MANY DIED AFTER RESCUE
“It was terrible while we were making our first journey back to the Storstad, with our boat filled to overflowing, to hear the cries of those we could not rescue, and all the time there were two of the Empress’ life-boats lying alongside our ship and some of the Empress’ officers on board.
IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS
Here the intense physical suffering from cold and exposure, added to the mental agony preceding and accompanying it, overwhelmed many of the boats’ occupants. In consequence, the Carpathia, which rescued the survivors, was literally a floating hospital during her sad journey back to New York.
COMMISSIONER DAVID M. REES
Of Toronto, who was in command of the Toronto detachment of the Salvation Army on the “Empress of Ireland”, and was among those lost in the disaster.
“One woman who was rather old, I think belonging to the Salvation Army, and one little girl, as well as seven men, died on board the collier after we had brought them aboard. They were almost frozen, and died of exposure and shock. Our forepeak is full of water, but there is no water in any of the holds.