The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-06-05

Passengers Saved From Ship Re-
late Experiences.
DEATH CAUSED BY BLAST
Band Of Salvation Army Leaders Al
most Wiped Out by Disaster
Man Gave Woman His
Life Belt.

| heroism, stories of futile fights fol
life. narratives that tell of the horrors
of that fateful few moments after the
Empress OF Ireland was rammed BY
the Storstad poured from the lips OF
the rescued when the special train
bearing them reached this city.
Special praise was given to the
work of DR.. James F. Grant of Vic
toria, B. c., ship surgeon on the EN-
press. To his GOODNESS was credited
the saving of large number Of per-
sons taken out of the water who prob
ably would have persisted had they not
received prompt medical attention.
Surgeons Own Marrow Escape.
A graphic description of the scene
on the Empress Of Ireland after the
collision was given by Doctor Grant.
Il was In my cabin" said the ships
surgeon, "and knew nothing Of the ac-
cident until the boat listed SO that |
tumbled out Of my berth and then
rolled under it. l 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 it.
When finally got out and reached
the passageway 1t was SO steep, due
to the way the ship was canted, that
my efforts to climb were rendered
impossible by the carpet which | was
clinging to breaking away.
"A passenger finally managed to
pull me through the portfolio.
About hundred passengers were
the time, but moment after l 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-
posture. l was picked up by life
boat"
Only two children are known to
have been saved from the wreck
Major Attwell of Toronto and his
wife were among the saved.
Salvation Army Mans Story.
A. Mcintyre was in the second cab
in with most Of the other Salvation
Army passengers. He told vivid
story of his own experiences and of
what he saw as he swan to safety.
Virtually every leading officer of
the Salvation Array 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
rescued
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 I 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.
81 grabbed life preserver and went
out to the deck On deck there were
no life belts and quite number of
people were standing about apparent
ly unable to determine what to do. I
gave my belt to Mrs. Foord. one of
our party. l tied the belt on her my
self.
When I was taken on board saw
many men rescued. practically un-
clothed"
oh
I heard the dull explosion caused by
the water reaching the engines of the
sinking ship. Il was followed by
burst of steam that spread to all parts
Of the vessel. Then came a quick list
ing of the liner and she turned over
1t looked TO me as if she turned turtle
Actor Irving Died Hero.
Laurence Irving, son of the late Sir
Henry Irving and we'll known on the
English and American stages, lost his
life in the sinking Of the Empress of
ireland while he was trying to save
his wife.
f. E Abbott of Toronto was the last
man to see Irving alive.
i ulcl nlDl Liol III tllC pdSSdS6Wdy
and he asked calmly. is the boat 60
ing down.
Il said that ii looked like it.
"Dearie,' Irving then said TO his
wife, hurry, there is no time to lose
Mrs Irving then began to cry, and
as the actor reached for life belt the
boat suddenly lurched forward and he
was thrown against the door of his
cabin. His face was bloody and Mrs.
Irving became frantic.
Keep COOL he warned her, but
she persisted in holding her arms
around him.
He forced the life belt over her
and pushed her out of the door He
then practically carried her upstairs.
I said. Can | help your and Irving
said. No. yourself first old man, but
God bless you all the same
Il left the two-man and wife
struggling. / got on deck and dived
overheard. caught hold of piece of
timber and. holding on tight. looked
around Irving was by this time on