LOSS OF THE DELHI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143671, 15 December 1911, Page 3

LOSS OF THE DELHI.

SOME TRYING EPERIENCES. NARROW ESCAPE OF ROYALTIES. By Electric Telegrapher-Copyright. . TANGIER, Dec. 14. [ The Delhi grounded on the sandbanks I two hundred yards from the Caves of I ; Hercules, at 1 o’clock in the morning. The Spanish brigantine Vocador and the French cruiser Chateau Renault were also stranded near by. It is surmised that the Delhi and the Chateau Renault mistook Cape Spartel light in : a blinding storm. There was no panic aboard the Delhi. The passengers, including the Duke and i Duchess of Fife, were summoned on to 1 the saloon deck. There was no time to 1 dress, and some vere only in night attire. The vessel soon took a strong list, and water entered the lower cabins. The passengers donned life-belts. The gale continued throughout the night, groat waves breaking over the vessel, spray being thrown seventy feet above the masts. Owing to the buffeting, the Delhi began to drift broadside on to the shore. When a wireless message was received at Gibraltar the battleships London and Duke of Edinburgh and the cruiser Weymouth, with an artillery party and 1 lile-saving apparatus, started at full speed for the scene. I Meanwhile ihe Friant intercepted the j Delhi's wireless message and hurried j to the wreck, but found it impossible I to do anything during the night. Heavy seas continued till sunrise, and - the Dollii was often hidden in a veil o) ■ mist. It was ten in the morning before tlie Friant’s launch managed to tow a boat full of women and cmidren to the Duke of Edinburgh. Tile I'riant s second ofiicor (M. Dningeon) made a second gallant atI tempt at rescue, despite the increasing ! roughness, but tlie launch tided and the ■ iirt-s were extinguished. Hie helmsman | was washed away and tile launch driven ashore, but tlie survivors, undaunted, | pumped the launch out, re-lit the liras, I and put to sea again. A wave broke over tlio tiny vessel and she capsized, i Two were drowned in trying to reach I tlie shore. I Four sailors readied Tangier (ten miles) barefooted and drenched. M. ■ Druugeon, utterly exhausted, collapsed, | and ins comrades were obliged to leave him on the roadway. The Duke and Duchess of Fife and I their daughters had refused to leave tho Delhi in the lirsl boat, but at midday I Rear-Admiral Craddock decided it was better to try to land on the shore. Tlie Duke, tlie Duchess, and tlie Princeimes Alexandra and Maud boarded the Duke of Edinburgh's boat, accompanied by Admiral Craddock. There was greatdifficulty in hoarding, the ladies being | dropped into tho boat, and caught. I The breakers soon began to till tlie boat, despite tlie fact that the Duke and others bailed vigorou.-iy. When some distance from tho beach she filled am! sank. All aboard wero wearing lifebelts, and they floated j through Urn surf, though terribly buffeted. Princess Alexandra d a appeared for a moment, hut by great clioas, though continually washed off their feet, all were landed. Tho rain meanwhile was falling in torrents, and the weather was bitterly Cold, The Princesses wore clothed in their nightdresses, over which coats had been thrown. The party struggled along the rocky . shore, four miles, to Cape Spartel lighthouse. where they obtained dry clothing and hot coffee. The British Minister at Tangier soon arrived with spare mules, and the party, I with tlie Duke still in his night shirt and wearing the lighthouse-keeper’s trousers, rode into Tangier. They arrived drenched. The ladies stood the experience wonderfully. ami the Duchess displayed re- : markable pluck and courage throughout. All the women aboard tlie Delhi wero - saved. Some reached Gibraltar. i Seventy passengers and 231 of tho ! crew aro still aboard the vessel, which ; is in a critical condition, a heavy sea 1 j and surf running over the hull. THE VESSEL’S CARGO. TANGIER, Dec. 14. i The Dollii is not insured, and stands 1 • in the company’s books at £25,000. 1 • and tho value of the cargo is cslimated ; ; Bullion aboard is valued at £900,000, at £IOO,OOO. Forty per cent, is quoted for reinsurance. VESSEL BADLY DAMAGED. (Received Dec. 15, 10.35 a.m.) TANGIER, Dec. 14. Captain Hayward commanded the Delhi, which is badly strained ami leaking in three holds. GALLANT FRENCH SAILORS. (Received Dec. 15, 10. ill a.m.) PARIS, Deo. 14. ■ Tim Government has congratulated ; the officers and crew of the Triant on ’ ; the gallantry displayed in connection I with the stranding of the Delhi. THE PASSENGERS SAFE. (Received Dec. 15, 5.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 14. All tho Delhi’s passengers have been lauded. AUSTRALIA’S CONGRATULATIONS. (Received Dec. 15, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 14. Sir George Reid telegraphed to tho Duke and Duciie.a of Fife congratulations on their ie.-..ue. ROYALTIES WITHOUT CLOTHES. TRIBUTE TO FRENCH SAILORS. (Received Dec. 15, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 14. Several of the Royalties are still in bed at Tangier, awaiting their luggage. They are suffering no ill effects. King George telegraphed that ho was much relieved that they had salely landed. The Delhi’s bulkhead has yielded, and the position is now more serious. The Premier, on behalf of the House of Commons, paid a tribute to the extraordinary gallantry of tho French sailors, regretting; the loss of life that toot pJacA,