THE WRECK

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 12, 2 June 1914, Page 5

THE WRECK

-PURTHER DETAILS,

LHARROWING SCENES. ■EXHIBITION OF BRITISH PLUCK. "WRIT SERVED ON STORSTADT'S CAPTAIN. AN HEROIC CAPTAIN. INSTANCES OP SELF-DENIAL. WIDESPREAD SYMPATHY. REFERENCES IN THE CHURCHES. Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, May 31. There were references throughout England in the churches and chapels to the' disaster, and notable services were held by the Salvation Army. Two Board of Trade representatives have gone to Canada. English correspondents in Canada give many interesting incidents. Over a million dollars of silver were lost. Of 140 Toronto people on board i<)B were drowned. Of 160 Salvationists, includ- . tag delegates to the London Congress, , twenty-two were rescued. I The Storstadt's bow was smashed for . fifteen feet and her anchors driven into . Ser hull. J Mi. and Mrs. Neville were returning ,j*4ter a tour with the li vings' Company. ( *<PsSptain Kendall bade Hayes, the purser farewell on the bridge when the , ■Water was lapping his feet, and gave a • passenger bis belt. Hayes and Capt. Kendall jumped together. Hayes was soon ( picked up, and Captain Kendall was found later clinging to some wreckage, j Hundreds were drowned in their sleep. ( Sir Henry Seton-Karr insisted on Mr. Darling, of Shanghai, taking bis belt, j Darling was saved. The Duke of Connaught cabled his ( deep grief at the awful disaster, and his heartfelt sympathy with the mourners. The Kaiser telegraphed to King George "deploring the catastrophe and the loss of valuable lives. He also sent » message to Queen Alexandra. Prince Henry of Prussia sent a similar message. ' Among the watchers in London Is Captain Kendall's niece, Mrs. Wild, whose father was drowned in the Britannia. Her husband was chief officer on the Titanic and perished. Her brother, George Evans, was sixth officer on the Titanic and was drowned. Her brother Frederick was an officer on the f Empress of Ireland. 1 . c THBtSTORSTADT'S DAMAGE. CAPTAIN KENDALL'S EVIDENCE. t BODIES IMPRISONED IN THE HULL. « Quebec, May 30. s The Storstadt lias been docked to as- I certain the damage she has sustained. > Captain Kendall, further examined at * the inquest, declared that he gave the 1 order full speed ahead in an attempt to i »the Empress. He ordered the life- f out and directed that wireless f calls should be dispatched, but the vessel went down too rapidly., Captain ' Kendall was shot from the bridge while •giving directions, arid seized a piece of a ' ■grating. Later, when he was nearly ' unconscious, some people pulled him into 1 « boat. He took command and rescued i numbers of struggling people. He put ten men over the side attached to ropes i and dragged them to safety. After leaving the first boat-load ' aboard the Storstadt, Captain Kendall returned in another boat, but was unable to find ■anyone alive. it was impossible for the Storstadt's captain to fail to hear his order to stand fast and not to go astern. Even if he did not hear the call to keep ahead, as a seaman lie ought to have known -what to do. There was no explosion, I>ut tho escaping steam might have «utde a noise like one. The Empress of Ireland carried ample , 'boats with room for hundreds more than those on board. The boats which iCaptain Kendall cut free floated off when the vessel sank. The Storstadt rescued only a few of the survivors. The Government steamer, with cn»ign and flags half-masted, brought 175 to Quebec. It is believed the remainder of the ilcail are still imprisoned in the hull of the Empress of Ireland. AUSTRALIA'S SYMPATHY. Sydney, .Time 1. M. Holmaii cabled to Canada expressing sympathy in the less of the Empress of Ireland. .Sympathetic reference to the disaster wa» made in various churches in the • Commonwealth. HEAVY SALVATIONIST DEATIIROLL. TIIEIR BRAVERY PRAISED. Melbourne, June 1. It is feared that the passengers lost in the Empress of Ireland included Mr. Gabriel Marks, of Suva, of the firm of H. Marks and Co., anil his wife, who were touring the world. It is also possible that the father, mother and brother of Colonel Macniillan, of the Salvation Army Training College, Melbourne, were On board. Tliey had announced their intention of travelling to the London Conference with the Canadian delegates. According to advices received by the Army headquarters, the Salvationist } w th rolls aboard the Empress of Ire--lip W«« 130. . .

A c*bl« from Mr. Bramwell Booth states that he has sent Commissioner McKie to stand by the Canadian forces, ' to whom he pays a high tribute for their bravery. CANADA'S REPLY TO DOMINION SYMPATHY. Ottawa, May 31. Mr. Borden read in the House of Commom Mr. Masscy's message of sympathy at the appalling loss of life and heartfelt condolence with the sufferers. Mr. Borden replied expressing deep and sincere appreciation for the message and profound sympathy with those in the Dominion who were bereaved of relatives and friends by the disaster. LONDON OFFICES BESIEGED. LISTS EAGERLY SCANNED. AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE. RELIEF FUND OPENED. Received 1, 7.40 p.m. " London, June 1. The company's offices in London were again besieged all day long by a crowd of sorrowful enquirers. Every new list of names posted at the entrance was eagerly scanned during the afternoon. The, celebrated Silver Band, belonging to the Regent Hall branch of the Salvation Army, marched past, playing the hymn, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." The band was accompanied by the New Zealand contingent who are attending the London Conference. The company's officials stood at the doorway with bowed heads. Subsequently the Salvationists held a memorial meeting in the vicinity, New Zealanders addressing the mourners. The Lord Mayor has opened a Mansion House fund for the victims' dependents, and invited the mayors throughout the United Kingdom to open funds. A convention in London, representing two million Irish residents in Britain, offered their profoundest sympathy with the victims' dependent?. FIXING THE RESPONSIBILITY. ' CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS, J BEST BRITISH TRADITIONS UPHELD SPLENDID PATIENCE AND UNSELFISHNESS. Received 1, 10 p.m. Quebec, June 1. It is difficult to fix the responsibility ' for the Empress of Ireland disaster. : There are many conflicting stories in circulation. i Speaking at Toronto, .Major Attwell, 1 i Salvationist, said that he did not see J the captain of the ship, nor did he hear , my orders given. He saw no officers i it any post. Others corroborated thh statement. A ' survivor says the boat lie clambered into had fifty people in it. The davit ropes were fouled. The people were silting on the oars, so rowing was impossible. He saw the stern of the vessel rise and the bow drop. The vessel gave a hiss and a gurgle and then sank. Some of the passengers when rescued went ern/.y. The balance of the evidence suggests that the best traditions of the race were not dishonored. There was confusion, panic and frenzy, but over all there was exhibited concern for the weak, self-sacrifice, splendid patience and endurance. SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. - LIABILITY OF D 1 HECTORS. Received 1, 11.43 p.m. Sydney, June 1. Sir R. E. Munro-Ferguson (GovernorGeneral) and the State Governors cabled their sympathy to Canada. Mr. llolman (Premier of New South Wales), referring to the disaster, said he supposed that the enquiry would end iu the condemnation of some unfortunate second mate or seaman. There would be no safety to the travelling public until the directors of companies, which send 1500 people to set in a ship capable of destruction in fifteen minutes, were put on their trial as accessories to a charge of manslaughter. lie hoped the Canadian Government would deal with the calamity in that spirit. He was not saying they were innocent or guilty. The calamity may have been a mere act of God. but if it were due to human failing the people who made money ny gambling ia human lives ought to be punished. WRIT AGAINST THE STORSTADT'S CAI'TAIV. FOR TWO MILLION DOLLARS . DAMAGES. INVESTIGATING THE DISASTER, V-Keceii.-'d t. 1.41 a.™. Montreal, Jim* 1. The .Storstadt has arrived. The Canadian Pacific Company lias issued a writ against Captain Andrcscn for two million -dollars damages. The seamen of the Storstadt say that Androgen was not on duly at the time of the collision. The Storstadt was ordered astern before striking. Ottawa, June 1. The Government has ordered an investigation into the disaster in conjunction with the British Board of Trade. , The Government appointed Captain Lindsay, superintendent of the St. Lawrence pilot*, to bold ft pi'cli«]»ary 5i-

vestigation with the object of securing the survivors' declarations. Quebec, June 1. The steamer Lady Grey lias arrived with 176 bodies. MISS TOWNSHEND. By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim, Monday. Miss Tiriah Townshend, who is the daughter of Mr. Townshend, Crown Lands Ranger for Marlborough, with her aunt, Mrs. Hugh Wynn-Price, of Auckland, were aboard the ill-fated Empress of Ireland. Yesterday mornt ing Mr. Townshend received a cable 'from Quebec stating that his daughter was safe, but that her aunt was lost, and requesting that money and instructions be sent. Miss Townshend is a good swimmer, and received emergency training at the Blenheim baths. MESSAGE FROM GENERAL BOOTH. Wellington, Monday. General Booth has cabled the New Zealand headquarters of the Salvation Army calling for tho prayers of the whole army in connection with the Empress of Ireland disaster. The General has placed Commissioner McKie, formerly Commissioner for Australia, temporarily in charge of Canada, vice Commissioner Recs, wljo was a passenger in the Empress of Ireland. GISBORNE LADY LOST. Gisborne, Monday. Mrs. Hailey, mother of A. P. Hailey, of Gisborne, formerly of Rotorua, left Vancouver on May 21, intending to embark on the Empress of Ireland. Mr. Hailey lias received a cablegram stating that she was aboard and there is no hope for her safety. A LUCKY POSTPONEMENT. Hastings, Monday. Mr, J. J. Craig, of Auckland, who is on a visit here, has received a cable from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, stating that Mrs. Craig, Mr. J. C. Craig and Miss Craig postponed their departure, and were not aboard • the Empress of Ireland. FEARS FOR A NEW ZEALANDER SET AT REST. Christchurcli, Last Night. Fearg for the safety of a well-known New Zealand, Mr. Leslie Lilley, who, it was thought, was a passenger by the Empress of Ireland, were set at rest yesterday by the receipt of a cable message sent by him from Montreal to his brother, Mr. Arthur Lilley, late organist at St. Luke's Church, Christchurch, stating that he was prevented by business arrangements from joining the steamer last Friday, as he had intended. CHRISTCHURCH MINISTERS' RESOLUTIONS. Christchurcli, Last Night. At the Christchurch Methodist Ministers' Association meeting this morning, 23 members being present, the following resolution was carried:—That this meeting of Christchurch Methodist Ministers' Association express its deepest regret it, the loss of life involved in the wreck of the s.s. Empress of Ireland in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and hereby-'commends to God's sustaining grace all those to whom this wreck lias brought sore bereavement. At the same meeting a resolution was passed expressing deep sympathy with the local members of the Salvation Army in the loss of tl|cir comrades, and praying that the bereavement may be ;<anptified by the consolation of the Holy Spirit to a wider extension of the Kingdom of ChTist. THE LOST EMPRESS OF IRELAND. PALATIAL ATLANTIC FLIER. Not since the terrible disaster to the Titanic, on April 15, 1912, lias such an appalling shipping catastrophe heen re«orded as that of the loss of the Empress of Ireland in tho St. Lawrence. Owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, the Empress of Ireland was a big twin-screw steamer of 14,191 tons gross and 8028 tons net register, her principal dimensions being: Length, 848.0 ft; beam, 65.7 ft; depth of hold, 30.7 ft; moulded depth, 40ft. She was fitted with two sets of quadruple expansion engines, supplied with steam by nine boilers. Built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding Ooinpany, Ltd., of Govan, Clyde, the builders of 11.M.5. New Zealand and the Union liner Maunganui, the Emprcsg of Ireland was a sister ship to the Empress of Britain, their dimensions being identical in every particular. The two ships were, in fact, built side by side in the Fairfield yards, the "Britain" being launched in April, 190G, and the "Jrclnnd" two months later. These magnificent ships were specially built to meet the growing demand of the C.P.R. Company's express mail and passenger service between Montreal, Quebe* and Liverpool, the other steamers in that service being the Lake Manitoba, 9674 tons, Lake Erie 7550 tons, and Lake Champlain 7352 tons. Everything in the equipment of the Empress of Ireland was of the most modern type, and the iippojntment of her passenger accommodation was of the most luxurious description." She had accommodation for 350 first saloon, 358 second saloon, and over 1000 third-class passengers. The two 'Empress" ships were the fastest on the Liverpool-Quebec service, making the passage in a little more than six days. The record passage of the Empress of Ireland was 6 days 2 hours S<) minutes, and of her sister ship 6 flays 3 hours 8 minutes. Each of these steamers cost about £500,000. The Empress of Ireland was fitted with every modern device to ensure safety at sea. She carried boats sufficient to accommodate more than her full complement of passengers and crew, the latter numbering about 500. She was equipped with wireless telegraphy and submarine signalling apparatus. The Empress of'Treland was a splendidly constructed ship, and was divided by bulkheads into ten watertight compartments, and was built so that she would remain afloat with two compartments flooded. THE STORSTADT. HUGE COLLIER PLAYS PART OF DESTROYER. The Storstadt, which rammed and sank (he Empress of Ireland. was a big' cargo steamer of 6028 tons gross and 3501 tons net register, her dimensions being: Length. 44fift: beam. 58.1 ft: depth of hold, 24.6 ft. She is a comparatively new steamer, having heen built in 1910 by Messrs Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., Ltd., at Newcastle-tn-Tyne, England. She flew the Nor-