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Captain Andersen’s Defense

(Captain Andersen’s Account of the Accident, Contained in a Statement Issued by the Agents 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 fogbank settled down and we met. The Empress was struck amidships 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 31, 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 rest 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.