“The boat was listing so badly that I slid down to the lower end, nearest the water, and caught hold of the rails. I saw they were cutting away the boats, and by this time the steamer was nearly flat on its side. They had no time to launch the life-boats, and as one went loose I jumped over and hung on to the side, and then got in. I hardly thought they would let me in at first, there were so many in it already. But every one was helpful. The desire to save themselves did not prevent the occupants of the boat from reaching out a helping hand to others.
“When I did get in all the ropes were not quite cut, and the liner was nearly on top of us. We seemed to be getting underneath the davits again, and expected every moment to go under. We managed to get away just in time, just as she was sinking, and we were only ten feet away from the steamer when she turned over and went under. While we knew there was no hope for us on the doomed vessel, it was a horrible sight to see her go down.
“There was not so much suction as I thought there would be. We were lifted up, the boat being on the top of a wave. We hung around quite a bit to see what the other boats were doing, and then we went to the collier.
“I think I was the only passenger in the boat. All the rest were from the crew. I don’t know why this was so, but all the people were holding so to the higher side of the ship and when the boat was cut free there was no one to get in her except the crew.
“We pulled two other men out of the sea—they were also members of the crew. There were nine saved out of the staff band of thirty-nine players. The bandmaster and his wife were drowned, but their little girl of seven was saved.”
Copyright by International News Service.
IDENTIFYING THE DEAD AT QUEBEC
Salvation Army officers identifying their comrades. Many members of the organization were on the “Empress.”
