The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1914-06-05

Rimousk, Que.-While final tabula-
lions of the casualties IN the sinking
Of the Inflated steamer Empress of
Ireland were being made, showing that
403 of her passengers and crew had
been rescued and 964 had perished,
Capt. Jenry George Kendall, Of the
liner, was telling his story Of the
disaster at an inquiry conducted by
Coroner Pinaud here
Captain Kendall In substance de-
clared that he had taken all possible
precautions against a collision. His
ship had been stopped, he gave the
requisite signals when the Danish col
Tier Storstad. which dealth the blow
which sent the Empress to the bot
tom, was still two miles away, but the
collier had kept on through the fog
which settled down soon after the two
vessels sighted each other and had
rammed the Empress Of Ireland while
the latter was virtually motionless.
Then, despite his plea to the master
Of the collier that he run his engines
full speed ahead to keep the hole in
the liners side plugged with the Stor-
stad's bow, said Captain Kendall, the
Danish vessel backed away, the wa
ter rushed in and the Empress sank.
Captain Kendall, who stuck to the
bridge Of his ship to the last and
after being picked up by lifeboat,
aided In saving a boatload Of drown
ing persons from the wreck, took up
his story Of the disaster from the
point at which the Empress of Ire
land, bound from Quebec for Liver
pool, had dropped her pilot Thursday
night at Father Point, near which
the disaster Of Friday morning &C.
Cured.
Saw Fog Bank Coming.
I'VE then proceeded full speed" con-
tinued Captain Kendall. After pass
ing Rock Point gas buoy, I sighted
the steamer Storstad, it then being
clear.
"The Storstad was then about l
point IL degrees on my starboard bow
At that time / saw a slight fog bank
coming gradually from the land and
knew 1t was going to pass between
the Storstad and myself. The Stor-
stad was about two miles away at
that time. Then the fog came and
the Storstad's lights disappeared. 1
rang full speed astern on my engines
and stopped my ship.
"At the same time I blew three
etc
meaning 1 am going full speed astern.
The Storstad answered with the
whistle, giving me one prolonged blast.
II then looked over the side Of my
ship into the water and l saw my ship
was stopped. stopped my engines
and blew two long blasts, meaning,
my ship was under way, but stopped
and has no way upon her. He an
swered me again with one prolonged
blast. The sound was then about four
points upon my starboard bow.
ut was still foggy. looked out to
where the sound came from. About
two minutes afterward l saw his red
and green lights. He was then about
one ships length away from me. 1
shouted to him through the megaphone
to go full speed astern as l saw the
danger Of collision was inevitable: at
the same time l put my engine full
speed ahead with my helm hard aport,
with the object of avoiding, If posi-
bic, the shock.
almost at the same time he came
right in and cut my ship down in a
line between the tunnels.
Shouted Warning.
Il shouted to the Storstad to keep
full speed ahead to fill the hole he
had made. He then backed away. The
ship began to fill and listed over rapid
ly. When he struck me / had stopped
my engines. / then rang full speed
ahead again when saw the danger
was SO great, with the object Of run
ming her on shore to save passengers
and ship. Almost Immediately the
engines stopped. The ship filed and
going over all the time, starboard.
Il had. In the meantime, given or
ders to get the lifeboats launched. |
rushed along the starboard side of