GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS BY THE SURVIVORS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2164, 1 June 1914, Page 7

GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS BY THE SURVIVORS

DOCTOR'S SPLENDID FIGHT HOW LAWRENCE IRVING DIED (Rec. May 31, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 30. Mr. Duncan, of London, one of tho survivors,_ states that at tho moment of tho collision there was a terrific crash and a frightful grinding of plates, as tlio Empress of Ireland heeled over. Though there was a sufficiency of boats, it was impossible to launch them owing to tho vessel's list. There was 110 panic, though somo confusion arose, in the midst of which tho steamer lurched, ■ and the passengers rolled down tho dcck into the sea. Women were crying and praying, while men were 6houfcing. The cries continued until the icy waves ended their sufferings.

. Mr. Duncan swam for an hour, before he was rescued. He felt the bodies of dead men under his feet as he swam. The officers behaved splendidly, facing death fearlessly. Captain Kendall remained on tho bridge until the ship saiik. • Mr. Duncan, who was taken on board tho collier Storstad, says that .many of She rescued survivors are raving mad from shock and exposure. Dr. Johnson, a C.P.R. medical officer, -says that if tho Storstad had not backed out, many more of those in the Empress of Ireland would have teen saved. • Tho Marconi operator states that Father Point respondod promptly. He was unable to talk, as the vessel's dynamos failed within five minutes of the collision. . Mr. M'lntyro, of the Salvation Army, says that tho vessel was wallowing on her side for a few moments, when an explosion sent her to tho bottom. Tlio scalding steam went all over tho vessel, which seemed to turn turtlo. Another account t states thai a panic broko out after a terrific collision, and men and. women rushed from their cabins. Some reached the deck, and wore hurled , off into

tho . river owing to the angle of tho deck. Parents were separated from their children, and husbands from their wives. Doctor Grand the ship's surgeon, saved many lives owing to his coolness and his capablo directions as to medical attention when the survivors were picked up. Dr. Grant went down with the ship, but managed to escape through a porthole. Captain Kendall stood at the bridge when the vessel sank. Two hundred and fifty dead bodies have been recovered. Search still continues amongst tho wreckage in the river. Five persons wero found clinging to tho wreckage, still alive, but aro not likely to survive the exposure. A steerage passenger named Phillip Lawler has asserted that it was the explosion which really caused Iho steamer to sink so rapidly. Peoplo wore shot out of the ship like peas from a pod. Lawler, his wife, and eon slipped overboard, unable to stand oil tho sloping deck. A wife slipped from her husband's grasp, and would have been drowned had not other* rescued her. Another woman leaped from the sinking steamer and swam round awaiting succour for nearlv an liour. ,Thcu sho was pickcd up, only to die on board tho resruing tun. There was no time to arouse all the

passengers. Sir. Laurence irvii-ig ti-id a lifebelt to l)is wife. Just then the vessel lurched, and Mr. Irving was thrown against tire door, his faco being cut. He carried his wi.fi> upstairs, and one of tlio passengers ottered to help him. Mr. Irving said: "J,ook after yaw* self, old man; but Gou bless you, all tho same." Both climbed tire rail as the explosion oeeuvr-ed, but wero not seen again. Mr. Burt, of Toronto, coming to the surface, saw Miss Thomson (? Townshend), who besought his lielp. He caught a floating suit-case, which kept tliem both up till they wore rescued. Captain K«ii<Ml Was fraud clingmg to the wrccltagc, and p-icfeml tip lay a lifeboat, of which he assumed Command, and saved sovcnty-thrce survivors. Ho. afterwards rowed round the wrec-t for thrco hours. A relief tram conveying a special emergency stall from, the Canadian Pacific Company's Office was derailed. A second train; was promptly dispatched, and brought tile survivors to Quebec. Altogether, people died from exposure. Only twelve woiaen tteto rescued.

SURVIVORS AT QUEBEC. ENORMOUS CROWDS AT THE STATION, (Rec. May 31, 5.5 p.m.) Quebec, May 29. Enormous crowds awaited the a-ntf* val of the rescued -people at tlio railway station. Tho gvirvivors were- toehysterical to be able to give a coherent account of the disaster.. Four hundred bodies have been recovered. Amongst the missing is Sir Henry Seton Kerr. AT THE LONDON OFFICES. MANY POIGNANT SCENES, (Ree. May 81,,5-5 p.m.) London, May 30. Many poignant scenes were wit nessed in the hysterically, anxious crowds who have been besieging the London ©fees of C.P.R. It has been a day of alternating hopes and fea.ra. The dearth of news, and especially tho absence of survivors' names s intensified the depression. Many people determined on an all-night vigil. I'lis Majority were- m. terested in the crew,

Numerous artiste arnoisg the crowd despairingly inquired of Mr, Lawrence Irving's fate. The offices at Liverpool crontimied to be surrounded at a teto hour hy grief" stricken women, aud children, ivhils the men stood by steimjlly, sncechtes, «tul struggled to obtain a gfep-sfi of the latest messages posted at tho ttiiul&iv.