The owners of the Storstad ask of the public that, in all fairness to both the company and their commander, judgment as to where the blame for the disaster should best be suspended until an impartial tribunal has heard the evidence of both sides.
When Captain Kendall shouted through the megaphone, I shouted back, but I did not have the megaphone at hand, so I shouted as loud as I could; our man on the lookout heard me call. I did go full speed ahead. I kept my hand on the telegraph to the engine-room, and the very moment we touched the other ship I rang the engineer full speed ahead, but the Empress was going at a good speed and it was impossible for me to keep our bow in the hold. She disappeared from this ship and for a long time I kept my whistle blowing, but I heard nothing until the cries.
CHAPTER IV
Miraculous Escape of the Few
HEROIC DEMEANOR OF CAPTAIN KENDALL—RESPONSE TO WIRELESS CALLS FOR HELP—EUREKA AND LADY EVELYN ON SCENE OF DISASTER—THE SEARCH FOR THE QUICK AND THE DEAD—TERRIBLE PLIGHT OF SURVIVORS—SAD SCENES AT RIMOUSKI—WILLING HANDS HELP—TALES OF NARROW ESCAPES—THOSE WHO DIED BRAVELY
AMID the terrifying confusion, the awful darkness, and the harrowing scenes of death and despair, Captain Kendall bore himself like a true sailor as long as his ship stood under him. He retained such command of the situation that while the Storstad’s stem still hung in the gap it had made in the Empress’ side, Captain Kendall begged the master of the collier to keep his propellers going so that the hole might remain plugged.
Captain Kendall stood on his bridge as the ship went down. One of the boats from the liner picked him up, and he directed its work of saving others until the craft was loaded. The captain was injured in the crash and suffered from exposure.
RESPONSE TO WIRELESS CALLS FOR HELP
Brief as was the time in which the S. O. S. calls could be sent out from the wireless on the stricken Empress, they were caught by J. McWilliams, the wireless operator at Father Point. Half hysterical, he ran down the wharf to where the little mail tender Eureka was lying.
“For God’s sake,” he cried to Captain Boulanger, “get down stream at once. The Empress of Ireland has gone under!”