The Dermott news., 1914-06-04

away more potently than bugle thai
DOOM had overtaken the ship.
Only six hours before this fateful
collision the passengers sang as a
good night hymn God Be With You
Tell We Meet Again" played by the
Salvation Army band on board.
Last Call for Aid.
That last $. 0. S" wireless cry for
aid from the crippled and sinking
liner was trumpet call to those
ashore 1t was heard by j. McWill-
Jams, the wireless operator at Father
Point, who repeated it along the coast
to point after point after he had tried
in vain to get another message from
the Empress.
When he failed he knew that the
wireless was wrecked and the ship
probably sinking
He repeated his fears to other wire
less stations and urged the need OF
haste to save the passengers and crew
of the vessel
On board the steamers Lady Evelyn
and Eureka that cry for aid was heard
and getting the position of the En-.
press OF Ireland from Operator VIII
Jams they put on extra stokers, called
their full crews to quarters and began
a race To save life.
That this race ended just too late
to save the majority OF those on the
hapless liner is no fault Of the Off
GERS and crews OF these two resCutng
vessels
Relief vessels and trains equipped
with doctors and nurses and every
medical and surgical supply were
rushed to Rimouski to care for the sur
yivors.
Survivors Tell of Fog.
II was foggy, according to survivors
when the Empress of Ireland, q steel
hulled steel bulkheaded ship OF more
than eight thousand tons left Quebec
at 400 Thursday afternoon in com
mand of II. & Kendall of the Royal
Naval Reserve, one OF the most skilled
Of transatlantic uavigators.
Forest fires also obscured the at
mosphere and the biz ship, In charge
of pilot, proceeded slowly on her
way To sea. At midnight the pilot left
near Father Point, shouting a merry
bon voyage" as he went down lad.
der 10 his waiting boat
The darkness at this time was in.
tense and the ship under the sloWest
speed possible with steerageway held
her course Her decks were deserted.
The passengers had all sought their
be-,hs With no thought of impending
aeath
Out of The darkness, on the port
side. soon after ? 30 In the morning,
there loomed the little Norwegian col
Her. not half the size N the Empress,
but fatea TO be her destroyer.
Net until the collier was almost
abeam OF the big liner was the danger
known on either ship The fog had
blotted out the @steamug" lights as
we'll as the port and starboard lights
Of both ships.
Quick orders trumpeted on both
vessels We're heard But they came
all too late
The steel-pointed prov OF the Stors-
tad struck the liner amidsGips and
then forged aft ripping and tearing
its way through the Empress of Ire
land
Clear 10 the stern OF the Empress OF
Ireland was this great steel shaving
cut from her side. from the top OF the
hull u far below the water line. Into
that rent the water poured with the
force Of NIAGARA.
The bow of the Storstad smashed
Its way through berths on that side
OF the ship. killing passengers sleep
ing IL their berths and grinding bodies
t. pieces.
Reaching the stern of the big liner.
the Storstad staggered of in the dark
ness, her bow erumpled BY the impact.
Tier commander VAS ready few min
utes later, when he found his ship
would float 10 aid the crippled and
Sinking Empress, but he was too late
10 save the majority OF those on
board
The Empress of Ireland recoiled al
most on her sta1toard beam ends from
the blow Of the collier and passengers
We're flung from their berths AGAINST
the wallis Of their stat"ruuWs
Many we're stunned and before they
had CINE To recover were carried To
the bottom With the ship
The vast torrents pouring into tho
great cash ou The port side. aft allied
ia, fa~rt3ars and HIgAed every 0f4ft-