The Colorado statesman., 1914-06-06
TALES OF HEROlSM
TOLD BY SURVIVORS
Passengers Saved From En-
press of Ireland Relate Thrill
ing Stories of Rescue Work.
DEATH CAUSED BY BLAST
Little Girl, Ono Of Two Children to
Escape, Says She Helped Her
seIf-Ship's Surgeon Tells Ex-
perlence-Crew Is Praised.

Quebec.-Thrilling tales of heroism,
stories of futile fights for life, nara
tives that tell of the horrors of that
fateful few moments after the EN-
press OF Ireland was rammed by the
Storstad poured from the lips of the
rescued when the special train bearing
them reached this city.
There was little voiced criticism for
the terrible loss of life; rather those
who had been snatched from the jaws
of death seemed anxious to tell of
men who had proven themselves
heroes in the supreme moments of
their lives.
Special praise was given to the work
of DR.. James f. Grant of Victoria, B.
c., ship surgeon on the Empress. To
his coolness was credited the saving
OF a large number of persons taken
out of the water who probably would
have perished had they not received
prompt medical attention.
Surgeons Own Narrow Escape.
A 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 ac-
cident until the boat listed so that l
tumbled out of my berth and then
rolled under 1t. / tried to turn on the
light, but there was no power. l
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 1t was so steep, due to
the way the ship was canted, that my
efforts to climb were rendered impos-
sible by the carpet which | was cling
ing to breaking away.
Il then scrambled up and managed
to get my head through a portfolio, but
i was unable to get my shoulders
through. At that time the ship was
lying almost fiat in the water en- its
starboard side.
A passenger finally managed to pull
me through the portfolio
Sank With One Hundred Others.
About a hundred passengers were
gathered on the side of the ship at the
time, but moment after joined them
plunged to the bottom.
81 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 lifeboet
This boat went on to the scene of
the disaster and picked up load of
survivors from the water and then
took them on board the Storstad.
There we were wrapped in blankets
and l was provided with clothes.
When able l did what l could to
help the survivors. Some of them.
however. were in such exhausted con-
dition 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
Oracle replied: "Oh, saved myself"
The child was entirely unconcerned,
apparently not realizing what she had
been through. No lifeboat was near
when she was thrown from the EN-
press. She sank at once, but rose to
the surface in a moment, saw piece
of floating wood near her and seized it.
Later she was pulled into a lifeboat
She had been benumbed to the point
OF exhaustion by the cold water, but
kindly hands worked skilfully to re-
vive her and she soon was entirely re-
stored.
Saves Self and Wife.
Major Attwell OF Toronto and his
wife were among the saved.
II got life belt for my wife," said
Major Attwell, "and we both jumped
into the water together when we saw
that the vessel was doomed to go
down. We both sank three times, be-
ing carried under by the suction of
the laundering vessel. When we came
up the third time saw a lifeboat near,
and to it swan, pulling my wife after
me. Then those in the boat pulled us
in and we were saved.
The impact was just sufficient to
waken us. 1t sounded as If our boat
had struck a rock. 1t was very slight,