Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1914-06-06
TALES OF HEROISM
1OLDDY SURVIVORS
Uossenoers Saved From En-
uress Of ireland Relate Thrill
mo Stories of Rescue Work.
DEATH CAUSED BY BLAST
,tIs Girl, One Of Two Children to
Escape, Says She Helped Her
self-shlp's Surgeon Tells Elk
oerience-Crew 10 Praised.

osebec-Thrilling tales of heroism,
-,orias of futile fights for life, nara
-,nos that tell Of the horrors of that
s.,osnl few moments after the EN-
SO of Ireland was rammed by the
ctorstad poured from the lips of the
rsscued when the special train bearing
,bem reached this city.
There was little voiced criticism for
.he terrible loss of life; rather those
Who had been snatched from the jaws
=, death seemed anxious to tell of
men who had proven themselves
horoes in the supreme moments of
their lives.
Special praise was given to the work
n DR.. James F. Grant of Victoria, B.
e ship surgeon on the Empress. To
bis GOODNESS was credited the saving
n a large number of persons taken
out of the water who probably would
have perished had they not received
prompt medical attention.
Surgeons Own Marrow Escape.
graphic description of the scene
on the Empress Of Ireland after the
collision was given by Doctor Grant.
81 was in my cabin" said the ships
surgeon, and knew nothing of the &C.
eldent until the boat listed 80 that
tumbled out Of my berth and then
rolled under 1t. tried to turn on the
light, but there was no power
reached the bolted door, but the list
was so strong that it took me consid-
cradle time to open 1t.
when finally got out and reached
the passageway it was 80 steep, due to
the way the ship was canted, that my
efforts to climb were rendered impos-
sible by the carpet which l was cling
ing to breaking away,
81 then scrambled up and managed
to get my head through a portfolio, but
was unable to get my shoulders
through At that time the ship was
lying almost fiat in the water on its
starboard side.
"A passenger finally managed to pull
me through the portfolio.
Sank With Ons Hundred Others.
About a hundred passengers were
gathered on the side of the ship at the
tine, but moment after joined them
the vessel took another list and
plunged to the bottom.
Il next found myself in the water
and swan toward the lights Of the
steamer Storstad, and when nearly ex-
hausted from the struggle and the ex-
posure was picked up by a ifeboat.
This boat went on to the scene of
the disaster and picked up a load Of
survivors from the water and then
took them on board the Storstad
There we were wrapped in blankets
and was provided with clothes.
When able I did what l could to
help the survivors. Some of them,
however, were in such exhausted con
diuon that they died"
Child Says She Saved Herself.
Only two children are known to
have been saved from the wreck. A
wonderful rescue was one of these
little eight-year-old Oracle flanagan,
daughter of the leader of the Salvation
Army band. Her father and mother
were both drowned. Oracle was not
told Of her loss and believed at night
that her father and mother would
come to Quebec on the next boat.
When asked how she was saved
dracie replied: "Oh, saved myself u
The child was entirely unconcerned
apparently not realizing what she had
been through. No lifeboat was near
"nen she was thrown from the EN-
press. She sank at once. but rose tc
me surface in moment, saw a piece
Of floating wood near her and seized it
Later she was pulled into lifeboat
she had been benumbed to the point
o. exhaustion by the cold water, but
Kindly hands worked skilfully to re
we her and she soon was entirely re
stored.
Saves Self and Wife.
Major Attwell of Toronto and his
VIE were among the saved.
goC life belt for my wife" said
major Attwell, and we both jumped
INTO the water together when we saw
mat the vessel was doomed to &c
'o~n. We both sank three times, be
ing carried under by the suction Of
'le laundering vessel. When we came
Up the third time l saw lifeboat near
Nlo to 1t swan. pulling my wife after
ne Then those in the boat pulled us
70 and we were saved.
The impact was just sufficient tc
"aKen US. 1t sounded as If our boat
oad struck rock. 1t was very slight