The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-31

! heard an order from the bridge, 'Au
hands | dropped the sea ladder and
ran UP to the bridge to clear the
emergency boat, which had swung over
board ready for lowering. That wa, the
only boat l. think that really got
launched from the Empress and there
was no one there to get into IT,
THE ship was listing away over II
swung over more and more. and with
the first officer ! chung to the Combing
of the Marconi house. There was some
boat gear dashed on top there and it's
lashings gave. way and carried the first
officer overheard. Terrible confusion
followed. Everything gave way. ] saw
two or three men carried overheard as
great winches broke their lashings and
lurched into the sea. People were
scrambling up from below and trying to
get onto the port side to keep away
from the water. 1t was all ] could do to
hang on to the Marconi house. Finally
| saw the ship was going. She was on
her beam ends. I saw a spar In the
water and made dive for II. ] got IT,.
and just then the ship gave a wallow
and went under. The spar and l were
carried under the water.
Like Bugs In n Pool.
The surface of the water when I
came I'D was all covered with people,
dead and alive, some struggling and
some bobbing in the water. The only
light came from the flare of some OF the
automatic life buoys which got free
when the ship sank. They sort Of made
a creepy light over II all. II was like
bugs in pool"
Thomas Williams. chief steward.
second class just escaped being crushed
by the bow of the Storsdad.
II was asleep In my bunk" he said.
when the collision occurred. I felt
! something striking under me. 1t
seemed like the floor of the deck was
breaking under me. 1t was Just one
great bump. II shook me from my
bunk and then could feel the ship
heeling over. II seemed like she was
turning very fast. 1 ran to the deck as
/ quickly as / could get hold of some
clothes, but when I reached there Ii
had heeled over so far that / could not
keep on my feet. could not stand and
1 had to dive of"
The Rev. James Wallet, an Episco-
/ pal preacher of Westcliff- on-Sea, Eng
land, said that only the persons who
could swim were saved. He had re-
markable escape. for he is very neal
sighted and without his glasses could
see nothing.
"Only the strong swimmers were
saved" he said I'VE were all asleep
| heard the warning boots of the yes
sci and then came the crash. I thought
il was an iceberg we had hit. 1t was
so crushing and so sudden. I ran upor
deck, throwing on my coat and over
coat because | felt that II we were sink,
ing we would be exposed to severe cold
/ got on deck just as the vessel wal
heeling over. 1t did not seem so mucl
that the ship was sinking as that thu
ocean was rising up over the ship.
could see little girls, with their hail
hanging down over their night clothes
rush out on the deck In search OF thei'
parents and then disappear.
Ten minutes afterward the ship wal
under water. As she went over
Jumped. / was pulled down an un
measurable distance. ! struck agains
objects all the way Town and all thu
way up. came up in whirlpool o
arms and legs and heads. We wee al
tangled"
Arthur Ferraday, chief steward OF thu
third class sat In the little Seamen'
Mission. One arm was bandaged ana al
injured leg was helpless
"The crash did not wake me- he said
"Or.. Of the mates pulled me from m!
bunk in the glory hole, and told me tn
ship was sinking. He went up to tn
deck. While | was crawling out tn
ship gave a sudden lurch and boxes AM
trunks fell upon me, tearing my wris
and hitting on my back.
II ran up to the boat deck where tn
men were trying to ger the boats oveI
A lot q, us tried to put ever No. IL boa
on the port deck. but could not do It be