The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-06-04

box.
SHARP POINTED ANCHOR
MAY HAVE SLASHED SHIP
Montreal, June 2.-The sharp point
of an anchor projecting from the
twisted bow of the Norwegian collier
Storstad may explain why that vessel
did such terrible execution, when she
rammed the Empress of Ireland early
last Friday morning in the lower st.
Lawrence.
An examination today of the coll
hers shattered plates revealed the an
Choir damned in a position where it
could have ripped through the hull of
the Empress like a great can pener
The anchor point and portions of the
battered steel surrounding it bore
stains of blood. Preparations were I'M
der way for the inquiry into the dis
aster, which cost at present reckoning
969 lives. The inquiry will be con-
Quoted by a joint commission of Cana
dian and British shipping experts. The
arrangements for the inquiry, which
will be held either here or in Quebec,
are being made by Captain Lindsay,
Dominion wreck commissioner.
Pilot Nault, who ~navigated the Stor-
stad up the ST. Lawrence from Quebec,
said today that Captain Andersen told
him that Andersen, his first officer and
Pilot Lechance, who brought the Stor-
stad from Father Point to Quebec,
were on the bridge at the time of the
collision.
ION the way UP the river" continued
Nault. IAN examination was made to
ascertain the extent of the damage
done to the Storstad. AS far as we
could learn 20 plates forward had been
sprung, but after Of that the ship was
unchanged. AT Queoec the StorstSd
took in so much water we We're obliged
to flood the after compartments in or
der to keep the ships bow up. There
was no water in the hold of the Stor-
stad.
Captain Anderson is deeply grieved
over the tragedy. Several times during
the trip from Quebec / came upon him
crying with his face buried in his
hands. Captain Anderson told me he
had been instructed not to talk about
the accident"
One of the officers of the Storstad
said today:
"At the time of the disaster L was ly-
in my bunk. | was awakened by a
shock and at first thought the ship had
struck a rock. / ran to the deck and
looked over the side. The Storstad was
going full speed astern. The water
around was filled with struggling men
and women shouting for help. Boats
We're Immediately lowered and there
was not a man on the Storstad who did
not do his utmost to help rescue the
people in the water. We in the boats
brought the survivors to the dock of
the storstad From there they We're
AIKEN INTO the engine room, the warm
est place on board. Some of the sur
NlVcrs had been SO nu1nbed by the ice
cold water they leaned Up against the
cylinders Of the engines until their
flesh was blistered.''
Mrs. Andersen. wife of the captain
OF the Storstad. told her story today.
she said the captain was called from
nis bed Friday night by the mate be-
cause 1t was foggy. Her husband
calied her to come on deck and while
place. -
Il ran up to the bridge where Cap
tam Andersen was" said Mrs. Ander-
sen. Everything was quiet and dark.
mere was no excitement among the
crew and / was cool. I stayed on the
bridge and l asked Captain Andersen:
Are we going to sink?'
Il think So he answered.
Would Die With Husband.
Il could not cry although l felt like
IT. said to myself, my place is here
and l Will die with my husband.
Andersen told me he was
trying to keep the Storstad in the hole
speeding they would have stopned TO-
gether for a time at least. NV hus-
band ordered two of the officers to go
TO the bow and see If there was any
NolST pouring IN,
Again ] asked him if we were GO
ing down and he answered.: I can't
tell yet He said he though the En-
press was all right.
Il think it was five minutes later
that 1 heard screams and cries and I
shouted to my husband: tOh, they are
Gazing. At first it seemed as if the
CRIES We're coming from shore. The
captain gave orders to go in that direc-
tlon and proceeded very slowly. Every
where around me now I could hear
screams. MY husband gave orders to
SEND 5aH the life boats and that
could not have been 10 minutes after
the vessels had collided.
L gave all l had to the passengers
ana have only what l am standing up
IN; MY husband gave two suits and
other clothing away.
The first woman to come on board
was a Salvation army member, clad
only in her night dress. When she
was brought into the cabin, she ran to
me and, putting her arms around my
neck. said: God bless you, angel: lie
you had not been here, we would have
gone to the bottom"
After thcs rescued passengers were
on board. Mrs. Andersen went arnong
them with stimulants. All the cabins
We're packed with shivering survivors
IN scanty attire.