The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-06-06

| PoSnuy ludn Dugle tha
ooom had overtaken the ship.
only six hours before this fatefu
co'Ilslon the passengers sang as
goodnight hymn God Be With Yo,
Ieii we Meet Again." played by tn,
salvation Army band on board
Last Call for Aid.
mat last IS. o. s." wireless cry TO,
AID from the crippled and sinkins
inner was a trumpet call to those
ashore. 1t was heard by J. McWill
lams, the wireless operator at Father
foint, who repeated 1t along the coast
10 point after point after he had tried
IN vain to get another message from
the Empress.
When he failed he knew that the
wireless was wrecked and the ship
probably sinking.
he repeated his fears to other wire
less stations and urged the need of
haste to save the passengers and crew
of the vessel.
On board the steamers Lady Evelyn
and Eureka that cry for aid was heard.
and getting the position of the EN-
press OF Ireland from Operator Will
lams. they put on extra stokers. called
their full crews to quarters and began
a race to save life.
That this race ended just too late
70 save the majority of those on the
hapiess liner is no fault Of the Off
GERS and crews Of these two rescuing
vessels.
heilef vessels and trains equipped
with doctors and nurses and every
medical and surgical supply were
rushed to Rimoush to care for the sur
vivors.
Survivors Tell Of Fog.
1t was foggy. according to survivors.
when the Empress Of Ireland. a steel
hulled, ,steelbulkheaded ship of more
than eight thousand tons left Quebec
at 4:S0 Thursday afternoon in COM
mand Of II. G. Kendall of the ROYAL
naval Reserve. one Of the most skilled
OF transatlantic navigators.
Forest fires also obscured the at
mosphere and the big ship, In charge
OF pilot, proceeded slowly on her
way to sea. At midnight the pilot left
near Father Point, shouting a merry
bon voyage as he went down a lad
der to his waiting boat.
The darkness at this time was in
tense and the ship under the slowest |
speed possible with steerageway held |
her course. Her decks were deserted.
The passengers had all sought their
oe-ths with no thought of impending
death.
Out Of the darkness, on the port |
side, soon after 2:30 in the morning,
here loomed the little Norwegian COL
Ter. not half the size Of the Empress,
but fated to be her destroyer.
Not until the collier was almost
bean of the big liner was the danger
Known on either ship. The fog had
plotted out the "steaming" lights as
veil as the port and starboard lights
# both ships.
Quick orders trumpeted on both
'essels were heard. But they came
III too late.
The steel-pointed prov of the Stors-
ad struck the liner amidships and
hen forged aft, ripping and tearing
IS way through the Empress of Ire
and.
Clear to the stern of the Empress of
reland was this great steel shaving
ut from her side, from the top of the
ull to far below the water line. Into
hat rent the water poured with the
orce of Niagara.
The bow of the Storstad smashed
s way through berths on that side
the ship, killing passengers sleep
lg In their berths and grinding bodies
pieces.
Reaching the stern Of the big liner,
lie Storstad staggered'of in the dark
ess, her bow crumpled by the impact.
er commander was ready a few min
.es later, when he found his ship
ould float, to aid the crippled and
mixing Empress, but he was too late
save the majority of those on
,ard. =
The Empress of Ireland recoiled al e
ost on her starboard beam ends from
e blow of the collier and passengers c
ere flung from their berths against J
e walls Of their staterooms.
Many were stunned and before they
ID time to recover were carried to &
e bottom with the ship.
The vast torrents pouring into the c
eat cash on the port side, aft, filed
e corridors and flooded every state &
ON abaft the midship section inside n
four minutes. A
There was never a chance for the i
lp.ess ones in the after cabins and
iterooms Of the liner With her z
1T side laid open for half its length al
IN the midship section to the stern, te
sieve had more chance to float than tc
: Empress of Ireland, and the
pped passengers in that section r
re doomed from the moment the O,
,rstad struck. In
Keeling from the blow the ship be-
j to settle almost Immediately as
water rushed into the big rent.
rom the forward cabins, however