EMPRESS INQUIRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8783, 13 July 1914, Page 7

EMPRESS INQUIRY

STORSTAD TO BLAME CAPTAIN KENDALL COMPLETELY EXONERATED. By Telegraph—Preei Association— Copy rlgln (Received! July 12, 6.6 p.m.) QUEBEC, July 11. The Mersoy Commission of Inquiry into tho Empress of Ireland disaster found that the Storstad was to blame. Lord Mersoy held that tho collision was duo to tho Storstad’s change of course, which was ordered by tho third officer without tho first officer’s or tho captain’s sanction. Tho Commission exonerates Captain Kendall, of tho Empress, completely, but suggests that ho would have been better advised if he had navigated the ship so as to pass the Storstad at a greater distance. It was impbssihlo to criticise him for an unseamanliko act in stopping the ship, as the action was simply a proper measure of precaution. , . Tho Commission -held that the porting of tho Storstad’s helm was not done to counteract tho effect of the St. Lawrence current., Chief-Officer Tuitness was negligent in not calling tho captain when the fog arose. The judgment continues that Tuitness was wrong in thinking that there was no danger. Ho ought to have called tho captain as ordered. It waft negligence on his part to alter tho course on his own responsibility. Tho disaster was not attributable to any defects of tho St. Lawronco 1 course. Tho Commission recommends tho closing of water-tight doors whenever practicable during fogs. All watertight dcors and. portholes below tho water-line ought to be closed at sunset and remain closet! until sunrise. Bafts ought to be placed on tho decks so that they would float automatically if the ship sinks. Lord. Mersey pointed out that-the Commission had much difficulty in deciding whether the Storstad and tho Empress had approached each other red light to red light or green to green. Tho stories were conflicted on this important point. However, they finally agreed that the Empress’s officers told the truth. There were other events which enabled tho Commission to fix, with approximate "accuracy, the actual approach of both vessels.