THE OCEAN TRAGEDY

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 5626, 4 June 1914, Page 3

THE OCEAN TRAGEDY

ALLEGATIONS AND DENIALS. Reeceived 9.50 p.m., 3rd. Toronto, June 22. A statement published here that the foreigners travelling in the steerage of the Empress of Ireland fought with knives when escape was barred, is denied by authority. The Canadian Pacific Company's marine superintendent, Mr Welsh, says the crew behaved splendidly, and that there was little or no panic amongst the passengers, who seemed too dazed by the suddeness of the accident to cause a panic. Mr Welsh also denies Mrs Anderson's statement that Captain Kendall was drunk when he arrived on the Storstad, and maintains that Captain Kendall never drank intoxicating liquor once, during his life. Mrs Anderson, wife of the captain of the Storstad, further alleges that Commander Kendall arrived aboard the Storstad with a number of passengers whose legs and arms were broken. Commander Kendall, she declares, was so anxious to board the ship that he scrambled across the suffering people. The Canadian Pacific marine superintendent describes this story as a tissue of lies. He is fully convinced that Captain Kendall intended to go down with his ship, and was only prevented by fate. When the Empress heaved over Captain Kendall grasped the rail, intending to drown himsef, but the imprisoned air blew up the bridge, throwing him into the water. Mr Louis Gosselin, K.C., declares that the Storstad's captain did nothing after the collision to succour the distressed. When Mr Gosselin reached the Storstad, after being an hour in a collapsible boat, he appealed to Captain Anderson to assist the drowning persons, but the captain merely looked at him. Mr Gosselin is willing to swear that no boats weie launched from the Storstad, the crew standing idle on the deck when he appealed to tnem, saying, "For God's sake, do something." Mr Lionel Kent, another passenger, confirm Mr Gosselin's statement that the Storstad did not put out her boats fora considerable time after the collision. Received 9.35 a.m., 4th. London, May 3. It is officially stated here that 1024 were drowned, and 452 rescued, while 200 bodies have been recovered. The Canadian Pacific Company has contributed £IO,OOO to the London and Liverpool funds. According to an estimate, based on the Titanic fund, £BO,OOO will he required for the relief of the crews and their dependents, and at least £IOO,OOO for the passengers.

CANADIAN PRESS INDIGNANT. MRS ANDERSON'S STATEMENT. INVENTIONS OF THE YELLOW PRESS. Received 11.10 a.m., 4th. Ottawa, June 3. The Canadian press severely criticises Premier Holman for prejudicing the Empress of Ireland enquiry. The statement that people make money by gamblng in human lives is particularly repudiated, and it is pointed out that the Canadian Pacific Company employs only the best officers and steamships they are able to procure, and had never had a serious marine accident, due to negligence, in its history The newspapers ask for a suspension of judgment by all parties until a judicial enquiry settles the question. The Storstad'e owners state the Storstad's crew rendered every assistance after the accident. They also affirm that Mrs Anderson never made the charges attributed to her, which are merely the inventions of the yellow newspapers. Received 1,40 p.m., 4th. Ottawa, June 3. Colonel and Mrs Bloomfield have been identified, but the identity of Miss Bloomfield is not quite certain.