PASSENGERS' NARRATIVES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1914, Page 5

PASSENGERS' NARRATIVES.

NO PANIC, BUT SOME CON-

FUSION

•LONDON, May '30

Mr Duncan, a Londoner, states that after a terrific ©rash and a frightful grinding of the plates £he Empress of Ireland-healed over.' 'Though- there was a sufficiency of 'boats they oould nbVbe launched owing to t"he list. There was no panic, thougli there was some con fusion, in tli© midst of which the vessel lurched, and tlie passengers" rolled down the deck hit© th© sea., Women were crying and .-praying, men wore shouting,,and the cries continued until the icy -waters ended their sufferings. Mr Duncan swam for <an hour before being rescued. He felt the ■bodies of DEAD MEN UNDER HfS FEET. The officers behaved splendidly, facing death fearlessly." Captain Kendall was on the bridge until the snip sank. Mr Duncan was taken alboard the collier. He says. that, many of those rescued were ■ HAVING MAD through shock and expostTre. Dr Johnson, Canadian-Pacific medical officer, says that i£ the Storstad 'had noti backed out many more would •have been saved. , The Marconi operator states that Father Point responded promptly. He was unable to talk as the dynamos failed within five minutes of the -disaster. Mr "McTiityre, a Salvationist, says -that the vessel was wallowing on her rsule for a few moments, when an- ex•p'losion .sent a BURST OF STEAM jaTLover'the vessel, whi heseeorndbv afitl ;O.rer the vessel, which seemed to ■fowwi turtle.