Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-06-03
Owners of Empress of ireland
Ask 100000 Damages.
SAVED 60 IN ONE BOAT
Report That Storstad Rescued But
Few Is Denied-Captain of Ship
That Sunk Another Refuses
to Talk.
COST OF A BLUNDER.

Total dead ................ 964
Passengers rescued POI
Crew rescued POP
Montreal, Que, June Three de-
velopments of unusual interest marked
the arrival of the Storstad in Montreal.
The first was the statement of Off
GERS high up in the ships command
that the collier was going full speed
astern at the time of the disaster; the
second was the seizure by admiralty
court officers on behalf of the Cana
dian Pacific railroad, the owners of
the Empress, for an alleged debt Of
100000; and the third was the state
ment by Captain Anderson of the col
lier that nothing official would be
given out until the many lawyers who
had congregated had prepared it.
The arrival Of the Storstad was
awaited keenly from early morning.
Since she left Quebec she was report
ed almost mile by mile by the Marconi
and government signal stations. BY
early morning it was definitely known
that she would arrive shortly after
noon, and the Mochelaga wharf, where
it was announced that she would warp
in, was soon crowded. Scores of news
paper men had gathered, some even
chartering tugs to meet her as she
came up the river.
Securing information. however, was
difficult task. The Norwegian consul
Of 4
he was appealed to, but explained that
he understood number of lawyers
had congregated representing the own
ers of the vessel, a Norwegian firm,
the Black Diamond line, who had
chartered the steamer, and there was
also New York lawyer said to be an
expert in such matters.
Keeps Away From Dock.
The warping in was a slow process,
but when it was safely accomplished
a gap of Is feet was left between the
boat and the wharf edge Question
after question was hurled at the mem
bers of the crew, who lounged at the
rails and shook their heads, indicat-
ing that they did not understand, all
of them being Norwegians. One news
paper man was able to speak to them
in their own language, however. Slow
ly a long gangplank was pushed over
the side No sooner had it touched
the wharf edge than two stalwart Off
GERS stationed themselves at the foot.
The first to go aboard was the Nor
wegian consul, who was unaccompa-
MED. After him a lawyer represent
ing the Canadian Pacific railroad at
tempted to go aboard, but was uncere-
moniously showed back. He appealed
to S. c. Mason, the representative of
the Quebec admiralty court, who had
a writ of attachment prepared and the
two endeavored to make their way up
the narrow plank. They, too, were
pushed back, however, and it was
some time before the captain could be
made to understand that the ship was
under seizure and that the govern
ment officers must be given admit
lance.
Mr.. Mason was going on board alone
when he was quickly followed by G.. H.
Hambleton, a newspaper representa-
tive. After watching the marshal tack
up the notice of seizure Mr.. Hambleton
made a tour OF the boat to interview
the officers and examine the damage
done.
Built of Solid Steel.
The SIorStad is a solid steel boat
over 44O feet long and freighted down
with 1000 tons of coal. AS she came
slowly up the river she seemed like
some giant all but laid low. From
her stern a Norwegian flag, tattered
and frayed, flew at half mast. One
could see a rent in her bows fully so
feet long and yet even that old not
appear sufficient when one realized
that she had sunk the mighty EN-
press.
AS she turned to come into the
wharf one could see daylight through
huge rent in her bows. On the star
board side heavy steel plates had been
driven in and the steel anchor was
twisted all out of shape. The stem
was twisted considerably to port and
on that side particularly the steel
plates were crushed like matchwood.
Beyond the damage done to the bow
very little evidence was seen of in
jury to any other part of the boat.
The writ which had been tackled up
on the bridge was the center of in
terest and with it's legal verbiage was
wonder to officers and crew alike. 1t
stated that the ship had been seized
on an action for 100000 damages
which the Canadian Pacific railroad
had sustained as the result of a col
lision with the Empress. Tackled I'D
beside it was the summons which
commands you within one week to
appear in response to the action taken
by the Canadian Pacific Railroad com
pan" After the captain had looked it