The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-06-06


came to realize the awful conse-
Quences Of the crash. When We got
on deck there were very few persons
to be seen. In fact, the people on the
deck were so few that they were hard
ly noticeable.
The reason for this is that when
the boat had listed to ono side the
stairs from the sleeping apartments
up to the boat decks were very diffi-
cult, almost impossible to mount l
did not see the hole in the side OF our
ship as l rushed for the stairs. but l
did see the water entering in such
volume that it threatened to drown US
before We could mount the stairs
Salvation Army Mans story.
A. Mcintyre was In the second cabin
with most OF the other Salvation Army
his own experiences and OF what he
saw AS he swan to safety.
Virtually every leading officer OF
the Salvation Army in Canada Is
gone" he said. Commissioner Rees
and his wife and the children sank and
only three of this family survive. Out
OF our Salvation party OF $50 on board
probably less than twenty were res
cued.
Il was on the upper deck and there
fore had a better chance to get to
safety than those in the lower berths.
The water came In through the port
holes of the lower decks before the
passengers there realized their danger
or that there was danger at all.
Il was aroused from my sleep by
the impact and awoke the others in
my cabin could then hear plainly
the rush OF water. and l felt sure that
something serious had happened.
also heard the machinery OF the boat
running. 1t did not stop Immediately
after the crash. but continued until
the explosion occurred.
Gave Woman His Life Belt.
Il grabbed a life preserver and went
out to the deck. On deck there were
no life belts and quite a number OF
people were standing about apparently
unable to determine what to do.
gave my belt to Mrs. Foord. one Of our
party. tied the belt on her myself.
My three comrades went to the bot
tom. | swan in the direction of the
vessel that ran US down and was
pulled into a lifeboat of the collier.
saw the collier standing not far from
where the Empress foundered. 1t was
all lighted up.
when | was taken on board l saw
many men rescued. practically un-
clothed | was almost in a state Of
nakedness myself, and the rest Of
those on board were shivering and in
bad state from the icy water of the
| river and the chilly morning air. Soon,
| however. we we're attended to by those
on board the collier and made warm
and comfortable.
Heard Boilers Blow UP.
| AS swan through the icy waters
I heard the dull explosion caused by
the water reaching the engines of the
sinking ship. 1t was followed by a
burst Of steam that spread to all parts
of the vessel. Then came quick
| listing OF the liner and she turned
turtle.
Il don't think there were many first
class passengers saved. l saw only
one of the first-class boats lowered.
THE weather was virtually calm
and there was plenty Of light on the
water when l came on deck. l saw no
| fog.
81 thought at first We had hit rock.
| Some officers of the vessel came along
tha vI, No on
any further. for bottom hac been
struck.
Praise Liners Crew.
"The behavior of the crew was, on
the whole. good. though it must be
said that the men hardly had time to
collect themselves or to effect rescues
In any systematic way.
THE boat was really sinking before
the crew or anybody else realized 1t
or could do anything.
Those of the crew who got to the
deck tried to launch a boat on the up
turned side of the vessel but this was
impossible, because the list was such
that the boat could not be put into the
water and landed on the side of the
vessel
"The decks were almost perpendicu-
lar, so that many passengers in order
to escape had to slide down from the
higher side to the lower or water
side"
Another Tells Of Explosion.
A story that there was trem endous
explosion on the Empress of Ireland
after it was hit by the Stcrstad was
told by Philip Lawler a steeraee pas