MESSAGE FROM THE STORSTAD’S CAPTAIN
When Captain Andersen passed Quebec with the Storstad he sent this message ashore:
“The inquiry will depend on facts. In justice remember that the Storstad and her crew of thirty-eight men saved three hundred and forty-eight lives.”
It was believed that the disaster would be further explained when the Storstad reached port; but except for the reserved and official statement little was made known.
While none of the men on board the Storstad, however, would give extended narratives of the disaster, because they have been warned not to do so, it was gathered that a moment before the impact the engine-room of the Storstad was ordered to go astern. Sailors stated that four boats were lowered immediately after the collision, which made their way to the scene of the wreck and picked up as many living as could be held by the little craft. They were all loaded down to their utmost capacity, and only very careful handling prevented them from overturning. All speed possible was made on the trips to and from the Storstad, the living always being picked up first.