SIGNAL TO GO ASTERN
A striking statement was that of the third engineer of the Storstad, given in a previous chapter. He was on duty in the engine-room when the collision occurred.
He explained that the engines were going full speed astern at the time of the collision, and that the signal to go astern had been given more than a minute before the Storstad struck the Empress of Ireland.
The third engineer’s statement was supported by that of the second engineer, who, however, was not on duty at the time of the accident. He said that at no time for several hours before the collision had the Storstad proceeded at greater speed than ten miles an hour. Thick fog had been encountered at intervals, he said.