THE ST LAWRENCE DISASTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16566, 2 June 1914, Page 7

THE ST LAWRENCE DISASTER.

CAPTAIN KENDALL’S EVIDENCE.

THE DUTY OF THE STORSTAD.

AMPLE BOATS CARRIED.

MANY MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. c LONDON, May 31.

References were made to-day in the churches throughout Great Britain to the disaster. Notable sovviccs were held by the Salvation Army. Two Board of Trade representatives have gone to Canada to take part in the investigation.

English correspondents in Canada givo details of many interesting incidents.

Over one million dollars’ worth of silver was lost.

Of 140 Toronto people aboard, 108 wero drowned. Of 160 Salvationists, including the delegates to the London. Congress, only twenty-two wero rescued.

The Storstad’s bow was smashed and her anchors driven into the hull. Mr and Mrs Neville were returning after a tour with Laurence Irving's company.

Captain Kendall, of the Empress of Ireland, bade Hayes, the purser, Luowell on the bridge, and when the water was lapping his feet, gave a passenger his lifebelt.

Hayes and Captain Kendall jumped together. Hayes was soon picked up, and Kendall was found later, clinging to some wreckage. Hundreds wero drowned in their sleep. Sir Henry Seton-Karr insisted on Mr Darling, of Shanghai, taking his belt. Darling was saved. King George has cabled to the Duke of Connaught expressing his deep grief at the awful disaster, and his heartfelt sympathy with the mourners. The Kaiser has telegraphed to King George deploring the catastrophe and the loss of valuable .lives. Queen Alexandra and Prince Henry of Prussia sent similar messages. Among the watchers at London were Captain Kendall’s niece and Mrs Wild, whoso father was drowned in the Britannic wreck. Her husband was chief officer on tho Titanic and perished. Her brother, George Evans, was sixth officer on tho Titanic and was drowned. Her brother Frederick was an offioer on tho Empress of Ireland.

THE CAPTAIN’S STORY. HIS CRY TO THE STORSTAD. “ DO NOT GO ASTERN.” QUEBEC, May 31. Tlio Storstad has been docked for the purpose of ascertaining the extent of her. damage. Captain Kendall, further examined at the inquest, declared that he gave the order, “Full speed ahead,” in an attempt to beach tho Empress of Ireland. Ho ordered tho lifeboats out, and directed that wireless calls should bo despatched, but tho vessel went down too rapidly. Captain Kendall said that he was shot from the bridge while giving directions. He seized a piece of grating, and later, when nearly unconscious, some people pulled him into a boat. He took command, and rescued numbers of struggling people. Ho put toil men over the side, attached to ropes, and dragged them safely to the shore. After leaving the first boatload aboard the Storstad, ho returned in another boat, but was unable to find anyone alive.

It was impossible for the Storstad’s captain to fail to hear his order to stand fast and not go astern. Even if he did not hear the call to keep ahead, as a seaman he ought to have known what to do. There was no explosion, but tlie escaping steam might have made a noise like one. The Empress of Ireland carried ample boats with room for hundreds more than those aboard. He cut free the boats, and they floated off when the vessel sank. The Storstad rescued only a few survivors. THE STORSTAD. STATEMENTS BY HER SEAMEN. OAANDIAN-PACIFIC COMPANY'S CLAIM. (Received June 2, 1.5 a.zn.) MONTREAL, June 1. The Storstad bus arrived. The Canadian-Pacific Company has issued a writ against Captain Anderson lor two million dollars. Seamen on the Storstad say that Captain Anderson was not on duty at the time of the collision. The Storstad was ordered astern before striking.

OFFICIAL INVESTIGATIONS. OTTAWA, June 1. Tho Government has ordered an investigation of the disaster in conjunction with tho British Board of Trade. The Government has appointed Captain Lindsay, superintendent of St Lawrence pilots, to hold a preliminary investigation with the object of securing survivors’ declarations. THE DEAD. BODIES TAKEN TO QUEBEC. QUEBEC, June 1. The steamer Lady Grey has arrived with 176 bodies.

RECOVERING THE DEAD. Si ANY BODIES STILL IMPRISONED IN HULL. QUEBEC, May 31. The Government steamer Ensign, with flags at half-mast, brought 175 coffins to Quebec. It is believed that the remainder of the dead are still imprisoned in the hull of the Empress of Ireland. MR MASSEY’S MESSAGE. SYMPATHY WITH SUFFERERS. OTTAWA, May 31. Mr Borden r«ad in the House of

Commons Mr Massey’s message of sympathy at the appalling loss of life and heartfelt condolence with the sufferers.

Mr Borden replied expressing deep and sincere appreciation for the message and. "profound sympathy with those of your dominion who are bereft of relatives and friends by the disaster.” CONFLICTING STORIES. NARRATIVES OF SURVIVORS. BEST TRADITIONS OF RACE MAINTAINED. “ Times ' awl Sydney " Situ ” Services. (Received Juno 1, 7.45 p.m.) QUEBEC, May 31.

It is difficult to fix the responsibility for tho Empress of Ireland disaster. Conflicting stories are being told. At. Toronto, Major Atwell, a Salvationist, said that he did not see the captain of the ship. He heard no orders given and saw no officers at any post. Others corroborated his statement.

A survivor says that the boat ho clambered into had fifty people in it. Tho davit ropes wore fouled. People were sittitig on the oars, so that rowing was impossible. He saw the stern of the vessel rise and tho bow drop. There was a hiss and a gurgle, and she sank.

Some survivors when rescued went crazy.

The balance of evidence suggests that the best traditions of the race were not dishonoured. There was confusion and frenzy, but over all concern for the weak, self-sacrifice and splendid patience and endurance. AUSTRALIANS ABROAD. SALVATION ARMY DEATH ROLL. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. MELBOURNE, June 1.

It is feared that the passengers lost on the Empress of Ireland included Gabriel Marks, of the Suva firm of H. Marks and Company, and his wife, who were touring the world. It is also possiblo that the father, mother, and brother of Colonel MacMillan of the Salvation Army Training College in Melbourne, were aboard. They had announced their intention of travelling to the London Conference with the Canadian delegates. According to advices received at the Army headquarters, the Salvationist death roll aboard the Empress of Ireland was 130. A cable from General Bramwell Booth states that he has sent Commissioner M’Kie to stand by the Canadian forces, to whom he pays a high tribute for their bravery.

NEW SOUTH WALES SYMPATHY

REFERENCE IN THE CHURCHES SYDNEY, June 1.

Mr Holman cabled to Canada expressing sympathy at the loss of the Empress of Ireland. Sympathetic reference to the disaster was mad© in the various churches of the Commonwealth. THE RESPONSIBILITY. MR HOLMAN’S VIEWS. (Received June 1, 9.43 p-m.) SYDNEY, June 1. The Governor-General, Sir R. 0. Munro-Ferguson, and tho State Governors have cabled messages of sympathy to Canada. Mr Holman, referring to the disaster, said ho supposed the inquiry would end in the condemnation of some unfortunate second mate or seaman. There would be no safety for the travelling public until the directors of companies which send 1500 people to sea in a ship capable of destruction in fifteen minutes are put on trial as accessories to manslaughter. Ho hoped that the Canadian Government would deal with the calamity in that spirit. Ho w’as not saying that they wqre innocent or guilty. It may have been a mere act of God, but if it was due to human failing, the people who make money gambling in human lives ought to be punished.

A MARLBOROUGH GIRL.

SAVED FROM THE WRECK [Per Press Association.]

BLENHEIM, June 1. Miss Tiria Townshend, daughter of Mr Townshend, Crown ranger for Marlborough, with her aunt, Mrs Hugh Wynn-Price, of Auckland, were aboard the ill-fated Empress of Ireland. Yesterday morning Mr Townshend received a cable from Quebec stating that his daughter was safe, but that her aunt was lost, and requesting that money and instructions should .be cabled.

Miss Townshend is a good swimmer, and received emergency training at the Blenheim baths.

Miss Tiria Townshend is well known in Christchurch. She is a daughter of the Hon E. Townshend, and was born at Fendalton. Later on her parents removed to Blenheim, and it is there that she learnt to swim. She is only sixteen years of ago, but is very tall, and is remarkably strong. She is the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Townshend. Her Christian name, which is a Maori word, is the samo as the Christian name of Mrs H- W. Bishop, of this city, who is her god-mother.

LUCKY POSTPONEMENT. [Per Press Association.] ' HASTINGS, June 1

Mr J. J. Craig, of Auckland, on a visit here, received a cable from Charlotto Town, Prince Edward Island,, stating that Mrs Craig, Mr J. C. Craig and Miss Craig, had postponed their departure and were not aboard tho Empress of Ireland.

A CALL FOR PRAYERS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 1. General Booth has cabled to the New Zealand headquarters of tho Salvation Army calling for prayers on the part of tiie whole of the Army in connection with the disaster.

Tlie General lias placed Commissioner M’Kie, formerly Commissioner for Australasia, in temporary, charge of Canada, vice the • late Commissioner Roes, who was a passenger in the Empress of Ireland. ANOTHER NEW ZEALANDER. CASE IS HOPELESS. [Per Press Assccutioh.] GISBORNE, June 1. Mr A. P. Hailey, of Gisborne,, formerly of Rotorua, left Vancouver on May 21, intending to embark on the Empress of Ireland. Mrs Hailey, his mother, has just received a cablegram stating that he was on board, and that err is hopeless.