The Tragic Story of the Empress of Ireland, and Other Great Sea Disasters
Transcriber’s Note
Spelling errors and other inaccuracies in the lists of survivors and rolls of the dead are preserved as printed.
An Authentic Account of the Most Horrible Disaster in Canadian History, Constructed from the Real Facts Obtained from Those on Board Who Survived And Other Great Sea Disasters
BY LOGAN MARSHALL Author of “The Story of Polar Conquest,” “The Story of the Panama Canal,” Etc.
Containing the Statements of CAPTAIN HENRY GEORGE KENDALL Commanding the Empress of Ireland ——And—— CAPTAIN THOMAS ANDERSEN Commanding the Storstad
ILLUSTRATED With Numerous Authentic Photographs and Drawings
Copyright, 1914, by L. T. MYERS
THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND
One of the finest ships of the Canadian line. Soon after leaving Quebec on her voyage to Liverpool with over 1,300 souls on board, she was struck by the Norwegian collier “Storstad” off Father Point, Quebec, on May 29, 1914, at 2.10 A. M., and sank about fifteen minutes later, carrying a thousand of her passengers down with her.
NUMBER of persons aboard, 1,475.
Logan Marshall
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THE EMPRESS SAILS FROM QUEBEC
THE HOLIDAY HUMOR OF THE PASSENGERS
CAPTAIN KENDALL WARNED OF FOGS
THE STORSTAD SIGHTED
FOG SUDDENLY SETTLES
THE STORSTAD CRASHES INTO THE EMPRESS
INJURY ON STARBOARD SIDE
FOUGHT FOR LIFE IN DARKNESS
A MORTAL BLOW
WIRELESS CALLS FOR HELP
HUNDREDS DROWN IN CABINS
NO TIME TO ROUSE PASSENGERS
IN THEIR NIGHT CLOTHES
PICKED UP THE CAPTAIN
LIFE-BOATS LAUNCHED IN RECORD TIME
THE EMPRESS GOES DOWN
SHOUTED TO COLLIER
SHIP FOUNDERED QUICKLY
WORK TO SAVE OTHERS
NO PANIC ABOARD
STORSTAD’S RIGHT OF WAY
DID NOT BACK OUT
TO THE RESCUE
INJUSTICE TO CAPTAIN
RESPONSE TO WIRELESS CALLS FOR HELP
EUREKA AND LADY EVELYN ON THE SCENE OF DISASTER
THE SEARCH FOR THE QUICK AND THE DEAD
TERRIBLE PLIGHT OF SURVIVORS
SAD SCENES AT RIMOUSKI
WILLING HANDS HELP
TWENTY-TWO DIE AFTER BEING RESCUED
TALES OF NARROW ESCAPES
THOSE WHO DIED BRAVELY
EXTREME SUFFERING AMONG SURVIVORS
FEW WOMEN AND CHILDREN SAVED
CROWD GREETS SURVIVORS
MANY INJURED
EXPERIENCES OF SURVIVORS
“ALL OVER IN FIFTEEN MINUTES”
KNEW IT WAS THE END
“LIKE A LOT OF INDIANS”
FOUR CLIMBED ON UPTURNED LIFE-BOAT; SAVED MANY LIVES
SALVATION ARMY LASSIE RESCUED WHEN ABOUT TO SINK
CLIMBED UP SIDE OF LINER AS SHE KEELED OVER
HUSBAND GAVE WIFE BELT; PLUNGED OUT TO SAVE HIMSELF
BOAT LISTED SO BADLY PEOPLE COULD NOT GET UP DECK STAIRS
PICKED UP BY BOAT FILLED WITH MEMBERS OF CREW
TORONTO WOMAN SPENT LONG TIME IN WATER BEFORE RESCUE
UNKNOWN MEMBER OF CREW SAVED SEVERAL LIVES
OTTAWA MAN PUT WIFE IN BOAT; WAS SAVED LATER
SAW COLLISION; EMPRESS WAS SOUNDING HER SIREN
FELL INTO WATER
MONTREAL MAN SAW NO LIFE-BELTS
DR. GRANT THE CHIEF HERO
SIR SETON-KARR GAVE UP LIFE FOR STRANGER
LAURENCE IRVING DIED TO SAVE HIS WIFE
H. R. O’HARA DIED FOR FAMILY
CAPTAIN SAVED BELL-BOY
HOW CHIEF OFFICER STEEDE DIED
HERO SAVED WEE GIRL
GAVE UP HIS LIFE-BELT
HAD DIFFICULTY REACHING DECK
MANY PLUNGE INTO ICY WATER
WEIRD SHRIEKS OF TERROR
PASSENGERS CAUGHT LIKE RATS
ESCORTED BY BRITISH CRUISER ESSEX
SMALL WHITE COFFINS
PATHETIC SEARCH FOR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS
WRETCHED CONDITION OF BODIES
LOST HIS ENTIRE FAMILY
TWO CLAIM SAME BABY
“JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON”
BODIES BRUISED AND MUTILATED
TRUST IN GOD
AT ST. JAMES’ CATHEDRAL
RABBI JACOBS’ TRIBUTE
WHOLE CITY HONORED THE ARMY DEAD
A STRIKING SERVICE
MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY
IMPRESSIVE PROCESSION
PEOPLE LINED STREETS
SERVICES IN THIRTY-FOUR LANGUAGES
SCENES AT HEADQUARTERS AS SAD NEWS CAME
REUNIONS THAT FAILED
HEART-BREAKING RETURN OF THE FEW
REVERENT CROWDS WAITING
ENSIGN PUGMIRE’S STORY
STORY OF BANDSMAN GREEN
“IN GOD’S HANDS”
HYMN THE SALVATIONISTS SANG WHILE THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND WAS SINKING
RE-DEDICATION TO WORK
SALVATIONISTS BRAVE TO THE END
MAJOR ATWELL’S EXPERIENCE
SUNDAY SERVICES IN TORONTO
FLOWER OF ARMY AMONG THE LOST
HUNDREDS SAIL ON OLYMPIC
LOSS TO ARMY IN CANADA
SIR HENRY SETON-KARR
LAURENCE IRVING
SIR HERBERT TREE’S TRIBUTE
COMMISSIONER REES
MAJOR LYMAN
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
LONDON CLERGYMAN
HALIFAX PATHOLOGIST
AUTHORESS AMONG LOST
SOME OTHER WELL-KNOWN PASSENGERS
LIST OF SURVIVORS
ROLL OF THE DEAD
SEIZED ON WARRANT
CARGO UNLOADED
OFFICERS IN CONFERENCE
THEIR VERSION OF THE ACCIDENT
ENGINEERS’ STATEMENTS
HELPED RESCUE EMPRESS PASSENGERS
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN ANDERSEN’S WIFE
GAVE ALL THEY HAD TO RESCUED PASSENGERS
STORSTAD’S OWNERS FILE COUNTER SUIT
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL
GRIEF IN ENGLAND
LORD MAYOR OF LONDON STARTS FUND
SYMPATHY EXTENDED BY KING AND QUEEN
PRESIDENT POINCARÉ REGRETS LOSS
THE UNITED STATES SYMPATHIZES
AMERICAN RED CROSS ACTS
TANGIBLE SYMPATHY
NO REPLY TO “STAND FAST” CRY
TESTIMONY OF JAMES RANKIN
CHIEF ENGINEER EXPLAINS
WIRELESS OPERATOR’S STORY
GOVERNMENT INQUIRY
CAPTAIN LINDSAY’S WORK
CAPTAINS’ STATEMENTS CONTRADICTORY
STORSTAD DEFENDED
MESSAGE FROM THE STORSTAD’S CAPTAIN
PILOT NAULT TELLS STORY
CAPTAIN ANDERSEN MUCH DISTRESSED
AN OFFICER’S STORY
THIRD OFFICER’S STORY
MANY DIED AFTER RESCUE
COULD NOT SEE LIGHTS
SIGNAL TO GO ASTERN
WAIT FOR THE VERDICT
BLAME NOT TO BE PLACED BY AMATEURS
DIMENSIONS AND ACCOMMODATIONS
PROVISIONS FOR COMFORT AND PLEASURE
WEEKLY LIFE-SAVING DRILL
WATER-TIGHT COMPARTMENTS TESTED
THE LOSS AND INSURANCE
A RECENT RESCUE
PERSONALITY OF CAPTAIN ANDERSEN
INSURANCE
FATHER POINT
PICTURESQUE RIVER
GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
TADOUSAC
CAP TOURMENTE
QUEBEC
HISTORY AND TRADITION
MONTREAL
GEOLOGY OF COUNTRY
SISTER SHIP OF OLYMPIC
CARRIED CREW OF 860
MOST LUXURIOUS STEAMSHIP
THE ENGINE ROOM
COMFORT AND STABILITY
TARDY ATTENTION TO WARNING RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT
MURDOCK PAID WITH LIFE
VAIN TRIAL TO CLEAR BERG
BRIDGE GAME NOT DISTURBED
THE CAPTAIN ON DECK
PASSENGERS NOT ALARMED
ASTOR AND WIFE STROLLED ON DECK
A SUDDEN TREMOR OF FEAR
CONFUSION AMONG THE IMMIGRANTS
WIRELESS OPERATOR DIED AT HIS POST
THE LIFE-BOATS LOWERED
LOADING THE BOATS
COOLEST MEN ON BOARD
FORCED MEN USURPING PLACES TO VACATE
LAST WORDS OF MAJOR BUTT
COLONEL ASTOR ANOTHER HERO
HEART-BREAKING SCENES
HENRY B. HARRIS
THREE EXPLOSIONS
OTHER HEROES
IN THE FACE OF DEATH
DEATH FAILS TO PART MR. AND MRS. STRAUS
GIRL STEPS BACK TO DOOM
THE MONEY BOAT
MEN SHOT DOWN
A SAD MESSAGE
PREPARED TO DIE BRAVELY
THE SINKING VESSEL
THE COWARD
THE DOOMED MEN
“WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST”
COLONEL ASTOR’S DEATH
CAPTAIN WASHED OVERBOARD
SAW BOTH OFFICERS PERISH
BAND PLAYED ITS OWN DIRGE
MANY LINERS HEAR THE CALL
VIRGINIAN IN DESPERATE HASTE
TITANIC SENT OUT NO MORE NEWS
TITANIC STOOD UPRIGHT
SAW LAST OF BIG SHIP
“ONE LONG MOAN”
WOMEN TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE
SCANTILY CLAD WOMEN IN LIFE-BOATS
PHILADELPHIA WOMEN HEROINES
MANY WOMEN ROWING
THE PESSIMIST
COUNTESS ROTHES AN EXPERT OARSWOMAN
MEN COULD NOT ROW
DEATHS ON THE LIFE-BOATS
GAMBLERS WERE POLITE
HELP IN SIGHT
THE “LUCKY THIRTEEN”
A WONDERFUL DAWN
TRANSFERRING THE RESCUED
THE DOG HERO
A THRILLING ACCOUNT OF RESCUE
THE SORROW OF THE LIVING
NEARING PORT
TALK WITH SURVIVORS
ALL CARED FOR ON BOARD
TITANIC CREW HEROES
RUSHES ON TO DOCK
THE TITANIC LIFE-BOATS
ANXIOUS MEN AND WOMEN
THE FIRST SURVIVORS
RUMORS AFLOAT
MRS. CORNELL SAFE
MRS. ASTOR APPEARED
LAST SEEN OF COLONEL ASTOR
DR. FRAUENTHAL WELCOMED
A SAD STORY
MORE THAN SEVENTY WIDOWS
STEERAGE PASSENGERS
TWO LITTLE BOYS
BABY TRAVERS
THE RYERSON FAMILY
CAPTAIN ROSTRON’S REPORT
LIST OF SURVIVORS
ROLL OF THE DEAD
THE ARIZONA
DOZENS OF SHIPS PERISH
TOLL OF THE SEA
WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS
SUBMARINE SIGNALS
LIFE-BOATS AND RAFTS
NIXON’S PONTOON
LIFE-PRESERVERS AND BUOYS
ROCKETS
RESULT OF TITANIC DISASTER
LONDON CONFERENCE ON SAFETY AT SEA
EACH TRAGEDY HAS ITS LESSON
LIFE-BELT DRILL
MR. NIXON SUGGESTS REMEDY
GIANT RAFTS
LIFE-SAVING SUIT
MORE INDIVIDUALISM IN SAVING
CHUTES DOWN SHIP’S SIDES
STORAGE BATTERIES FOR LIGHTS
DOUBLE HULL ABOVE WATER
SUBMARINE BELL
REGULATION OF TRAFFIC