Thomas Shaun Downey,
seaman, Empress of Ireland,
Sworn.
By Mr. Aspinall:
3380. Downey, were you serving as an A.B. on board the Empress of Ireland?
- Yes, sir.
3381. Were you off watch at the time of the collision?
- Yes, sir.
3382. Where were you when the collision happened?
- In my bunk, sir.
3383. Did you feel the shock?
- Yes, sir, the shock woke me.
3384. What did you do?
- Well, the shock woke me, and the next thing I heard was the boatswain’s mate shouting for all hands on deck, and I immediately jumped up and followed the boatswain’s mate to the boat deck.
3385. Which side of the boat deck did you go to?
- The starboard side. I went to the port side first, and I could do no good on the port side with the way the boats were, and I went over and asked the boatswain's mate what to do, and he said to see if everything was clear on the starboard side of the boat deck. I did so and got as far forward as No. 1 boat. Then I assisted to lower No. 1 boat, with a man by the name of Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick cleared the fall away for me, and I helped lower the boat down, and then I went further aft and assisted in getting another boat out.
3386. Which number?
- I can’t say the number of the boat but young Bruin might be able to tell.
3387. Was Bruin there?
- Yes.
3388. I suppose that was on the starboard side too?
- Yes, one abaft the other.
3389. Did you get that boat into the water?
- We got it out, sir, and I got farther aft and left it in the hands of Bruin, and whether he lowered it or not I can’t say. There was a bit of confusion around for a bit, and I tried to keep a bit of a rush back, and I got further back, and then I had to go in the water, sir. And I was picked up by the boat the first officer was in. When I got into the boat I found the first officer was in it.
3390. Do you know the number?
- No, sir, I don’t know the number, because I was pretty bad after being picked up. I think myself I was about four or five minutes in the water.
3391. Were there any passengers in her?
- Yes, sir, there was a lady passenger. She was the first to leave the boat to go aboard the Norwegian ship.
3392. Did you save many passengers?
- I didn’t help any. I was one of the last in the boat myself.
3393. You were rather overcome?
- I was overcome. Yes, I couldn’t even go back to help McEwen in the boat.
3394. You were exhausted?
- Yes.
3395. And then the boat went to the Storstad?
- Yes, she went to the Storstad, and then she left the ship again.
3396. And you didn’t go back?
- No, sir, I didn’t go back. I was cramped with being a certain length of time in the water.
3397. But did the boat go back?
- Yes, in charge of the first officer.
3398. You saw it go away?
- Yes, I saw him leave the ship. I was on the Storstad's deck.
By Mr. Haight:
3399. When you were picked up, Downey, you were not able to pull an oar or do anything?
- I was not. I tried to, but I couldn’t get an oar out with the crowd in the boat.
3400. You went with the other people on board the Storstad, and some one else rowed the boat?
- Yes, sir.
3401. When you got to number 1 boat did you and the man who was helping you do everything that was done to lower it?
- I was at the pin, sir, lowering the fall with the assistance of another man that is here now, clearing the fall for me.
3402. Well, was any one at that boat when you got there?
- The boat was swung out when I got there, and I went to the fall to do the best I could, and I managed to get the best part of it.
By Mr. Gibsone:
3403. None of the Empress men, as far as you know, who had been manning the Empress boats and had brought passengers to the Storstad, none of those men refused to go back as far as you know?
- No, not as far as I know. I didn’t go - I was not asked to go and didn’t go, because I told the man that was in charge that I was not able to go. I was cramped, sir.
3404. McEwen went back?
- Yes, sir, McEwen went back in the boat with the first officer in charge.
3405. And the other members of the Empress’ crew that were manning the boats went back?
- Yes, sir, they made several trips.