THE WRECKED LINER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 115, 20 June 1914, Page 9

THE WRECKED LINER.

STEERING GEAR TROUBLE. EVIDENCE AT THE ENQUIRY. ; By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright.' QUEBEC, June 18. Galway, the quartermaster, giving evidence at the enquiry-, ■ swore that the Empress of Ireland's wheel jammed a few hours, before the collision, and that she swerved badly while proceeding down the river. i Lord' Mersey : asked if the river eur'reiit would not be sufficient to produce these' apparent. errors. . '' Quartermaster Murphy answered in the affirmative, and a4ded that the ship steered'perfectly. / : . .■•.«. ..'■,

; ißcrnier, the pilot, "declared that Galway's. s&itements were" untrue. While under his control the Empress of Ireland steered* correctly. ; ' *:• :

I ;Lord Jersey commented oh Galway 's j'faiilure to inform the,authorities, o£ -the [fact, thai the liner w&s steering badly. ' He thought it exceedingly strainge that [Mr Haigh had kej>t Galway's testv | riiony with the apparent object of springing it on to the Coifrt. J

" After'- a between "the lawyers 'engaged in the ease it w*as announced that the Court was..fully satisfied that all the charges of eowardice. were, unfounded. :

Lord Mersey declared it Avas apparent that no-charge of cowardice .against either crew Avas sustainable.

Mr Lid dell, a member of the Empress of Ireland's engineering ' staff, corroborated Captain Kendall's evi : denee that after leaving Father Point he first ordered ''Full speed ahead,'' then "Stop,',' then "Fuil speed astern," and then "Stop." A TICKET FOB ENGLAND. QUARTERMASTER'S STATEMENT. Galway was confused..when giving evidence regarding' the Empress of Ireland's 1 'steering gear.' He'stated'that he once reported the matter to ah officer, who was now dead. After the wreck he reported that the liner steered badly. Mr Walsh, the Canadian-Pacific Company's Marine Superintendent, explained thai it was usual for large vessels to occasionally steer badly. Galway added that the. CanadianPacific Company gave him a ticket to return to. England, but he refused it, as he wished to give evidence at "the enquiry. ..-.-.

In reply to Lord Mersey, Galway admitted that the Canadian-Pacific Company told him to remain in Montreal after the statement . regarding the steering gear came to. their ears.

"Mui'phy, recalled, said the Empress of Ireland steered as well as any ship he was ever in.

A number of seamen denied that anyone refused to return to rescue passengers.

The wireless operators, Ferguson and Bamford, described the messages sent out,.and how they escaped.death; Lord Mersey complimented. them on their coolness in the face of danger. COMPANY AND WITNESSES. COUNSEL'S EXPLANATION. (Receivcd June 20, 11.55 a.ih:) QUEBEC, June 19. When the enquiry was re-opened, Mr Ifaigh apologised to the Court for having given the impression that the Can-adian-Pacific Company tried to spirit away witnesses who were likely to prove hostile to the company. Mr Haigh denied that he had any such intention. Mr Percy Hillhouse, of the Fairfield Shipbuilding Co., testified that the Empress of Ireland's boats were sufricient to accommodate three hundred more persons than she carried. Bulkheads extended throughout the ship which would have floated even if both the middle compartments had been iiooded, but the water must have entered elsewhere.

Captain Staunton, the life-saving superintendent of the Canadian-Pacific Co- swore that the life-saving apparatus was complete in every detail. It would be impossible for any bodies to have been found floating head downwards if the lifebelts had been affixed correctly.