When I reached the alleyway it was so steep, due to the way the ship was canted, that my efforts to climb up were rendered impossible by the carpet, which I was clinging to, breaking away. I then scrambled up, and managed to get my head through a port-hole, but I was unable to get my shoulders through. At that time the ship was lying almost flat in the water on her starboard side, and a passenger who was standing on the plated side of the ship finally managed to pull me through the port-hole.
About a hundred passengers were standing on the side of the ship at the time, and a moment after I had joined them the ship took another list and plunged to the bottom. I next found myself in the water, and swam towards the lights of the steamer Storstad, and when nearly exhausted from the struggle and the exposure I was picked up by a life-boat, which went on to the scene of the disaster, and was loaded with survivors, who were pulled out of the water and taken on board the Storstad. Then we were heated and wrapped in blankets, and I was provided with the clothes which I now wear, and which enabled me to do what I could to help the other survivors.
MANY PLUNGE INTO ICY WATER
There was no disorder among the crowd. The captain and other officers remained on the bridge until the vessel sank. It was just seventeen minutes from the time she was rammed until she sank below the surface. Comparatively few were able to obtain life-boats, and practically were forced in their night attire into the icy water.
Several hundred clung to the ship until she sank, holding to the rail until the vessel canted over so far that it was necessary to climb the rail and stand on the plates of the side. Then they would slide down into the water as she keeled over further as though they were walking down a sandy beach into the water to bathe.
Photo by Bain News Service.
CAPTAIN KENDALL
The commander of the ill-fated ship. His reputation for seamanship and ability is unexcelled, and he stayed with his ship until the last, being thrown from the bridge as she turned over. Fortunately he was picked up by a life-boat from a piece of floating wreckage.
