SAVING THE PRINCESSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14895, 22 January 1912, Page 3

SAVING THE PRINCESSES.

WRECK OF THE DELHI. . TRYING EXPERIENCES, [FROM our own CORRESPONDENT.] . London, December 15. The Tangier correspondent of the Times sends a vivid story of the rescue of the Princess Royal and her party from the P. and 0. liner Delhi, which was wrecked on the Moorish coast on December 13. He writes:

"Owing to the heavy sea that was running, the naval authorities decided that the Princess Royal and her party must be landed on the shore, as that course would be less dangerous than transhipment. Shortly after 11 a.m. H.R.H., with the Princesses Alexandra and Maud and the Duke of Fife, went on board a boat belonging to the cruiser Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by Rear-Admiral Cradock. Very considerable difficulty was experienced in getting into the boat, and the ladies had literally to be dropped and caught. When the boat was still some way from the shore, the breakers began to fill her, in spite of the fact that the Duke and others baled as hard as possible. While the boat was still some distance from the beach she filled and sank. The whole party were wearing lifebelts, and they floated to the surface of the water, where they were terribly buffeted by tho waves. "Princess Alexandra disappeared for a moment under the sea. However, after great efforts and after the members of the Royal party had been washed off their feet in the shallower water, they were safely landed.

*' The rain was falling in torrents, and the gale was fierce, and, drenched, cold, and clothed in nightdresses and coats, the Princesses struggled over the rocky shore to Cape Spartel lighthouse, some four miles away. The track was only a rocky, path, and the sufferings of the party were extreme. On their arrival at the lighthouse such clothing as could be found was given to them, and hot coffee was prepared. Sir Reginald Lister, the British Minister, arrived a little later at the lighthouse with spare horses and such wraps as he had been able to get together hurriedly. I accompanied him, and on our arrival the Duke of Fife, who was still in his, nightshirt, and was wearing a pair of the lighthousekeeper's trousers, informed the Princess that a start could be made : for . Tangier, Her Royal Highness, who looked pale t but was remarkably calm, accompanied by the Princesses, came out from a little room in which they had been warming themselves by a wood fire.

"Having mounted mules, in pouring rain, the weary party set out for Tangier, some 10 miles distant. It is no exaggeration to say that all were in a pitiable plight, clothed in such garments as could be found in an African lighthouse,'!: cold, and wet. But in spite of this, Her Royal Highness, and all the party, showed most remarkable courage and pluck, and, dur-, ing the long ride of over three hours in pouring rain, concealed the fatigue from which they, were all undoubtedly suffering, talking cheerfully the whole way. 'From those who had been with them in the ship and in the boat when the accident happened, I hear the same account of the courage with 'which the Princess Royal and all the members of the party faced their great danger. ¥ 1 "It • was after six o'clock in the evening when the Princess Royal, the Duke of Fife, and the two Princesses, drenched with rain, arrived on muleback, guided by the glimmer of a few"* native, lanterns,, at- the British Legation, : where every preparation had been made for their reception. ;■ Their luggage remains on board the Delhi, and they have no clothes except the lighthousekeeper's garments in which they made the journey from Cape Spartel-"., » ,