“I saw Commissioner Rees when he ran back to get his wife. Major Frank Morris tried hard to save him, for he carried him on his shoulders as long as he could. Morris was a hero.
“There was an explosion just as the ship went down, and that must have killed hundreds outright. The shock of it blew Morris right overboard. Morris’ arm was badly scalded with the steam.
“We saw the ship heeling over when we were in the water, but there was no outcry until she had disappeared. The swimmers then shouted to attract the life-boat that was already coming. My comrades died like Salvationists.”
STORY OF BANDSMAN GREEN
The satisfaction of Bandsman Green of the Salvation Army in finding himself alive and without a scratch was darkly clouded by the loss of his father, Adjutant Green, his mother and his sister Jessie.
“It was not a great blow we felt,” he volunteered. “Just a little jar. You could not say that it was severe, not enough to throw you against the side of your bunk, for instance. But we guessed when the engines stopped and then began to go again fast, that something had happened. I tell you that to get out was like climbing up a straight wall, the Empress listed so.
“And then, when she sank, I could think of nothing but a village suddenly flooded and all the people floating in the water. It was awful to see those faces bobbing up and down with the ship gone underneath and only water.
“But a wonderful thing happened. You know it is not light at that time in the morning and when we were thrown out it was quite dark. But all of a sudden it got light very quickly and we could see well. That was wonderful!”—the voice softened into reverence—“like Providence, as I don’t believe it usually gets light as early.
“IN GOD’S HANDS”
“When I last saw my father, he said, ‘Well, boy, we are in God’s hands’; and I said, ‘Yes, father.’ In a second I was parted from all forever. They were all standing together, my father and my mother and my sister Jessie.