ROYALTY IN PERIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1312, 15 December 1911, Page 7

ROYALTY IN PERIL.

WRECK OF THE DELHIPRINCESSES' FIGHT FOR LIFE. DUKE ESCAPES IN NIGHT-SHIRf, By Telczraiih—Press Association—CopyrieW London, December 13. The position of the P. and 0. liner Delhi, ashore on the coast of Morocco, is serious. Tho British warships Weymouth, London, and Duke of Edinburgh, with lifeboats and life-saving apparatus, were dispatched from Gibraltar. Later, French cruisers were sent. The boats rescucd tho women and children on board the Delhi. Router's Tangier correspondent states that tho Duke of Edinburgh's lifeboat landed the Duke and Duchess of Fife and the Princesses Alexandra and Maude of Fife, who were drenched to the skin, owing to the long ride to the Spartel signal station. Tho British Minister (Hon. R. Lister) met them and accompanied them to Tangier. A British warship will convey them to Gibraltar. Confused accounts have been received here regaining the disaster to tho Delhi. It is reported that one of the Princesses was nearly drowned, and that silo was held up by a sailer. It is also said that the launch from the cruiser Briant, while assisting to rescue the Royal personages, capsized, and that six sailors were drowned.

A TERRIBLE STORM. HOW THE ROYAL PASSENGERS ESCAPED. GALLANT ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE. (Rec. December 11, 9.35 p.m.) Tangier, December 14. Tho Delhi grounded on a sandbank two hundred yards from the caves of Hercules at 1 o'clock in the morning. The Spanish brigantine, Vccador, and the Frond: cruise!', Chatcaurenault (7SSB tons displacement stranded near by. It is surmised that the Delhi and the Chate-aurenault mistook the Capo Spartel light in a blinding storm. Thcro was no pamc aboard the' Delhi. Tho passengers, including the Duko and Duchess of Fife and party, were summoned to the saloon deck. Thcro was no tim© to dross, and some were only in their nightgowns Tho vessel soon showed a strong list and the water entered tho lower cabins, and tho passengers donned lifebelts. Tho gale continued throughout tljc night, and great waves were breaking over the vessel, the spray being thrown seventy feet above the masts.

Vessel Broadside On. I Owing to tho buffeting, the Delhi began to drift broadside on to the shore. When a wireless messago was received at Gibraltar the battleships London and, Duke of Kdinbuigh, and the cruiser Weymouth, with an arli!le~y party and lifesaving apparatus, started at full speed for the scene of tho disaster'. Meanwhile the I-Yiant intercepted tho Delhi's wireless messages, and also hurried to the wreck, but found it impossible to do anything during the night. Tho heavy seas continued until sunrise, and the Delhi was often hidden in a veil of mist. It was ten o'clock in tho morning before the Frianfs launch managed to tow a beat full of women and children to tho Duke of Edinburgh. Rescuers Drowned. The Priant's second officer, Mr. Drimgeon, mado a second gallant attempt at rescue, despite the increasing roughness of the sea. The launch, however, filled, and its fire was extinguished and the helmsman washed away. The launch was then driven ashore, and the survivors, undaunted, pumped it out, relit the fire, and put to sea again. A wave broke over the tiny vessel, which capsized, and two men were drovrned in trying to reach the shore. Four sailors reached Tangier, after walking ten miles barefooted and drenched. Mr. Drungeon, who was utterly exhausted, collapsed, and his comrades were obliged to leave him on tho Toadway. Royal Party Leaves. The Duko of Fife and his party had refused to leave the Delhi in the first boat, but at midday 'Rear-Admiral Craddock decided that it was better to land.

The Duko and Duchess and the Princesses Alexandra and Maud accordingly boarded the Duke of Edinburgh's boat, accompanied by Hoar-Admiral Cradclock. Great difficulty was experienced in boarding, and tho ladies had to bo dropped into tho 'boat and caught. Off Tangier the breakers soon began to fill tho boat, despite tho bailing of the Duko and others. When some distance from tho beach tho boat iillod and sank. A Princess Disappears. All aboard were wearing lifebelts and floated, though they wero terribly buffeted. Princess Alexandra disappeared for a moment, but by great efforts, though they were continually washed oft their feet, all succeeded in landing. Rain was meanwhile falling in torrents, and the weather was bitterly cold. The Princesses were clothed only in nightdresses, over which coats had been thrown. They struggled along the rocky shore four miles to tho Capo Spartel i lighthouse, wlioro they obtained dry clothing and hot coffee, Duke in his Night Shirt. The British Minister at Tangier, Mr. Lister, soon arrived with sparo mules, and tho party, with tho Duko still in his night shirt, and wearing the lighthouse keeper's trousers,' rode into Tangier, and arrived drenched. The ladies stood tho experienco wonderfully well. The Duchcss displayed remarkablo pluck and oourage throughout. All the women aboard the Delhi were saved. Some have re&chod Gibraltar. Thrca Hundred Still on Board. Seventy passengers and 231 of tho crew are still aboard the vessel, the position of which is very critical. A heavy sea and surf are running. The hull is not insured, but stands in the company's books at ,£25,000. Bullion to tho value of ,£300,000 is aboard. The value of tho enrgo is estimated at .£IOO,OOO. Forty, per centum is being quoted for reinsurance. The Duchess of Fifo j 3 a 0 f King George, and is fortr-four years of Sl , l ® ■ married the Earl of Fifo in ISS>D. and at the wedding bitvHist he was created a Duko bv Oneen Victoria the Dnke is 62 years of age. Tho Princesses Alexandra and Mnud of Fife are need twenty and nineteen respectively The Duchess was declared Princess Itovai ill 1905.