Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-15
GIRL RELATES /.
big BATTLE TO
SAVE HER LIFE
Survivor of Wreck of Empress
of Ireland Swan Half Hour
in Icy st. Lawrence "
MISS T. TOWNSEND GOES
TO HOME IN AUCKLAND
Young Woman. Still in Her
Teens, Saved From Death
by Crew of Storstad

Bearing unmistakable traces of the
to exposure in the icy waters of the
st. Lawrence, Miss T. Townsend, who
miraculously escaped death in the
Empress of Ireland disaster, arrived
in Honolulu this morning in the Ca
nadia-Australasian liner Makura. Miss
Townsend is en- route to Auckland, N.
a., where a joyous family reunion is
in store for one of the survivors of
one of the greatest marine disters of
modern times. -" -.
In the disaster which brought death
to more than 1000 persons the night
of May 20, through the collision be-
tween the Canadian Pacific liner and
the Norwegian collier Storstad, Miss
Townsend witnessed suffering Glat
has left an imprint upon the young
girl that it will take long time to
erase. -.
Il was in the water for more than
half an hour, end swan for distance
of about mile when |, with several
scantily clad companions, was picked
up by boat manned by sailors from
the Storstad. We were soon raised to
the deck of that vessel where dry
clothing and stimulants were pro-
cured" said Miss Townsend this
morning, as she viewed for the first
time the island of Oahu and the city
of Honolulu. H.
Girl Proved Brave Swimmer.
Il have been rated as fair swim.
mer for some years | have always
had liking for athletics and outdoor
sports, and that may, in measure,
have accounted for my retaining a
firm grip on life while all around me
in the turbulent waters of the st.
Lawrence were heard the agonizing
cries of the dying as they struggled
to retain their hold upon bits OF
wreckage." ......
Miss Townsend, together with $50
survivors of the Empress of Ireland,
swas~lalded at the little Canadian fish,
ing village of Rfmouski, from the Nor
wegian steamer Storstad. The young
woman, barely II years of age, who
today is spending a few hours in this
city, has nothing but the highest
praise to offer for the kindness shown
her and to the other unfortunates by
Captain Anderson and his wife while
they, bordering upon prostration,
were on board the Norwegian
freighter. -. ... - ....-....-.. -.
On voyage to Great Britain, where
she intended to spend several months,
Miss Townsend decided to abandon
the trip, following the terrible expert.
ence In the wreck of the Empress of
Ireland. With nothing save the
clothing in which she stood, the girl
was befriended until such time as she
could get into communication with
relatives. H..
Darkness Retarded Rescue Work.
The collision taking place at night
and at time when the water was
enveloped in a heavy fog, retarded the
work of rescuing the thousand odd
passengers in the Empress of Ireland.
who In the space of less than 80 min.
utes were plunged into the storm.
tossed waters of the ST. Lawrence
The young woman was fortunate in
leaping from the rail of the steadily
listing vessel to soon find substan-
tial piece of wreckage With this as.
sistanee in keeping afloat, and guild.
ed by the sound of oars beating upon
the rowlocks, Miss Townsend, with
strong, steady stroke, made her way
to what she believed to be a boat pro-
PEELED by sailors from the collier.
While she failed to understand the