UNKNOWN MEMBER OF CREW SAVED SEVERAL LIVES
Staff Captain McAmmond, of Toronto, relates how attempts were made by one of the crew of the Empress to pick up survivors from the water. Who the man was Captain McAmmond did not know, but he evidently saved several lives.
“As the Empress went down,” said he, “I clung to the taffrail and hung over the vessel’s stern. As she sank, I was dragged down into the water, but was immediately forced up again. Down I went again; again, I came up. Finally I managed to swim clear and succeeded in reaching an overturned life-boat.
“There were several such. A man was already clinging to the boat and he helped me to get a firm hold. We floated along with the boat until we reached another. Holding to this we found a member of the crew. It was a collapsible boat and under his instruction we were able to get it righted and use the oars.
“It was terribly cold in the water. Some of the people we assisted were so numbed that it was only with the greatest difficulty we succeeded in saving them.”