EMPRESS OF IRELAND WRECK.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12255, 4 June 1914, Page 5

EMPRESS OF IRELAND WRECK.

GRAVE CHARGES AGAINST CAPTAIN KENDALL. , THE STATEMENTS DENIED. - BRAVE NEW ZEALAND GIRL'S TESTIMONY. CRUEL FABRICATIONS. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. J (Per Press Association.) Received June 3, at 2 p.m. v Ottawa. June 2. A statement has been published in Toronto that foreigners in the steerage of the Empress of Ireland fought with ! knives when their escape was barred. I The rumor is denied on the authority i of the Canadian-Pacific marine super- ( intendent, who says that the crew behaved splendidly, and that there was little or no panic among the passengers, who seemed too duzed by the suddenness of the accident to make any panic. Mr Welsh also denied Mi's Anderson's statement that Captain Kendall was drunk when he arrived on the Storstad. He says that Captain Kendall never took a drink once in his life. Sensational stories are appearing in the American Yellow Press that the Empress of Ireland's crew were cow- : ards. Miss Townshend (of New Zealand) declares that such statements are absolutely wicked. The crew did everything they possibly could. New Y'ork newspapers are publishing fccare stories of foreigners fighting aboard and the crew deserting the ship and leaving the passengers to drown, j They state that Captain Kendall was drunk and similar untruths. Montreal, June 2. Mrs Anderson further alleged that Captain Kendall arrived aboard the Storstad with a- number of passengers with their legs and arms broken. Captain Kendall was so anxious to get on board that he scrambled across the suffering people. The Canadian-Pacific Marine Superintendent described the story as a tissue of lies. He was fully convinced that Captain Kendall intended to go down with the ship, and was only prevented by fate. When the Empress of Ireland heeled over Captain Kendall grasped the rail, intending to go down, but the imprisoned air blew tip the bridge, throwing Captain Kendall into the water.

The Toronto World, referring to the steerage passengers, says that fear crazed them, and like demons armed with murderous dirks they slashed their way through the crowd, stabbing and maiming as they went. This is the growing conviction of several who were in close touch with the whole situation.

It is further asserted that the undertakers at Quebec engaged in embalming the bodies declared that the limbs were slashed in a way that no accident could cause.

This .statement is not generally supported, although it is declared positively that nine-tenths of the victims whose bodies have been recovered were not drowned, but were killed by injuries received in the collision or by debris.

The incoming Megantic held a service on the spot where the Empress of Ireland sank. The passengers and crew lined the deck and sang "Abide with me," standing with bared heads. It was an impressive spectacle. The Canadian-Pacific Company has arranged for the funerals of the unidentified bodies and unclaimed dead on Thursday, and bears all the expense. An inspection of the Storstad's bows indicates that it was impossible for her to remain locked in the Empress of Ireland's side, as the bow was twisted out of shape by the motion of the Empress of Ireland. The final official figures are: 1024 lost and 432 saved. Received June 4, at.9.35 a.m. London, June 3. It is officially stated here that 1024 persons were drowned and 432 rescued. Two hundred bodies have been recovered. The Canadian-Pacific Company contributed £IO,OOO to the London and Liverpool funds. According to the estimate based on the Titanic fund, £BO,OOO will be required For the relief of the crews and dependents, and at least £IOO,OOO for passengers.

Received June 4, at 9:30 a.m. Sydney, June 3

The Premitr, referring to criticisms upon his remarks with reference to the Empress of Ireland disaster, said it did not require expert knowledge to understand the fact that when a ship is moving slowly and is run down by another ship moving in the same direction, there could be no head-on impact: no full-speed smash on an iceberg,' as in the case of the Titanic. Mr Hohnan continued: "If the skill of the naval architect- cannot guarantee 'a ship that will float half an hour after it has been struck, and if no such things as- watertight compartment* or buoyancy chambers are known in naval architecture, then the sooner the fact be ■proclaimed the better. Passengers must be made aware by the directors ot shipping companies that impact from .another ship overtaking theirs will be followed by almost instantaneous destruction. Then 1 , perhaps, will they insist that ships must not travel in togs with 1500 lives aboard. Their extreme delicacy of construction must be recognised and murderous -risks must not be taken."

Received June 4, at 11.10 a.m. Ottawa, June 4. The Canadian Press is severely criticisinz Premier Holman for prejudging the Empress of Ireland enquiry, and the statement that people make money by gambling in human lives is particularly repudiated. It is pointed out that, the Canadian-Pacific Company employs only the best officers in their steamship service, and that it has never had a serious marine accident due to negligence in. its history- The newspapers ask for the suspension of judgment by all parties until the judicial enquiry settles the question. The Storstad's owners state that the Storstad's crew rendered every assistance after the accident. Mrs Anderson never made the charges attributed to her, which are merely the inventions of the Yellow newspapers.

Received June 4, at-12.50 p.m. Ottawa, June 2. The Storstad's owners have filed a reply to the Canadian-Pacific's damage suit* alleging that the accident was really due to the Empress of Ireland s faulty navigation. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received June 3, at 7.4 p.m. Quebec, June 3. There is every likelihood of the Empress of Ireland being raised. She lies in 29 fathoms at low tide, and her highest point is only nine fathoms below the surface. There is talk of numerous suite for damages against the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The Lord Mayor's fund totals £IO,BOO. Baring Bros, .donated £IOOO and Ladv Strathcomi and Mr W. M. Hinger £SOO.

Received June 3, at 7.5 p.m. Quebec, June 2. Captain Holtung. of the Norwegian collier- Aided, asserts that when passing the Empress of Ireland 30 miles above the disaster she was steering a strange zig-zag course tilling him with anxiety. One hundred and ten bodies have been identified. It is not expected that many more will be recognised. They will 'be kept unburied for a mouth. (Per Pbess Association.; Christ-church. June 3. At this afternoon's special meeting of the Clrristchurcli Presbytery the Clerk (Rev. C. Murray) referred to the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, and said that the great disaster that had occurred) 'had affected some New Zealand homes. He moved: "That the Christclrurch Presbytery records ;fcsdeep sorrow at the loss of the Empress of Ireland, and extends its proround sympathy to the relatives of those. who have been taken, and especially sympathises with the Salvation ■ Army, which, lost so many of its adherents." The motion was agreed to in silence, members of the Presbytery standing.