Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-05-29
CANADIAN PACIFIC Liner EMPRESS
of ireland IS RAMMED BY DANISH
COLLIER STORSTAD EARLY TODAY

shock was terrific. He was asleep in
his cabin. He jumped from bed, put
on dressing gown, and went directly
to the deck to his friends, telling
them he thought the ship was sinking,
He then went on deck and came back
a second time to see if his friends had
left their cabin, but in his excitement
he went on the wrong deck.
The ship then was sinking SO fast
he could hardly stand. He took hold
of rope on the side of the ship and
swung into a lifeboat. He said he
had not seen his friends and feared
they were drowned.
Few Women Saved
Few women and children were saw
ed They were asleep in their cabins
when the ship sank, and the accident
occurred so quickly they could not be
rescued. One woman, who was garbed
only in vest, jumped overheard and
swan to the Lady Evelyn. She was
so exhausted, however, that she died
in few minutes after she was taken
from the water. She has not been
identified.
Wireless Men Saved
The first and second Marconi oper-
ators of the Empress were saved. Ed
ward Bomford the second operator
was coming on duty when the boat
began to sank He caught the Father
Point Marconi station and called for
assistance Bomford was saved by
falling into lifeboat. The other OPP
orator, Ronald Ferguson, had to swim
for the boat. Both operators came
back to the Rimousld port on the pilot
board Eureka.
Rescuers Showed Bravery
Passengers were loud in their praise
of the captain and the pilot of the Lady
Evelyn and Captain Belanger of the
Eureka and their crews. All OF them
displayed the greatest bravery, 1t was
declared. A Mr.. McWilliams of Faith
er Point also was active in aiding the
rescued All Of the authorities of Ri
mouski and Father Point Joined in car
ing for the survivors.
The Lady Evelyn, which returned to
the scene of the disaster, reported by
wireless that she had picked up II
bodies at o'clock.
Twin crew Canadian Pacific liner
Empress of Ireland, carrying 1,4S7 per-
press of Ireland, carrying 1,437 per-
sons, passengers. and crew, sank in the
darkness before dawn today in the
ST. Lawrenee' river near here with o
loss of perfapsrl 900 lives. Eahfs0 es-
Inmates of the dead varied from o78 to
more than 1,100.
The vessel was bound from Quebes
for Liverpool, with n first, 2O6 second,
and 504 third class passengers. She
was cut wide open by the collier Stor-
stad and sank within 20 minutes in
10 fathoms of water. OF those saved
! the majority appeared to be members
of the crew or from the steerage. Many
we're badly injured and 22 died after
being picked up.
Passengers Had 10 Warning
The crash occurred about 2 o'clock
this morning off Father Point. Quebec.
a village brought into prominence when
DR.. Crippen, the London murderer. was
caught The collier. hound for Quebec
struck the Empress of Ireland on the
port side about the middle of the ship.
She literally tore her way back almost
to the liners screws. leaving rent
through which the water poured in
such a deluge that she sank before
many. of the passengers we're aware
of what had happened.
Wireless Summons Help
Brief wireless'calls for help sent out
by the Marconi operator we're heard
BY the pilot boat Eureka here. ten
miles from the scene, and the Eure.
ka, followed by the Lady Evelyn. a
mail tender, put on forced steam and
made all speed for the spot.
1t was these two boats that found
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