EMPRESS OF IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15639, 19 June 1914, Page 7

EMPRESS OF IRELAND.

KVIDEM AT THE INQUIRY

STORIES BY.THE OFFICERS.

SPEED OF THE ■ STORSTAD.

THE WORK OF RESCUE.,

LIFE-BE'LTS FOR EVERYONE.

By lelemnh— Association-Copyright. (Received Juno 18, 9,60 p.m.) Quebec, June 18. Further evidence was heard yesterday in the inquiry into the loss of. the Empress of Ireland. J Tuftnoss, the chief officer of tho Storstad, answering • Mr. Aspinwall's cross-examination, said ho did not know tho Storstad's master ,

received a bonus for speedy voyages. Captain Anderson, questioned on tho point, replied in the negative. Tho ship, however, was unloaded at night in Montreal, thus indicating some necessity for urgency. No Signals Heard. Tuftness declarod that ho saw the Empross of Ireland first six miles distant, pursuing a course which was likely to bring hor across the Storstad's bows. He heard no signal from tho liner indicating that she was stopping. Tuftnoss denied that any sheet of flame camo from tho Empress of Ire-

land's side when the Storstad struck her. The speed of the liner caused the Storstad's bow to penetrate 12ft into the side of the stricken ship. Precautionary Measure.

Jones, the chief officer of 'the liner, who was on duty on the bridge after the pilot had been dropped, said he saw the masthead light of the Storstad six miles distant and after-1 wards gave the proper signals. Tho Storstad responded. When the vessels collided, the Empress stopped. He added that by Captain Kendall's orders the engines wero put full speed astern three miles distant. from the Storstad. This- was merely a measure of precaution owing to tho approaching fog. Murphy, tho quartermaster, corroborated this evidence. Ho declared that the liner stopped as soon as tho ■ collision occurred. Both witnesses deposed to assisting in the rescuo work. All wore life-belts. I Tuftness, recalled, maintained that, owing to the momentum the Storstad. would have gone right through the Empress of Ireland if she had been steaming 10 knots. I Lord Mersey pointed out that if the Storstad's engines had been reversed earlier the calamity would not have happened. ALLEGATIONS DISCREDITED '• London, June 11. j The Transport Workers' Conference has | expressed its entire disbelief in the,allega- ' tion that 26 seamen of the Empress of Ireland's crew escaped in a boat and left i women and children to their fate. 1