, were torn from the
main hsure and hurled back on the
o..
each side, We're wrenched from tho
davits and swept into the ocean. The
iofecas'le head was also smashed
Ship Was Reported Lost.
IN VIII be remembered the ship was
for time reported lost. II was the
sighting of one % the lifeboats BY
another steamship and her report of
II ny wireless that caused little ap-
Irehension for the lmperator before
her commander sent his own report
that everybody on board was well
The storm. Father Pfleger SAYS.
struck the lmperator about O'Clock
on the afternoon of March 13. II was
from the south and from wild gusts
ieaped TO gale OF 100 miles. Capt.
kier hove the liner TO at the begin
ming OF the storm and she lay that
way for six hours. Great waves
dashed over the vessel. which is the
lottiest OF liners. The spray swept
the captain and his fellow officers on
the bridge.
In all there were ASIA persons on
board the ship on her trim out. or
these 1852 were passengers. Out
side of few. however there was no
scare among the first cabin passenR-
ers. In the steerage there was some
commotion. but the ship was remark
ably steady through the height of the
storm.
i ne gaze Shlfted 10 the northwest
and lasted twenty-four hours. All
through that time the vessel shipped
heavy seas
Had DeIiahtfuI Trip.
Father Pfleger left for Europe lass
June. sailing from New York, June
Fl. on the steamer Finland. In con-
versation with an Intelligencer re-
porter yesterday he declared he had
2 delightful trip. He first visited
France. touring the northern section
OF that country. He was wonderfully
impressed. he said. with the fertility
of the country in the vicinity of Pa
de Calais. The land is practically
level. and coal mining Ia a great in
dustry.
He also spent some time at Alsace.
Germany, his former home. visiting
his father and mother. Later he Wis
tied Switzerland. spending some time
in the Alps. and also in northern
Italy.
Father PHeger spent six months in
house of the Marist Fathers. taking
up special studies relative to the
ministry. This was at Moncalieri.
near Turin.
While enroute home Father Pfleger
passed over the Alps montains. n
was springtime there. he said. and
though IL was the first of March,
flowers were in bloom and grass and
shrubbery were green in the low
lands, while higher in the mountains
could be seen banks OF snow. The
first day OF winter weather he ex-
perienced. he said. was when he
landed in New York. last Thursday.