The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-06-05
S7C2STAD'S CAPTAIN
HELD FOR SINKING
EMPRESS Of IRELAND
CAPTAIN OF THE STORSTAD DE.
CLARED HE DID NOT BACK
AWAY FROM EMPRESS.
SAYS COLLIER DID STAND BY
Claims Sinking Steamer Swung From
Collier in Fog, But storstad's
Boats Rescued $50 Passengers
of the Empress of ireland.

MOntreal-With her bows crumpled
and twisted around in an acute angle
to port and gap showing on the port
side only foot or SO above the water
line in mute evidence of the tragedy
in which she figured, the collier
Storstad limped into the harbOr Sun
day
According to the captain and Off
GERS the sStorstad did not back away
after the collision with the Empress
of Ireland On the contrary, she
steamed ahead in an effort to keep
her bow in the hole she had dug into
the side Of the Empress.
The Empress, however, according to
the Storstad's officers, headed away
and bent the Storstads bow over at
an acute angle to port. After that the
Empress was hidden from the view of
the StorStad and despite the fact that
the Storstad kept her whistle blowing,
she could not locate the Empress until
the cries of some Of the victims in
the water were heard.
Captain Andersen denied he moved
a mile or so away from the Empress
after his vessel struck the liner. The
Storstad had not moved. 1t was the
Empress which had changed position,
he declared.
According to the report made by
Captain Andersen to the owners, i'm
mediately after the collision occurred
he heard Captain Kendall shout, call
ing on him not to pull away.
Il won't" shouted the Storstad's
captain as loud as he could. After that
the Empress disappeared from the
Storstad's view
The statement issued declared that
the Storstad's boats were immediate
ly lowered despite her serious condi-
ton, and $50 persons from the En-
press of Ireland were saved by the
Storstad seamen.
Storstad Version Given.
The statement reads:
THE fact that the Storstad has only
today reached port has made it i'm.
possible heretofore to give an au-
thentic statement in her behalf All
connected with the Storstad deplore
most deeply the terrible accident
which has resulted in the lost of so
many valuable lives. 1t is not with
any desire to condemn others but sim
ply before it is felt that the public is
entitled to know the facts that the
following statement is put forward:
The vessels sighted each other
when far apart. The Empress of Ire
land was seen off the port bow of the
Storstad. The Empress of Irelands
green or starboard light was visible
to those on the Storstad.
Claimed Right of Way.
Under these circumstances the
rules of navigation gave the Storstad
the right OF way.
1.-THE heading of the Empress then
was changed in such manner as to
put the vessels in a position to pass
safely. Shortly after a fog enveloped
first the Empress and then the Stor.
stad.
Fog signals were exchanged, the
Storstad's engines were at once slow:
ed and then stopped. Her heading re-
manned unaltered. Whistles from the
Empress were heard on the Storstad's
port bow and were at once answered.
The Empress of Ireland then was seen
through the fog close at hand on the
port bow of the Storstad. She was
showing her green light and was max
ing considerable Roadway
"The engines of the Storstad were
at once reversed at full speed and her
Roadway was nearly checked when the
vessels came together.
Tried to Close Hole.
1T has been said that the Storstad
should not have backed out of the hole
made by the collision. She did not do
so. AS the vessels came together the
Storstad's engines were ordered ahead
to hold her bow against the side of
the Empress and thus prevent the en-
trance of water into the vessel.
1.-THE Roadway of the Empress. how
ever, swung the 'Storstad around in
such way as to twist the Storstads
bow out of the hole.
"The Empress at once disappeared
in the fog. The Storstad sounded her
whistle repeatedly in an effort to 10.
cate the Empress, but could obtain no
Indication of her whereabouts until
cries were heard. The Storstad then
was Unanswered as close to the En-
press as was safe in view of the dan.