ENGINES REVERSED.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 114, 19 June 1914, Page 7

ENGINES REVERSED.

WHEN THREE MILES AWAY.

THE «' EMPRESS'' ENQUIRY.

By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright QUEBEC, June .17.

Jones, chief officer of the Empress of Ireland, who was on duty on the bridge after the pilot was dropped, said he saw the masthead light of the Storstad six miles distant. He afterwards gave the proper signals, and the Storstad responded. When the collision occurred the Empress of Ireland was stopped. He added that, by Captain Kendall's orders, he ordered the engines full speed astern when three miles distant from the Storstad, this being merely a measure of precaution owing to the approaching fog.

Murphy, the quartermaster, corroborated Jones's evidence.

Both witnesses deposed to assisting in the work of rescue. All -wore lifebelts.

Tuftness declared that, owing to the momentum, the Storstad would have gone right through the Empress of Ireloud'if she had been travelling at ten knots an hour.

Lord Mersey pointed out that if the Storstad ? s engines had been reversed earlier/ the calamity would not have happened.

CAPTAIN KENDALL'S STATE- [

MENTS.

DOUBLE CORROBORATION. !

(Rceived June 19, 9.10 a.m.)

OTTAWA, June 18

George Smart, a passenger by the Empress of Ireland, corroborated Captain Kendall's statement that the Empress of Ireland was stationary when the collision occurred.

Brennan, the second engineer, corroborated the statement regarding the signals as received in the engine-room from Captain Kendall; Lord Mersey, after hearing Smart, said he thought it would be unnecessary to examine any further passengers.

A STARTLING STATEMENT.

FAULTY STEERING GEAB. | WHAT THE QUARTERMASTER j SAID. ■ ' ■ , ■ { .■. .. ■ [ (Received June 19, 1 p'.m.) ' ■ ' OTTAWA, dune IS. Mr Haight, counsel for the Storstad's owners, surprised the Commission by the statement that he understood the' Empress of Ireland's steering gear be:" came jrfiivmed before the collision. .'.., : Lord Mersey immediately -ordered that Quartermaster Galway, of the. Empress of Ireland, should attend the Court and explain if it were true that the i Empress of Ireland was disabled. Captain Kendall promptly denied that--there was any truth in the state--ment that the steering gear was in any] way affected. I

. Mr Walsh, the marine superintendent, of the Canadian Pacific Co., denied that any attempts w r ere made to induce Galway to leave Canada.

QUARTERMASTER ADMISSIONS.

AN 1 "•UKK^rO^v^N 7 ' '* FIREMAN.

(.Received] June 19; 1.20■ pvm:) ' ~= - : ■ ' QUEBEC,"June' 18.

Gal way, on being examined, contended that the Empress did not answer her helm properly when on the last trip westward. He admitted- that he : had made a certain suggestion to Mr Haight, counsel for the Storstad's; owners, at the instance of - an unknown fireman connected with the Firemen's TJiiiori. :'"'".:

the suggestion indicated that the impress of Ireland was -steering badly ."!