SURVIVORS' ACCOUNTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 1 June 1914, Page 5

SURVIVORS' ACCOUNTS.

LOSS OFFICIALLY REv PORTED AT OVER 1000 ~ LIVES. THE INQUEST OPENED. SCENES OF PANIC. HOW THE VESSEL SANK. StAIkWAY ACCIDENT HINDERED RELIEF. •It <3ABI*i—PRESS ASSOCIATION—TOPTRIGHI QUEBEC, May 31.

Panic broke out after the terrific ■collision. Men and women rushed from their cabins. 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 ihusbands from their wives.

Dr Grant, the ship's surgeon, saved many lives, owing to his coolness, capable direction, and medical attention when the survivors «*ere picked up.

Captain Kendall stood on the bridge when the vessel sank.

Two hundred and fifty dead bodies were recovered.

Dr^rant, the surgeon, went down with the 6hip, but managed to escape through a porthole.

A steerage passenger, Phillip Lawler, usierts".- that an explosion really caused^he Empress of Ireland to sink so Tapidly that people were sTrot out of the ship like peas from 3t pod. Lawler, with his wife and son, slipped overboard, being unable to stand on the sloping deck. His wife slipped from her husband's grasp, and was drowned, but the others "were rescued.

Another "woman Heaped from the sinking steamer and swam round awaiting succor for nearly an Hour.- She was tnen picked arp, dying aboard the rescuing tug.

A A relief train conveying the special -emergency staff of the Canadian-Pacific Company was derailed, and a second train "was promptly despatched, which brought the survivors to Quehec. Twen4fe-two altogether died from exposure.' Only twelve women were rescued. The King, Prince Alexander of 'Teck and Mr Borden telegraphed their convdolences.

A relief fund has been opened/the Crbvernment promising a large contrilratibn.

The Salvation Army lost leavily, iihe •whole territorial field force for Canada "being wiped oitt, "including Commissioner Rees. The Army -promptly met here and organised a new set of delegates, and despatched them 'by the next steamer, the band playing.Jferough the streets "God be with j{jj^ tiili we meet aga:in."

a Enormous crowds .awaited the arrival <>i the rescued at the station, but the survivors were unable to give a coherent account of the disaster.

Duncan, ;a iLonfloner., that there was a terrific crash and a frightful grinding «of plates.

Though there was a sufficiency of boats, they were unable ix> launch them ■owing to the list.

There was <no paanc, though there was sonic confusion, in the midst of which the Empress of Ireland lurched. The passengers rolled down the decks into the -sea, women crying and praying, and men shouting. The cries continued until the icy waters ended their sufferings. Some swam for an hour before^hey -were rescued. They felt tne bJties of dead men under their A feet. ' The officers behaved splendidly, facing death fearlessly.

; Duncan was taken aboard the collier. He says that many of those rescued were raving mad from shock and ••xposure.

'Dr Johnson, the Canadian-Pacific Railway Company's medical officer, saysf that if the Storstad had not backed out, many more -would have been «aved.

The Marconi operator states that Father Point responded promptly, but he was unable to talk, as the Empress of India's dynamos failed within five mirifiites. Mclntyre, a Salvationist, says the ressel was wallowing on her side for a few moments. Then an explosion sent a burst of steam all over the vessel, which seemed to turn turtle.