THE SURGEON'S THRILLING STORY
BY DR. JAMES F. GRANT
_Ship's Surgeon on the Empress of Ireland_
HAD DIFFICULTY REACHING DECK -- MANY PLUNGE INTO ICY WATER --
WEIRD SHRIEKS OF TERROR -- PASSENGERS CAUGHT LIKE RATS
I WAS in my cabin, and heard nothing until the boat listed so badly
that I tumbled out of my berth and rolled under it. I concluded that
something had gone wrong, and tried to turn on the light, but there
was no power. I tried to find the door bolt, but the list was so
strong that it took me considerable time to open the door.
HAD DIFFICULTY REACHING DECK
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.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN KENDALL
_Photo by Bain News Service._
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.]
[Illustration: ON THE PIER AT QUEBEC
_Copyright by International News Service._
The sad-faced crowd of friends and relatives awaiting the arrival
of the bodies.]
WEIRD SHRIEKS OF TERROR
Then there were several hundred souls swimming around in the water
screaming for help, shrieking as they felt themselves being carried
under, and uttering strange, weird moans of terror.
The life-boats of the Storstad were launched and came rapidly to the
rescue. One went back that was not well loaded. About five of the
Empress' boats got away.
PASSENGERS CAUGHT LIKE RATS
The catastrophe was so sudden that scores never left their bunks. They
were caught there like rats in a trap. Added to this was the fact that
passengers had been on the ship only a day and were not familiar with
their surroundings.
In the confusion and the semi-panic, many could not find their way to
the decks, and only a few knew where to reach the boat deck. This was
largely responsible for the terrible toll of death.
The survivors were taken on board the Storstad and the Lady Evelyn,
which was summoned by wireless. There everything possible was done for
them, but in at least five cases the shock and exposure were too
severe. Four women perished after they reached the Storstad. In each
case I was called and the unfortunates died before anything could be
done. The last spark of energy had been exhausted. One other woman
died just as she was being taken ashore.