CAPTAIN ANDERSEN'S DEFENSE
BY CAPTAIN THOMAS ANDERSEN
_Commander of the Storstad_
A TERRIBLE AFFAIR -- STORSTAD'S RIGHT OF WAY -- FOG SIGNALS --
STORSTAD DID NOT BACK OUT -- TO THE RESCUE -- INJUSTICE TO CAPTAIN
-- PLEA FOR SUSPENDED JUDGMENT
A FOG bank settled down and we met. The Empress was struck amidship on
her starboard side, listed and filled rapidly. When we got clear I
ordered all boats lowered, and we succeeded in taking off between 350
and 400 people with our crew of twenty-seven men. We transferred them
to the Lady Evelyn and Eureka, and they steamed with them to Rimouski.
Then we limped along under our own power to Montreal. It is a terrible
affair. We did all in our power.
The fact that the Storstad only reached port on Sunday, May 31st, made
it impossible to give an authentic statement on her behalf before
that. All connected with the Storstad deplore most deeply the terrible
accident which has resulted in the loss of so many valuable lives. It
is not with any desire to condemn others, but simply because it is
felt that the public is entitled to know the facts, that the
following statement is put forward:
STORSTAD'S RIGHT OF WAY
The vessels sighted each other when far apart. The Empress of Ireland
was seen off the port bow of the Storstad. The Empress of Ireland's
green, or starboard, light was visible to those on the Storstad. Under
these circumstances the rules of navigation gave the Storstad the
right of way.
The heading of the Empress was then changed in such a manner as to put
the vessels in a position to pass safely. Shortly after a fog
enveloped first the Empress and then the Storstad.
Fog signals were exchanged, the Storstad's engines were at once slowed
and then stopped. Her heading remained unaltered. Whistles from the
Empress were heard on the Storstad's port bow and were answered. The
Empress of Ireland was then seen through the fog, close at hand on the
port bow of the Storstad. She was showing her green light and was
making considerable headway.
The engines of the Storstad were at once reversed at full speed, and
her headway was nearly checked when the vessels came together.
DID NOT BACK OUT
It has been said that the Storstad should not have backed out of the
hole made by the collision. She did not do so. As the vessels came
together, the Storstad's engines were ordered ahead for the purpose
of holding her bow against the side of the Empress and thus preventing
the entrance of water into the vessel.
The headway of the Empress, however, swung the Storstad around in such
a way as to twist the Storstad's bow out of the hole, and to bend the
bow itself over to port.
The Empress at once disappeared in the fog. The Storstad sounded her
whistle repeatedly in an effort to locate the Empress of Ireland, but
could obtain no indication of her whereabouts until cries were heard.
The Storstad was then maneuvered as close to the Empress as was safe,
in view of the danger of injury to the persons who were already in the
water.
TO THE RESCUE
The Storstad at once lowered every one of her boats, and sent them to
save the passengers and crew of the Empress, though she herself was in
serious danger of sinking. When two boats from the Empress reached the
Storstad, the Storstad's men also manned these boats and went in them
to the rescue.
Her own boats made several trips and, in all, about 250 persons were
taken on board and everything that the ship's stores contained was
used for their comfort. Clothes of those on the Storstad were placed
at the disposal of the rescued and every assistance was rendered.
INJUSTICE TO CAPTAIN
The statements which have appeared in the press, indicating that there
was the slightest delay on the part of the Storstad in rendering
prompt and efficient aid, do a cruel injustice to the captain, who did
not hesitate to send out every boat he had in spite of the desperate
condition of his own ship.
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.