The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-31
TWO ASTOUNDING FACTS
WILL BE INVESTIGATED
10th Captains Admit ships Almost
Two Miles Apart when They
Sight Each Other.
MAJORITY OF CREW IS SAVED
Survivors Declare Ruie After Ships
Crashed Together Was "Eycry Man
for Himself"
Especial to Tho Tlmes-Dispa.ch.l

Especial to Tho Times Dispa.ch.l
Quebec, May 30.-Although tho ca
madam Pacific Railway Steamship Com
pnny has 50 far prevented an authentic
official statement of tho circumstances
surrounding tho wreck of tho Empress
of ireland, ii developed Tonight that
two amazing facts Will engage tho at
tention OF local and government in
vestigators next week.
First, the number of members OF tho
crew who were saved Is more than
twice the total of rescued passengers.
Second. IL has been admitted by tho
captains OF both ships that tho vessels
were almost two miles apart when
they sighted each other, thus prcclud-
Ing any tendency to thrust RESPONSE
biIity upon a fog.
An explanation Of tho first detail Is
offered by Canadian Pacific officials.
who declare that tho crews were near
~ all on deck at tho time OF tho ac-
cident. whereao the passengers wcre
nll below decks.
No explanation or tho accond has
bccn made. and officials of the limo per-
B'stcntly refuse to discuss It. Mem
bors of the crew who arrived here last
night have been warned to keep closed
mouths, and avoid newspaper men.
mo newspapers here fail to touch
upon either OF tho Incidents, probably
because of tho indi3putablo influence
OF the Canadian Pacific
commissioners Captain Dcmcris. chief
or tho wreckage commission, has been
designated by Minister or Marine
Johnston 10 hold an Investigation. and
is expected hero morrow. Hearings
VIII not begin until Wednesday or
Thursday. coronors inquest wns be-
gun mt Rimouski to-day. but utter
Viewing the bodies adjourned until to-
morrow.
MEMBERS or CREW TRY
TO SAVE PASSENGERS
In statement given out by tho Ca
madam Pacific to-day. It was etated
that members OF tho crew had done
everything possible to eavo passengers,
going below to knock on stateroom
doors and arouso aloepers from their
berths.
This was rntly denied BY eleven sur
rivors interviewed tonight. They de-
clared that no member OF the crew
had aroused passengers. and the rule
was every man for himself" Thcy
profcsscd no bitterness. however. say
Ing that they believed the tino was
too short for the crew To have accom-
plishcd tho work they AFRO credited
with in the official report.
william Davis. of Toronto: Fergus
duncan. OF London. and William Crel-
lin, tho hero who swan with eight
ycar-old Florenco Barber until both
wore rescued. were among those who
declared that members OF tho crew.
had not made tour OF tho cabins at-
ter tho crash.
As to the cause OF tho, collision, 1, is
believed hero that tho fault is IL, =
wrong understanding. of signals
Captain Kendall. In an interview at
Rimouski, and brought hero today.
shows disposition TO blame CaDtain
Anderson. Of tho Storstad. but ADMITS
that he saw tho collier first wh!lo two
miles on
The story 0, Captain Anderson mar
TALLY agrees. however. that he mig
understood tho signals OF tho Empress
OF ireland, and calls attention to the
rescue work done by his men after the
collision