Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-29

than a thousand to seven hundred.
Among the survivors here "a are from
the Empress second cabin.
| The Empress of Ireland was insured
in Lloyds for nearly three million.
Explosion After Collision.
The latest figures are based on the
facts that the Empress carried 1,437
persons all told. of whom 399 were
rescued by the Eureka and Lady Eve
lyn- The Storstad at first was report
ed as carrying 300 survivors. but sail
ed for Quebec after landing only a.
handful of rescued and several dead
Among the rescued crew members and
thirdclass passengers predominated. II
IS evident only sprinkling of the first
class cabin passengers were saved.
The stricken vessel sank as If il were
lead. An explosion. apparently orig
mating in the engine room, fastened |
the end. and persons who made their |
way from the cabins found themselves |
on perilously slanting deck. Many |
leaped and were drowned Others |
were fortunate enough to grasp drift
wood or were picked up by life boats.
The greta hole torn admitted such a
deluge that many must have been
drowned In their beds. The rescued
hghting their ways to life boats on the
careening decks. clinging desperately
TO the rails or leaping blindly over
board, broke their arms or legs or 9TH
erwise injured themselves so bady
that % died after being picked up.
Women Suffer Mos+
The Empress sunk within Il minutes.
according to a statement issued this
afternoon by Sir Thomas Shaugh-
messy. president of the Canadian Pa ,
cific railroad. None had time to seize
his belongings, much less To dress. {
Those found in lifeboats wore night c
clothes. Women suffered most Only I
a few were saved, according to the Z
lists. Indications are they lacked d
strength to combat conditions. There d
vas not, as on the Titanic. time for
ielfberation and enforcement of the n
rule. women first" According to n
Shaughnessy the Empress was ram g
ned in such manner as to tear the ship o
rom the middle to the screw, making C
Useless her watertight bulkheads o
ifeboats, but no time to arouse the P
passengers. u
That such an accident should be h
,ossibIe in the ST Lawrence and to S;
vessel OF the class of the Empress, "
With every precaution taken, is deplor- ei
bIe." said Shaughnessy. The saddest Of
eature is the loss of life, and the q
ieartfelt sympathy OF the company 1
Ct . ~
Reseuing Crews Praised. !,
When the train came from the wharf ~
caring the survivors. it was a pitiful dr
light to see them alight. Most wore 81
cry little clothing. Many had to be IL
arried. One woman, garbed only in
vest, jumped overheard and swan to l.,
he Lady Evelyn, but died later. ~
Both the first and second wireless ej
perators Of the Empress were saved. IN
dward Bomard, the second, was COM
ls on duty when the boat began to CO
NIX He was caught by a Father CI
DIN, station and called for help. He 70,
zen fell into a lifeboat The other Ca
,erator. Donald Furgusson, swan to co
boat Passengers were loud in their Er
raise of the captain and pilot OF the ifI-
adv Evelyn and Captain Delanger OF an
,e Eureka and both crews. All dis tn,
aved the greatest bravery. II was de thi
ared. The water that poured into the
,gine room caused the explosion
hicb hurried the ship to the bottom.
he explosion forced many to jump. -
w. Longiey, British Columbia ranc- ~, 81,
calmly sat on the deck rail, went t
,wn with the sinking ship, held his 'n' W
cath. came up. grabbed lifeboat % a"
d was saved.
The collision occurred at 2:3O this -
,rning in a dense fog. The Empress I'M
Ireland wireless sent out a few
O. s." signals. enough to send the wv
madam government steamer Eureka
a the mail steamer Lady Evelyn TO
. rescue, then the messages ceased.
forwards IL was learned the steam I
sank 10 minutes after the collision. the
Enroute TO Liverpool trie
The Empress OF Ireland, in COM noe
nd OF Lieutenant Kendall OF the plat
,al navy reserve. sailed from Que def
, at b:20 yesterday afternoon for sui
,erpool. There was II first. 206 sec allie
1, 504 third class passenger, which the