The Empress Wreck

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 33, 29 June 1914, Page 5

The Empress Wreck

ADDRESS TO THE COURT JiY MR. ASPIXALL. BLAMES THE STORSTAD FOR THJS COLLISION. 13y Cable —Press Association—Copyright Received 28, 5.5 p.m.

Quebec, June 27,

the Empress of Ireland enquiry, Mr. Aspinull, in hiß address, contended that because the wheel was first ported and then without authority changed to "hard a-port" when the vessel had steeragc- way on, the Storstadt was responsible for the disaster. He asked .the Commission to find that the crew of the Storstad were 1 inaccurate when they claimed that the collier refused to answer her helm, and argued that the changed course on the ported helm took her into the stationary liner at right angles at sufficient speed to cause the fatal (Jamage. If there had .been no such change, the vessels would have passed safely. He contended to find that the Empress of Ireland fluid starboarded her helm would be tantamount to a charge of perjury against Captain Kendall, who claimed that he liad not altered his course. Counsel scoffed at the idea of Captain Kendall telling a deliberate lie when he had just faced death. Mr. Aspinall charged Saxe, the third officer of the Storstad, with the responsibility for the disaster in taking the 'wheel from the helmsman without authority, and putting it bard a-port.

A NORWEGIAN ENQUIRY. Received 28, 5.5 p.m. Ottawa, June 27,

The Norwegian enquiry over the Storstad, which rammed the Empress ot Ireland, will be started to-morrow.

The captain and crew will appear before the enquiry, whicli will be held in private. It is stated that it is to be an ordinary enquiry, without judgments or the forming of opinions as to who were the guilty parties in the disaster. Mr. William Johannesen, acting-Con-sul-General in Canada, will be in charge of the enquiry.