St. Lawrence Tragedy.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12806, 2 June 1914, Page 5

St. Lawrence Tragedy.

American Press Exonerates Gsptain Kendall. Best Traditions of the Race Upheld. Many Mournful Scenes. Conflicting Reports

INTERESTING INCIDENTS. By Electric Telegragh—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, May 30. English correspondents in Canada give many interesting incidents of the disaster. Of 140 Toronto people on board 108 were drowned. Of 160 Salvationists, including delegates to the London Congress, only 22 were rescued. The Storstad's bow was smashed to a length of fifteen feet and the anchors were driven into the hull. Mr and Mrs Neville were returning after a tour with the Irving Company. Captain Kendall bade Hayes, the purser, farewell on the bridge when the water was lapping his feet. He gave a passenger his belt and Hayes and Kendall jumped together. Hayes was soon picked up and Kendall was found later clinging to the wreckage. Hundreds were- drowned in their sleep. Sir Henry Seton-Karr, the noted big game hunter, insisted on Darling, of Shanghai, taking his belt. Darling was saved. Two Board of Trade representatives have gone to Canada. BEREFT OF FATHER, HUSBAND & BROTHERS.

Among the watchers at the London office was Captain Kendall's niece, Mrs Wild, whose father was drowned in the Britannic, whose husband was chief officer of the Titanic and perished, whose brother George Evans was sixth officer of the Titanic and was drowned, and whose brother Frederick was an officer on the Empress of Ireland.

STILL IMPRISONED IN HULL. QUEBEC, May 30. The Government steamer Ensign, with flags half-asted, brought 175 coffins to Quebec. It is believed the remainder of the dead are still imprisoned in the Empress's hull. MEMORIAL SERVICES AND SYMPATHY. LONDON, May 31. References were made throughout the English churches and chapels to the disaster. Notable were the services held by the Salvation Army. The King cabled to the Duke of Connaught (Canadian Governor-Gen-eral) his deep grief at the disastei end heartflet sympathy with the mourners. The Kaiser telegraphed to King George deploring the catastrophe and the loss of valuable lives. Queen Alexandria and Prince Henry of Prussia sent similar messages. SYDNEY, May 30.

The "Premier (Mr Holman) has cabled to Canada a message of sympathy over the loss of the Empress of Ireland. Sympathetic reference to the disaster was made in the various churches of the Commonwealth.

CAPTAIN KENDALL'S EVIDENCE THE STORSTAD BLAMED. QUEBEC, May 31. Captain Kendall, further examined at the inquest, declared that he gave the order "full speed ahead" in an attempt to beach the Empress of Ireland. He ordered the lifeboats out and directed wireless calls to be sent but the vessel went down too rapidly. Captain Kendall was shot from the bridge while giving directions. He seized a piece of gratnig, and later, when nearly unconscious, some people pulled him "into a boat. He took command mid rescued numbers of struggling people, put ten men over the side attacked to ropes and dragged them safely. After leaving the first boatload aboard the Storstad Captain Kendall returned in another boat, but was un- ! able to find anyone alive. He declared' 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 seamen lie ought to know what to do. There was no explosion, but escaping steam might have made a noise like one. The Empress of Ireland carried ample boats and there was room for hundreds more than those aboard the Doats which Kendall cut free. These boats flowed off when the vessel sank. The Storstad rescued only a few survivors.

WOMEN SUFFERED MOST.

A STRANGE COINCIDENCE. VANCOUVER, May 30. The Storstad is a sister ship to the collier Helvetia, which was sunk by the Canadian-Pacific Company's Empress of Britain on the same spot on the St. Lawrence in July, 19.12. MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE. OTTAWA, May 31. The Canadian Premier, Mr R. 1,. Borden read in the Commons Mr Massev's message of sympathy at the appalling loss of life and heartfelt condolence with the sufferers. Mr Borden replied expressing deep and sincere appreciation of the message and profound svmpathy with those in New Zealand who are bereaved of relatives and friends by the disaster. THE STORSTAD DOCKED. QUEBEC, May 30. I The Storstad has been docked to

j ascertain the damage. | NEW WIRELESS SAFETY CALL. (Times. —Sydney Sun Service.) LONDON, May HO. An invention for the safety of life at sea provides a new wireless call termed the safety signal, to be used by wireless stations which have to transmit to vessels urgent information concerning icebergs, derelicts, and approaching storms and other dangers. It consists of T.T.T. repeated at short intervals for ten times at full power. AUSTRALIANS LOST. MELBOURNE, June 1. It is feared that the passengers lost in the Empress of Ireland include Gabriel Marks, of the Suva firm of H. Marks and Co., and his wife, who were touring the world, also possibly the father, mother and brother of Colonel Macmillan, of the Salvation Army Training College, Melbourne. They announced their intention of travelling to the London conference with the Canadian delegates. A cable from General Bramwell Booth states that he has sent Commissioner McKie to stand by the Canadian forces, to whom he pays a high tribute for bravery. CONTRADICTORY CABLES. LONDON, May 30. There was a sensation in London and Liverpool at sis o 'clock on Friday evening when the Canadian-Pacific Company published reports from the captains of the Lady Evelyn and Eureka that no lives were lost, that they had landed four hundred and were returning to pick up the balance of the passengers. Contradictory cable grams arrived in order from Quebec.

A POPULAR LINER. The Empress of Ireland was one of the most popular ships in the Canadian trade. She was double-bottomed and was divided- transversely into ten bulkheads, so that at normal draught any two adjoining compartments might be flooded without endangering her safety. She carried sixteen lifeboats, seating 746 persons, twenty Englehardt collapsible boats seating 920, and four Berthon boats seating 170, also 2212 adult and 150 children lifejaekets.

MANY CONFLICTING STORIES. BEST TRADITIONS NOT DISHONOURED. (Times. —Sydney Sun Service.) Received 7.45 p.m. QUEBEC, May 31. It is difficult to fix the responsibility of the disaster to the Empress of Ireland, as there are so many conflicting stories. At Toronto Major Attwell, a Salvationist, said he did not see the captain of the ship, and he heard no orders given. He saw no officers at any post. Others corroborated this statement.

A survivor says that the boat he clambered into had fifty people in it. The davit ropes were fouled, and the people were sitting on the oars so that rowing was impossible. He saw the stern of the vessel rise and the bow drop. The liner gave a hiss and a gurgle and then sank. Some when rescued went crazy. The balance of the evidence suggests that the best traditions of the race were not dishonoured. There was confusion, panic and frenzy, but over all there was concern for the weak and self-sacrifice, with splendid patience and endurance.

The New Zealand contingent headed the Salvationist procession past the Canadian-Pacific offices, which are open continuously. They played "For those in peril on the sea."

WORST IN THE HISTORY OF THE ST. LAWRENCE.

VANCOUVER, May 29

Sir T. Shaughnessy, president of the Pacific Company, declares that the j disaster is the worst in the history of the St. Lawrence. The Empress of Ireland was torn from her middle to the screw, and sank before there was time to rouse the passengers and get them on deck. An unfortunate feature was that the women suffered most. They were unable to leap overboard as the men did, and most of them stayed quietly in their cabins or were drowned while attempting to ascend the companionway. Nine lifeboats, however, were loaded in the darkness and pushed off in the river. Meantime, help was summoned by wireless, and steamers picked up the survivors, many of whom were maimed. The Storstad's crew d'd its utmost. One woman swam to the Lady Evelyn and died from the effort immediately afterwards.

The wireless operators jumped overboard and were saved. Captain Kendall remained half an hour in the water before being rescued.

THE NEW ZEALANDERS. Press Association. —By Telegraph. HASTINGS, June 1. Mr J. J. Craig, of Auckland, who is on a visit here, received a cable from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, stating that Mrs Craig, Mr J. J. Craig and Miss Craig had postponed their departure and were not aboard the Empress of Ireland. GISBOKNE, June 1. Mrs Hailey, mother of Mr A. P. IlaileVj of Gisborne, formerly of Roto-

ma. left Vancouver on May 21st, intending to embark by the Empress of Ireland. Mr Hailey received a Cablegram stating that she was aboard, and there was no hope. BLENHEIM, June 1.

Miss Tiriah Townsend, daughter of Hon. Mr Townsend, Crown Ranger for Marlborough, and her aunt, Mrs Hugh Wynn Price, of Auckland, were aboard the ill-fated Empress of Ireland. Yesterday morning Mr Townsend received ; cable from Quebec stating 11 ■ -:r hi- daughter was safe, but ner aunt as lost, and requesting that m< ..ey and instructions be cabled. Miss Townsend was a good swimmer, and received emergency training at Blenheim baths.

LATE COLONEL BLOOMFIELD. FEELING REFERENCE BY JUDGE COOPER. AUCKLAND, June 1. At the Supreme Court reference was made to Colonel W. R. Bloomfield by the Bench and Bar. Mr Justice Cooper said Colonel Bloomfield was a very old friend of his, and he earned the respect and affection of all with whom he came in contact. He had the affection, goodwill and respect of all members of the community. He had taken his share in public work, and was an experienced, useful and leading officer in the Territorial forces. AMERICAN PRESS EXONERATE CAPTAIN KENDALL. The American press exonerate Captain Kendall. UNION COMPANY RECEIVES OFFICIAL ADVICE. ALL DROWNED EXCEPT MISS TOWNEND. AUCKLAND, May 31. The Union Company has received official advice that the Auckland passengers aboard the Empress of Ireland were: —Colonel W. R. Bloomfield, Mrs Bloomfield, Miss Bloomfield, Mrs H. Wynn Price, and Miss Townend. Of these all were drowned except Miss Townend.

BESIEGED BY SORROWFUL INQUIRERS. Received 7.40 p.m. LONDON, June 1. The Company's offices at London were again besieged all day longby a crowd of sorrowful inquirers. Every new list of names posted at the entrance was eagerly scanned. SALVATIONISTS' MEMORIAL SERVICE. During the afternoon the celebrated Silver Band belonging to Regent Hall branch of the Salvation Army, marched past playing'' Eternal Father Strong to Save." The Band was accompanied by the New Zealand contingent attending the London Conference. The Company's officials stood at the doorway with bowed heads. Subsequently the Salvationists held a memorial meeting in the vicinity, the New Zealanders addressing the mourners. MANSION HOUSE FUND. UNITED KINGDOM MAYORS ASKED TO CO-OPERATE. The Lord Mayor has opened a Mansion House fund for the victims and dependents and invites Mayors throughout the United Kingdom to open similar funds. IRISH SYMPATHY. A convention at London, representing 2,000,000 Irish residents in Britain, offered profoundest sympathy to the victims and dependents. MR HOLMAN'S VIEWS. Received 9.45 p.m. SYDNEY, June 1. Sir Ronald Munro-Ferguson and the State Governors cabled sympa#y to Canada. Mr Holman referring to the disaster said he supposed the enquiry would end in the condemnation of some unfortunate second mate or seaman. There would be no safety to the travelling public until directors of Companies which send 1500 people to sea in a ship capable of destruction in fifteen minutes are put to trial as accessories to manslaughter. He hoped that the Canadian Government would deal with the calamity in that spirit, not saying they were innocent oi guilty or it may have been a mere act of God, but if'it was due to human failing the people who make money by gambling with human lives ought to be punished.

WRIT ISSUED AGAINST CAPTAIN ANDERSON. CLAIMING TWO MILLION DOLLARS. Received 12.35 a.m. MONTREAL, June 1. The Storstad has arrived. The Canadian-Pacific Company lias issued a writ against Captain Anderson claiming two million dollars. CAPTAIN ANDERSON NOT ON DUTY. Seamen of the Storstad say that Capt. Anderson was not on duty at the time of the collision, and the Stoistad was ordered astern befoie stiiking the Empress of Ireland. INVESTIGATION ORDERED BY | CANADIAN GOVERNMENT. Received 1.5 a.m. OTTAWA, May 31. Government has ordered an investigation into the disaster in conjunction with the British Board of Trade. Government has appointed Captain Lindsav, Superintendent of the St. Lawrence pilots, to hold a preliminary investigation -with the object to secure the survivors' declarations. 176 BODIES ARRIVE AT QUEBEC. QUEBEC, June 1. The steamer Lady Grey has arrived with 170 bodies.