South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-03

st. Lawrence, i came to know, when l
heard Capt. Anderson of the mangled
collier StOrStad utter those words. that
it is a far more terrible tragedy TO be
still alive and TO feel, however, inno-
cent of it. the burden of one of the
worlds greatest catastrOphes upon
your shoulders.
Because a living grief grows so with
the passing of the days, L knew that
l was listening TO the story of the real
victim of the great Empress OF Ire
land disaster.
Thomas Anderson is a big, raw
boned, honest-faced sailor from Nor
way, and, as he spoke, he raised his
red, gnarled hands above his head
toward the low, white ceiling Of the
little cabin high in the bow of the
squat iron collier. But in his appeal
to the God on high there was not "A
dreg Of the dramatic; it was too truly,
simply and only the uncomfortable
overflow from cup of GRIEF filled TO
oVerfiowing.
For Thomas Anderson, 1, or anyone
else in the world, can see is broken for
good and all, and he had years OF
youth before himi
1t was the first time that Anderson
had really talked since his little craft
struck the Empress of Ireland. IL
was not an official statement, but
his own story of his feelings at that
fatal moment off Father Point when
a fog dropped disaster on the waters.
L don't know whether l can even
talk about it," he said
The horror of that terrible moment
when l came TO realize that an awful
collision really had occurred and that
human life was actually being swept
away in vast quantities is still so much
upon me-
L know, of course, that absolutely
nothing could have been done upon
my ship to avoid the accident and that
every assistance that we could give was
given, but that there was such a ter
rible loss of souls, that is what puts
into my heart a grief it seems some
times it cannot bear.
"Oh, to have lost my own life rather
than that such an accident should
have happened. would have been easy
would still be easy if it would only
bring back those dead!
You know l couldn't realize at first
that anything serious had happened
at all, for l drove my engines straight
ahead when the boats collided, prepar-
ing for the worst. But when 1 felt
the big ship veer away twisting ouI
bow as she went, / was sure she was
all right. And then l discovered We
too. were all right, and 1 breathed a
sigh Of relief. And 1 began to think
it queer, indeed, that the Empress
didn't ask if we were damaged"
YES, ne did" broke in Mrs An
derson, who had listened intentIy tC
the captains story.
For l was with him on the bridge
Are we going TO sink?' / asked
as I grabbed his arm, and he answered
back, 1 think so. Isn't it strange the
other boat doesn't ask US how we are2
We stood there, not moving foI
five minutes, Tom and l only straining
our eyes into the foggy darkness. Then
l heard screams and suddenly, every
where around US. there arose terrible
walls, walls SO awful that l thought
would have TO throw myself into the
water TO get those sounds OF death
out Of my ears"
Capt. Anderson laid his hand on hls
wife's shoulder. Don't, dearest. he
said. Don't, for Gods sake"
And there came once more into this
mans voice that terrible hunted note
and / knew again that of 81 the un-
speakabIe tragedies Of the Empress OF
ireland, the real victim Is induDltab bly
the captain Of the little collier StOr-
stad. the boat that forgot 10 sink!