Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-06-10

The collier. being only something
over 1900 tons. did not roach up even
TO the upper or topmost deck Of our
hull. Her bow cut under the upper
deck and took peellng OF the side of
our ship that allowed the water to
rush into the lower decks. Then the
liner heeled over. and even those in
the superstructure 1eck rooms had no
chance TO save themselves. Hundreds
of them must have been dumped out
OF their berths and slammed against
the Talls With stunning force"
Kendall Blames Collier.
Rimouski, Que. June Capt. Har-
~ G. Kendall ef the Empress of Ire
land blames the commander OF the
collier storstad for the sinking Of the
liner. Before The coroner's jury Sat
urday he told how the Empress
dropped it's pilot Thursday night at
Father Point. near which the disaster
occurred.
We then proceeded full speed, .
continued Capt. Kendall. After pass
ing Rock point gas buoy sighted the
steamer Storstad. it then being clear.
The Storstad was then about one
point twelve degrees, on my star
board bow. At that time saw a slight
fog bank coming gradually from the
land and knew it was going to pass
between the Storstad and myself The
Storstad was about two miles away at
that time.
Blows Whistle as Warning.
Then IL fog came and the Stor-
stad's lights disappeared l rang full
speed astern on my engines and
stopped my ship.
AT the same time ! blew three
short blasts on the steamers whistle.
meaning Il am going full speed
astern) The Storstad answered with
the whistle, giving me one prolonged
blast.
II then looked over the side of my
ship into the water and | saw my ship
was stopped. / stopped my engines
and blew two long blasts, meaning My
ship was underway but stopped and
has no way upon her He answered
me again with one prolonged blast.
The sound was then about four points
upon by starboard bow.
Lights Appear From Gloom.
1T was still foggy. About two min
utes afterward saw his red and green
lights. He would then be about one
ships length away from me. l shouted
10 him through the megaphone to go
full speed astern. as l saw that the col
lisien was inevitable; at the same dime
put my engine full speed ahead with
my helm hard aport. with the object
Of avoiding, If possible, the shock. Al
most at the same time he came right
in and cut the Empress down In line
between the tunnels.
Il shouted to the Storstad to keep
full speed ahead to fill the hole he had
made. He then backed away. The
ship began to fill and listed over rap
idly. When the Storstad struck the
Empress had stopped my engines.
Should Have Heard Call.
What was the cause of the collis-
ion?" asked the coroner.
1.-THE Storstad running into the EN-
press Of Ireland. which was stopped"
answered Kendall
Capt Kendall, in answer to a ques-
ton by a Juror said that when he
shouted to the Storstad's captain to
stand fast he received no answer. II
was impossible for him not to have
been heard; he added.
II shouted FIVE times; ! also shouted
Keep ahead" said Capt. Kendall.
"and if he did not hear that he should
have done It. as seaman should have
known that"
There was wind?"
ut was quite still When he backed
away | shouted to him to stand by.
did not hear any explosion. but when
ship goes down like that there is
bound to be great deal of air, and
the air pressure causes that"
Not His Fault, Says Andersen.
Montreal, Que. June With its
bows crumpled in and twisted around
at an acute angle to port. and with a
gap showing on the port side only a
foot or so above the water line, the
Norwegian collier Storstad. which
rammed the liner Empress of Ireland,
limped into the harbor.
A few minutes later warrant Of
arrest, taken out by the Canadian Pa
cific railway, was nailed to its main
mast by order of w Simpson Walker.
X. c., register of the Quebec admir-
atty.
Subsequently statement based on
Capt. Andersens report, as well as
the reports of other officers. was given
| out
| According to the captain and Off
GERS. contrary to what has been stated
by the captain of the Empress OF Ire
| land. the Storstad did not back away
after the collision. On the contrary.
it steamed ahead in an effort to keep
its bows in the hole it had dug into
the side of the Empress
Denies Vessel Moved Away.
The Empress, however, according to
the Storstad's officers headed away
and bent the Starstad's 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