7

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 porthole, 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 porthole.

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 toward the lights of the steamer Storstad, and when nearly exhausted from the struggle and the exposure, I was picked up by a lifeboat, 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 lifeboats, 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 farther as though they were walking down a sandy beach into the water to bathe.

Copyright by International News Service

ON THE PIER AT QUEBEC

The sad-faced crowd of friends and relatives awaiting the arrival of the bodies.

Photo by Bain News Service

CAPTAIN KENDALL

The commander of the ill-fated ship. His reputation for seamanship and ability was 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 lifeboat from a piece of floating wreckage.

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 lifeboats of the Storstad were launched and came rapidly to the rescue. One went back that was not well loaded. About five of the Empress’s 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 semipanic, 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.