Lower coast gazette., 1914-06-06


explosion that almost rent the ship In
twain.
1t was the explosion Of the boilers
struck by the cold water. A geyser OF
water shot upward from the midship
section, mingled with fragments OF
wreckage, that showered down upon
the passengers still clinging to the
rails forward and upon those strug-
Cling in the water.
The explosion destroyed the last
hope of the ships floating until succor
could arrive, for the shock had
smashed the forward steel buIkhead
walls that had up to then shut out the
torrents invading the after part. The
water rushed forward and the Empress
of Ireland went swiftly to her doom,
carrying down with her hundreds Of
passengers who stood on her slanting
deck, their arms stretched upward and
their last cries choked In the engulang
waters.
One Of the survivors, relating that
last tragic scene on the decks Of the
liner, said:
Il was asleep like most Of the pas
sengers when the collision came.
There was a sickening c%runching Of
wood and steel and then q grinding.
ripping sound as the Storstad smashed
her way along the port side Of ouI
ship.
II knew that we had teen struck
and / rushed to the stater0oms Of some
friends and shouted to them to get up
as the ship was sinking. Stateroon
doors flew open all along the corridor
and men and women began to rush fol
the grand companion forward. Those
! aft must have been drowned in theil
| berths.
! Darkness Is Intense.
ION deck officers Of the ship, par
TALLY dressed, we're rushing abou
urging passengers to be calm. Sailor
under orders were trying to launcl
the lifeboats.
"The darkness was intense and
| few minutes after / reached the decl
the electric lights went out. At tina
time there were still hundreds Of pas
sengers below trying to grope thei
way through the darkened corridors Il
the companionway and reach the decl
Most Of them went down with tn,
ship, for the corridors below file
right after the explosion Of the boilers
Il leaped overheard in despair JUS
before the ship went down and mar
aged to find a bit Of wreckage to whicl
I chung"
Intease darkness covered the water
when the Empress Of Ireland mad
that final plunge, hut the foG lifted
few minutes later and then tamc tn
first faint streaks Of dawn.
It lighted waters strewed Wit
w~reckage and struggling passenger,
who stroye to keep afl0at.
The crippled Storstad, which ha
wrought this tragedy OF the waten
had ffeboats out picking up as mar,
survivors as possible.
The gray dawn revealed the govern
ment steamers Lady Evelyn and q,
reka near the scene Of the disaster an
Fastening to aid.
Some Of those In the water tried
swim to the Eureka as she neared tn
point where the Empress had gon
down. One woman. wearing only 4
undervest, swan to the Lady Evalyl
and was helped on boar, but died I
exhaustion soon afterwards.
The work OF rescue still was xoin
on when the sun arose in a cloudlel
sky.
Men and women were clinging /
spars and bits OF broken planka. Mar
ofethe survivors were injured. Som
had broken legs. others fractured arm
and still others had been Injured int
nally In that last mad rush to ret avn
from the sinking liner.
Women cltnging with one hand
little ones. while with the other the
= tried 70 keep clutch on pieces 81 vrec