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.
PILOT NAULT TELLS STORY
It was not until he had landed from the Storstad that Pilot Nault, the man who navigated the vessel up the St. Lawrence from Quebec, would make any statement. Captain Andersen, his wife, who was aboard at the time of the collision, and the members of the crew were feeling extremely sorry about the accident, the pilot explained.
“When the survivors of the Empress were brought aboard the Storstad after being picked up in the few boats the collier had aboard, everything possible was done for them. Captain Andersen and his wife surrendered every bit of clothing they possessed to protect the survivors from the cold. They even had to improvise garments.
“The Storstad steered surprisingly well all the way up the river,” Pilot Nault went on. “With the assistance of the Lord Strathcona we had little difficulty in making eleven or twelve miles an hour.
“As far as we could ascertain from an examination on board, the ship had some twenty plates sprung forward, but aft of that she is not damaged. After we left Quebec we flooded her aft compartments in order to keep her head up. There is no water in her hold, and she stayed on an even keel throughout the trip.
CAPTAIN ANDERSEN MUCH DISTRESSED
“Captain Andersen has taken the tragedy much to heart. Several times on our way up here I have found him crying. He was very much worked up over it, and was very, very sorry.”
“Did Captain Andersen tell you anything about how the collision happened?” Nault was asked.