The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-18
CAPTAINS CLASH AT
EMPRESS INQUIRY
Their Stories Conflict OIL Lights,
Speed and Whistle
Signals.
GOLFERS SPEED A FACTOR
Attempt to Show Vessels Crew
Got Bonus for Quick
Trip.

CorRr HOUSE,. Quebec, June I7.-Ai-
though five witnesses were heard to-day
nj the inquiry into the sinking OF the
Empress OF Ireland by the Storstad, APP
parcntly not a single ray of light was
thrown upon the mystery OF how the two
ships came together in the fog. The evil
dence was just as contradictory as ever.
The one fact which seemed TO be con-
sidered Of importance was brought out on
cross-examination OF Alfred Tuf,enes. the
chief officer OF the Storstad. Th,, was
that although he had standing orders To
awaken Capt Andersen In case of foggy
weather he had not done 80 on this occa
sion until ten minutes after the storstad
had gone into the fog. and had not then
told him that another steamer was near.
Capt Andersen Just before the collision.
Capt Andersen said that when he had
been awakened he went to the bridge.
and almost Immediately saw the lights
OF the Empress. when he ordered his en-
sines hard astern. but too late to prevent
the collision.
Capt Andersen. however. although he
admitted that his chief officer had broken
the rules In not calling him. declared that
In his opinion this made no difference so
far as tho collision was concerned. and
that he probably would not have reversed
his engines earlier even though he had
been on the bridge. since he would not
have seen the lights OF the Empress
earlier in the fog. As to the previous
signalling lac said he knew nothing of
1t. having been below.
Chief officer Tuftenes Of the Storstad was
cross-examined I'm the morning and stuck
stoutly to his story that his ship had pro-
ceeded correctly and had not changed
course, as charged. in the Cog, but that
the Empress had changed her courso and
gone ahead.
This part Of the evidence was sharply
questioned 10y Lord Mersey. VINO asked
capt. Andersen II he had any explanation
to gest as to tho possibility that Capt
Kendall Of the Empress had signalled by
,hrec blasts that his engines were full
speed astern. and then by two blasts that
he way dying dead on the water, when IN
reality. as the Storstad alleged. he was
going ahead
Capt Andersen could Offer no sug-
gestion as to this, but reiterated that tn,
Empress was going at great speed. Lord
Mersey asked Capt. Andersen II Ia
thought that capt. Kendall was playing
with his whistles and using them in II
manner to indicate quite the reverse Of
what his ship was really doing. but tbs
captain OF the Storstad replied that he
mad not heard these signals. and had n
/ ton, In hn ,.nlana.
Iion no could offer was the Empires;
might have gone full spe Il astcrn. am
| then started full speed aheud In order T.
! Try and cross tho Storstad's bows.
with regard TO the collision itself, Capt
Andersen said he had hardly fel; tn
| shock. which was lighter than often cam'
! from the impact OF tying up to a doc
| He declared that with his load OF Goa
| II ne had been going az any speed WHIT.
| the two ships came together the Siorsta'
| would probably have cut the Empress
! almost in half.
Tuftenes said he did not know whethe
| the master Of the Storstad got bonus 10
| a speedy trip between sydney and Mont
real Or not. When the question wa
! repeated TO Capt. Andersen. sitting IN tn
| back OF the room. the Storstad's skppc
| said there was no bonus. Tuftenes admit
| ted that the ship was unlosded in Mont
real at night and that time APPARENT!
was an important consideration
| The main result of the examination AM
cross-examination OF five witnesses durinl
the day was that both sides stuck to thei
\ utterly contradictory stories. Capt An
dersen and First Officer Tuftcnes of tn
Storstad insisted that their vessel wa
| practically at "a standst!ll at the time O
| the collision. and the latter held firmly I
his account OF the signals from the Elm
| press, while both insisted that the En-
| press was travelling at great speed
For the Empress the evidence that sh
had given the proper signals and ha
stopped dead four miles away from III
Storstad as soon as the fog set In was re
peated. For the first time several mem
bers of the crew were called and thei
stories tailed In every essential with tina
| OF Capt. Kendall. Chief officer Jones'
Quartermaster Murphy and John Carol
| an able bodied seaman, who had been o.
the lookout, were all examined at length.
Several of the crew of the Storstad d
not understand English and their examina
ton is being postponed until Norwegian