The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-19
SAYS EMPRESS GEAR
WAS OUT OF ORDER
Quartermaster Makes Charge,
but Is Confused in Cross
Examination.
LORD MERSEY DISGUSTED
President Of Inquiry Court
Praises Crews and Wire
less Operators.

QUEBEC, June 1s.-what threatened for
a few moments to be a divided sensation
In the Inquiry into the story OF the sink
ing Of the Empress Of Ireland by COL
lision with the collier Storstad turned out
to-day to be fasco. At the morning
session c. s. Haight Of New York. coun-
sci for the storstad's owners, announced
that he had Witness Galway. a quar-
termaster on the Empress of Ireland, who
would testify that the Empress had de-
fects in her steering gear and refused 10
answer her helm properly
This announcement produced a pro-
found impression In court and Lord Mer-
sey practically halted the course OF the
inquiry until the quartermaster should
be produced to give his evidence.
Immediately after the adjournment for
lunch Galway was produced and told a
somewhat confused story that during sew
eral voyages OF the Empress there had
been difficulty with the steering gear
He said that on several occasions wnen
he was at the wheel he found the wheel
TO Jam, while on one occasion. In the
lower traverse, the Empress refused 10
answer her helm to such an extent tina,
she had almost collided with vessel
called the Alden.
According to the original story quoted
by Mr.. Haight the Empress had como
within ten feet of the Alden. On ex-
animation Galway said that It had come
within only about forty feet OF the other
boat
Lord Mcrsey L. Disgusted.
Galway was subjected to a searchins
cross-examination not only by counse
hut by Lord Mersey, and by the time II
was over his story was so mixed that tn,
president OF the inquiry made no effort tc
hide his disgust. Lord Mersey curtl,
asked Mr.. Haight IL his examination o.
the witness were not ended. declaring tina
It was painful episode, and the soone
IL was over the better.
Lord Mersey very sharply examined
the witness, who contradicted his story
both regarding the tanning of the whee
and the alleged refusal OF the Empress tc
answer her helm. He also told Severa
rather mixed stories regarding his ef
forts to present his story to the CANADIAN
Pacific Railway officials and counsel, anC
intimated that efforts had been made b,
the Canadian Pacific to get him out o
the country In order to prevent his givinl
evidence.
Galway finally admitted that Capt
Walsh, marine superintendent OF tn
Canadian Pacific Railway. and counse
Z ndu tplu MN tHtl ne must stay 10 pTescn
I his complaint rega riding the steering gear
In addition TO his statements regard
/ ing the steering qualities of the En-
( press, Galway told a story regarding tn
/ signals given by her totally at varianc
with that given by Capt. Kendall an
the other surviving officers and member
( % the crew, declaring that he though
| he had heard her give a signal of a singl
| blast. when all the others swore no sue
| signal had ever been given.
! Lord Mersey impatiently INTERCEPTED
MIR. Halght. this is an incident whic
I I do not lik" at all"
/ Galway said he had reported the con
I dition OF the steering gear to officer Will
A, Jams, now dead, which also called fort
} ironic comment from Lord Mersey. II
said that when relinquishng the whe.
he told Quartermaster John Murphy tina
/ the ship was no. steering well, and tina
/ he should be careful.