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.
COULD NOT SEE LIGHTS
“They were moving at a good speed when we hit them. We had seen the boat previously five miles off, and as we got nearer a fog came up and we could not see her at all. We could not see any lights, and although we heard the sirens going, we could not exactly tell where the boat was, and we certainly heard no shouting through a megaphone to keep ahead.”
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.