The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-06-02

u6ChS Oul III ~ liS
The ships heavy list as water pour
ed in made the work Of launching
boats Increasingly difficult and when
she sank scores still left on her decks
were carried down, only few being
able to clear her sides and find sup
port on wreckage.
From all accounts Capt. H. G. Ken
dali of the Empress of Ireland bare
himself like a true sailor. He re-
tanned such command of the situa-
ton, it appears, that while the St2r-
S ads stem still hung in the gash
it had made in the Empress side
Cap. Kendall begged the master OF
the collier to keep his propellers go
ing so that the hole might remain
plugged. The Storstad, however,
dropped back and the Empress filled
and foundered!
Capt. Kendall s,ood on his bridge
as the ship went down. A boat picked
him up and ne directed its work of
saving others until the craft was
loaded. The captain was injured but
his hur;s are not dangerous.
When day broke the rescue boats
had no. returned from the scene OF
the wreck
People standing on shore at Father
Point scanning the harbor with tele-
scopes saw the rescue steamers pick
ing up boats in the river and pre-
pared to give help to the survivors.
They were sorely in need of aid, as
most q, them had or little clothing
and the temperature was near the
freezing point.
When they had BEEN given attention
the work of receiving bodies Was un-
dertaken. The rescue steamers them
selves had brought in nearly % OF
these and tonight after they had con-
tinued their search a total of about
25O bodies had been recovered. One
woman and four men, sill living but
unconscious were picked up by the
steamers during the day. Few of the
bodies had been identified tonight.
The wireless is given credit for saw
ing many lives. Responding promptly
to the IS. o. S." call, the steamer
Eureka was on the spot approximately
20 minutes after-the disaster and the
Lady Evelyn but little la.er.
When the rain came from the
wharf bearing survivors it was a
piti!ul sight to see them alight. Most
of them wore very little clothes. Many
had to be carried bodily. A woman
had a brokea leg and shoulder, and
man had two legs broken. They
we're carried to the hotel opposite the
station.
One woman, garbed only in vest,
jumped from the Empress and swan
to the Lady Evelyn. She was so ex-
hausjed, however, that she died 3
few minutes after she was taken from
the water. Her identity has not been
established.
Both Marconi operators were res
cued. Edward Bcmford, after he had
caught the Father Point Marconi sta
ton and called for assistance, was
saved by falling into lifeboat.
The passengers were loud in their
praise of the pilot and captain e
Lady Evelyn and Capt. Belanger of
the Eureka and their crews. All of
them displayed the greatest bravery,
it was declared. A Mr.. McWilliams
OF Father Point was also active in
aiding the rescued.
Went Down Like Lead.
The stricken vessel sank as if she
/ were lead. An explosion, apparently
originated in her engine rooms, has
tened her cad and tb0se persons who
were able to make their way from
their cabins found themselves on a
perilously slanting deck. Many leaped
and were drowned. O hers were for
tunate enough to grasp dri.twood or
were picked up by lifebcats. 1t is ap-
parent that the great hole torn in
! the ships side admitted sucn a deluge
/ Of water that many must have been
/ overcome in their beds.
The rescued, fighting their way to
the lifeboats from the careening deck,
clinging desperately 10 the rails or
leaping blindly overheard, broke their
arms or legs or otherwise injured
themselves so badly that % died after