ST. LAWRENCE TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914, Page 7

ST. LAWRENCE TRAGEDY.

APPORTIONING THE BLAME

ADDRESS BY COUNSEL,

PLEA FOR LINER'S CAPTAIN.

STEERING OF THE COLLIER

Br Til«er»ph-PMM Aiiociition-CopjrijM.

(Reoeived June 28, 6.5 p.m)

Quebec, June 27. The sittings of the commission of inquiry into tho Empress of Ireland disaster woro continued yesterday, counsel's adre&ses being heard. Mr. Aspinwall, in his address, contended that, because tho wheel was first ported and then without authority changed to hard aport when sho had steerage way on, the Storßtad was responsible for tho disaster. He asked the commission to fand that members of the crew of the Storstad were inaccurate when they claimed that tho collier refused to answer her helm.

Continuing, lie argued that the changed course on a ported helm took the collior-into the stationary liner at right angles with sufficient speed to cause the fatal damage. If there had been no such change the vessels would have passed safely. Counsel contended thai to find that tho Empress of Ireland starboarded her helm would be tantamount to a charge of perjury against Captain Kendall, who claimed that he had not altered the course. He scoffed at the idea that Captain Kendall was telling a deliberate lie when he had just faced death.

Mr. Aspinwall charged William Jacob Saxe, tho third officer of the Storstad, with responsibility for tho disaster by taking the wheel from the helmsman without authority and putting it hard aport.