STRANDING OF THE DELHI.

Mataura Ensign, 15 December 1911, Page 3

STRANDING OF THE DELHI.

PERILOUS EXPERIENCES

ROYAL PARTY'S ADVENTURES

'I PT ET.KCTRTC TELiiGBAPH.—COPYRIGHT, j PEE UNITED PEES 3 ASSOCIATION. | TANGIER, Dec. 14. The Delhi grounded on sandbanks 200 yards from the caves of Hercules (Cape Spartel, not- far from Gibraltar) one morning. The Spanish brigantine Vocador and the French, cruiser Chateau j Renault stranded near by. It is surI mised that the officers of the Delhi and ;the Chateau Renault mistook Capo | Spartel light in a blinding storm. ! There was no panic aboard. The j Delhi's passengers, including the Duke i and Duchess of Fife, were summoned to jthe saloon deck. They had no time to ; dress and were only in their night- ' gowns. j The vessel soon had a strong list, the water entered the lower cabins and the passengers donned lifebelts. The gale continued throughout the night, great waves breaking over the vessel, the spray being thrown 70ft above the masts. I Owing to this buffeting the Delhi had .begun to drift broadside on to the shore when a wireless message was received stating that the Gibraltar battleships London and Duke of Edinburgh and the cruiser Weymouth, with an artillery party and life-saving apparatus, had started at full speed for the scene. Meanwhile the Friant intercepted the Delhi's wireless message and hurried to the wreck, but found it impossible to do anything during the night. Heavy seas continued till sunrise and the Delhi was often hidden by a veil of mist. At 10 in the morning the Friant's launch .managed to tow a boat full of women and children to the Duke of Edinburgh. I The Friant's' second officer, Drungo:r.i, j made a second gallant attempt at rescue j despite the increasing roughness. The | launch was filled, her fire was extinguished, the helmsman was washed away, and the launch was driven ashore. The survivors, undaunted, pumped the launch dry, relit the fire and put to sea again. A wave broke over her and the tiny vessel capsized. Two men were drowned in trying to reach the shore. Four sailers reached Tangier (10 miles distant) barefooted and drenched. Drungeon. utterly exhausted, collapsed and his comrades were obliged to leave him. The eDlhi's first boat was launched ■about midday and Rear-Admiral Craddock decided that they had belter land on shore. The Duke and Duchess and Princesses Alexandra and Maude boarded the Duke of Edinburgh's boat accompanied by Rear-Admiral Craddock. There was great difficulty in boarding and the ladies had to be dropped into the boat and caught. The breakers soon began to fill the boat, despite bailing, and some distance fiom the beach she filled and sank. All aboard were wearing lifebelts and they floated through, terribly buffeted. Princess Alexandra disappeared for a moment, but by great efforts, though continually washed off their feet, all landed. Rain meanwhile had began to fall in torrents and the weather was bitterly cold. The Princesses were clothed in nightdresses, over which coats were thrown. The party struggled along the rock coast for four miles to Cape Spartel lighthouse, where they obtained dry clo'.hing and hot coffee. The British Minister at Tangier soon arrived vv : th spare mules, and the party, with the Duke still in his nightshirt and wearing the lighthouse-keeper's trousers, rode inlo Tangier and arrived drenched.

The ladies stood the experience wonderfully. The Duchess displayed remarkable pluck and courage throughout. All the women aboard the Delhi were saved and some reached Gibraltar. Seventy passengers and 231 of the crew are still aboard.

The vessel is in a very critical position. A heavy sea and surf are running.

The hull is not insured, and stands on the company's books at £25,000. There is £300,000 worth of bullion aboard and the value of the cargo is estimated at £IOO,OOO. Forty per cent, is quoted for reinsurance.