WRECK OF THE DELHI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 177, 25 January 1912, Page 5

WRECK OF THE DELHI.

FRENCH SAILORS DECORATED. -By Cable—Press Association —Copyright.. London, January 28. The King has conferred the honorary commandership of the Victorian Order on Captain Haguerre and the membership of the order on Lieut. Drujqn, of the French cruiser Friant. He has also awarded the gold ufe saving medal to Lieutenant Drujon and the members of the boat's crew, including those drowned, for assistance rendered in connection with the wreck of the steamer Delhi. The Government has presented a service of gold plate to the officers of the Friant, and £SO to the family to each of the drowned sailors.

TRYING EXPERIENCES. London, December, 15. The Tangier correspondent of the Times sends a vivid ?tory 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 Bear-Admiral Cradock. Very considerable difficulty was experienced in getting into the boat, and the ladies had literally to be drooped and caught. When the boat was still some way from ,the shore, the breakers began to fill her, in s"ite of the fact that the Duke and others baled as hard as possible. While the' boat wast 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 )> v the waves. "Princess Alexandra disappeared for a moment under the sea.. However, after great l efforts and after the members of the Royal pa?ty had been washed off their feet in the shallower water, they were safelv landed. "The rain was falling in torrents, and the gale was fierce, and, drenched, cold, nnd clothed in nightdresses and coats, the Princesses struggled over the rocky shore to Cape Spartel lighthouse, some for- miles awav. The track was only a roc'-y and the sufferings of the partv 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 suehtwrnns as he had been able to get together hurriedly. I accompanied him, and on our arriyal the Duke of Fife, who was still in his nightshirt, and was wearing a p? the lighthouse-keeper's trousers, informed the Princess that a start could be made for Tangier. Her Royal Highness, who looked pale, but was remarkably calm, accompanied by the Princesses, came out from a little room in which they had been warming themselves bv a wood fire.

"Having mounted mules, in pouring rain, the weary partv set out for Tangier some 10 miles distant. It is no exa<r?eration to sav that all were in a pitiable plight, clothed in such garments as could be found in an African lighthouse, cold, and wet. But in suite of this. Her Roval

■'itipss. and all tie party, showed most remarkable courage and pluck, and during the long ride of over three hours in pouring rain, concealed'the fatigue from which they were all undoubtedlv suffering talking cheerfully the whole wav. From those who liad been with them in the ship and in the boat when the accident happened, T hear the same account nf the courage with which the Princess Roval and all the members of the party faced their great danger. "It was after six o'clock in the evening when the Princess Roval, the Duke of Fife, and the two Princesses, drenched with rain, arrived on mulehack. guided bv 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 lichthouse-keeper's garments in which tbev made the journey from Cape Spartcl." ' '