The Empress Wreck

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 19 June 1914, Page 5

The Empress Wreck

TWO SIDES TO THE CASE,

SOME FLAT CONTRADICTION,

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Ottawa, June IT.

At the enquiry, Tuftness, chief officer of the Storstad, answering Mr. Apinwall's cross-examination, said he did not know whether the Storstad's master received bonuses for speedy voyages.

Captain Anderson, questioned on the point, answered in the negative. The Ship was, however, unloaded in Montreal at night, indicating some necessity for urgency.

Tuftness said he saw the Empress of Ireland first when six miles distant, pursuing a course which was likely to bring her across the Storstad's bows. He did not hear any signal from the Empress indicating that she was stopping-

Tuftness denied that there was any sheet of flame from the side of the Empress of Ireland when the Storstad struck her. The speed of the Empress caused the Storstad's bow to penetrate twelve feet into the Empress.

EVIDENCE OF OFFICERS ON DUTY,

THH PRECAUTIONS ON THE LINER,

Received 18, 9.50 p.m,

Quebec, June 17.

Jones, chief officer on the Empress of Ireland, who was on duty on the bridge after the pilot was dropped, said he saw the masthead light of the Storstad six miles distant. He afterwards gave the. proper signals, and the Storstad responded. When the vessels collided I the Empress of Ireland had stopped. He added that by Captain Kendall's orders he ordered the engines "full speed astern" when three miles distant from the Storstad. This was merely a measure of precaution owing to the approaching fog. Murphy, the quartermaster, corroborated this evidence. The Empress of Ireland stopped as soon as the collision occurred. Both witnesses deposed to assisting in rescues. All wore lifebelts.

Tuftness, the Storstttd's chief mate, declared that owing to the momentum the Storstad would have gone right through the Empress of Ireland if she had been travelling at ten knots an hoflr.

Lord Mersey pointed out that if the Storstad's engines had been reversed earlier the calamity would not have happened.