“Nothing Wrong."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 51, 22 June 1914, Page 5

“Nothing Wrong."

ON EMPRESS OF JRELfIND.

WITH THE STEERING GEAR. [By Eleotbio telegraph — Copyright] [United Pepjßß Association. 1 Quebec, June 20.

Napoleon Lapierre, pilot on the collier Alden, swore that as the Empress of Ireland approached the Al-‘ den, the Empress zig-zagged, showing first her port and then her starboard lights. Ultimately she passed within a cable length. While the Empress was approaching the Alden, Lapierre kept his vessel at full speed, although he admitted that ho thought a collision likely, but the collier did not wish to be delayed unless there was danger of running ashore. William Jacob Saxe, third officer of the Storstad, corroborated the chief officer Tuftness’- story that the Empress of Ireland blew a long blast with the whistle when three miles away, indicating that she wag maintaining her course. The Strostad replied an acknowledgment, which was repeated several times. When the fog swept over the river the Storstad slowed down. The witness did not hear the Empress blow two short blasts, indicating that she was going to port, but did, hear the whistles indicating that she was going astern. Th© Storstad went full •speed astern also. George O’Donovan, engineer, described the steering gear, stating that he was sure there was nothing wrong with it.; ’ Mr Aspinall submitted that any apparent variations in the Empress of Ireland’s course was due to the river’s current, which was strong at the point where the collision occurred.

Lord Mersey said he had concluded that the Storstad opened two of the centre water-tight compartments of the Ireland by the blow, and, admitting that the water dragged open another compartment, as it recoiled, nothing thereafter could have saved th© Empress of Ireland. THE STGRSTAD’S MATE. I—SUtiL 'i it, (Received 9 a.m.) New Yor,k, June 21. The Storstad’s mate, : Jacob Saxe, swore that the porting, of the S£prstad’s helm during the fog while hearing the Empress of Ireland in no way tended to cause the collision. i *