PANIC BREAKS OUT."

Grey River Argus, 1 June 1914, Page 5

PANIC BREAKS OUT."

QUEBEC, May 29. Panic broke out after the terrific col lision. JMen and women rushed from their cabins, and some reached the . deck, and were hurled off into the river owing to the angle of the deck. Parents were separated from their children .and husbands front ... their wives. ' ,;. Dr. Grant, the ship's surgeon, saved imany owing to his coolness, and capable directions for medical -attention "when the> survivors were picked up. ; THE CAPTAIN SAVED. Captain Kendall stood on the bridge when the vessel sank. Two hundred and fifty scad, bodies were recovered. Dr. Grant went down, witfi the ship, but managed to escape through a port hole. The search -still i.ontrnues amongst the wreckage in the river. UFive persons were found clinging to wreckage .and still alive, but they are unlikely to survive the exposure. A steerage passeng-er, Phillip Lawler, asserted that an explosion really caused the Empress of Ireland to sink so rapidly. Peoople were sfliot off the -ship like peas from a pod. Mr Lawler and his wife and son slip ped overboard, as they, were unable to stand on the sloping- deck. The wife slipped from her nusBand's grasp and was drowned, but the others were, rescued. Another woman leaped from the sinking jsteame.r and swam round awaiting- succour for nearly an hour. She was then picked up dying on board the rescuing tug. S A relief train conveying a special emergency staff from the CanadianPacific, was derailed, but a .second train was promptly despatched and brought the survivors to Quebec. Twenty-tjyo altogether died from ex posure r Only twelve women wee rescued. Prince Alexander of Teck, Hon. R. L. (Gordon and the King telegaphsd their condolences. , *' *■ The Government has ordered -a Inarching enquiry. , — ■* "A lelief fund has been opened, th^e Government proimisinig- a , large con tribution. The Salvation Army lost heavily, the whole teritorial field force'Jior Canada, being wiped out, including Commissioner Rees. The Army promptly met here and organised a new set of delegates and dispatched them by the next outgoing steamer, the band' playing through the streets "God be with \ou till we meet again. - Enormous crowds awaited the arrival of the rescued at the station. The -survivors were too hysterical to be able to give a coherent account of the disaster.