WILLIAM SAMPSON,
Chief Engineer,
Empress of Ireland,
Sworn.
By Mr. Meredith:
2655. What position did you occupy on the Empress of Ireland, Mr. Sampson, at the time of the accident?
- Chief engineer.
2656. How long have you been chief engineer on the Empress of Ireland?
- I have been on her eight years on the 1st of March last.
2657. How long have you been an engineer, for how many years, roughly speaking?
- Thirty-four years.
2658. Before the Empress you were on other Canadian Pacific boats and other boats?
- Yes.
2659. Now, you remember the ship reaching Father Point, do you?
- I do, sir.
2660. Prior to her reaching Father Point, are you able to tell us whether the ship on one or two occasions had slowed down on account of fog?
- Yes, very slightly, just a few minutes on each occasion.
2661. On two occasions?
- Yes.
2662. Now, when she reached Father Point, when did you leave the engine room, the superintendence of the engine room, how soon after?
- I do not take the superintendence of the engine room.
2668. Oh, I beg your pardon?
- I am standing there looking around in general about everything until we leave Father Point. That is generally my practice.
2664. Well, then, how soon after the ship left Father Point did you go to your room?
- Oh, I suppose about five minutes.
2665. Was the ship then on full speed ahead?
- The telegraph was at full speed and they were getting their steam up.
2666. And the weather was clear?
- As far as I knew by looking through the port, I think it was clear.
2667. Then about five minutes after leaving Father Point you went to your room?
- Yes.
2668. Yours is an inside room?
- Yes, amidships.
2669. Near the engine room?
- About fifty feet abaft the engine room.
2670. Now, about when did you leave your room to go to the engine room?
- After I heard the engines going full speed astern.
2671. After you heard the engines going full speed astern, you left your room and went to the engine room?
- Yes, I went to the engine room.
2672. What did you find? Did you find the full complement of engineers at their places working?
- Yes, sir.
2673. Now, will you tell us what the full engineering staff on the Empress of Ireland is so that we will have it before the court?
- Eighteen officers all told, that is, fifteen engineers, two electricians and myself as chief.
2674. And what additional help have you in the engine room, besides the officers?
- Well, we have altogether 135 all told, that is divided into donkey-men, storekeepers, greasers - I think there are eighteen greasers, six leading firemen, and the remainder are divided between firemen and trimmers. The total is 135.
2675. Now, of all the engineers you have on that ship, what proportion of them hold first-class certificates?
- Eleven.
2676. Can you state to the court the nature of the equipment in the engine room?
- I should say first-class order throughout.
2677. Now as to the steering-gear, in what condition did you find that?
- Perfect order.
2678. And is this since you have been on the ship?
- Always.
2679. I understand you have been on the ship for eight years?
- Yes, eight years the first of March last. Always in perfect order.
2680. Are you in a position to give any information to the court as to the signals from either ship?
- No, sir.
2681. Your cabin is an inside cabin?
- Yes, an inside cabin.
2682. Now will you state to the court what you did when you got into the engine room?
- Well, on my way to the engine room I gave orders to everyone that was standing around to get to the bulkhead doors as quickly as possible, to close them; and I made my way to the engine-room, but on my way down, I noticed the ship was listing badly, and as soon as I got down I saw the bulkhead doors just coming down, that is, No. 90 bulkhead, which was just closing.
2683. No. 90?
- Yes, that is No. 6 bulkhead as you have it on those plans.
2684. That is right.
- That was just coming down, and of course that absolutely cut off all water from the stoke-hold to the engine-room, and we were practically dry, with the exception perhaps the starboard bilge would be flooded. I then gave orders to try and get the bilge injectors under way.
2685. To get rid of the water, to get it out of the ship?
- To get ready for it. I didn’t think we were in such danger. And then I saw everything was stopped, and I rang to the bridge to the Captain by ’phone, and I said “For Heaven’s sake try and beach her,” and he said “Do the best you can,” and we got the engines under way a few minutes.
By Lord Mersey:
2686. Do you mean a few minutes?
- A few seconds, sir.
2687. Then why do you say minutes when you mean seconds?
- A few seconds, sir, it was all done in a very short time I can assure you.
By Mr. Meredith:
2688. Did the men remain at their posts, and if so, how long, and when did they leave?
- They remained until I told them to go away.
2689. And why did you tell them to go away, I suppose that is self-evident?
- To try and get out as quickly as possible. I told them to go and save themselves.
2690. Had you and the men any difficulty in getting up the ladder?
- They had. I could not have got up without their help. They stopped by me.
2691. It has been said by the previous witness that there was drill in regard to the closing of the doors?
- Always.
2692. Are you present when that drill takes place?
- Always either I or the senior second engineer, but generally myself.
2693. And that is done, I understand from the previous witness, every morning?
- Yes, every morning at ten-o’clock
2694. After that is done, is any certificate to the effect it has been done handed to the Captain?
- Well, I wait at the engine-room door and notify the Captain on going his rounds.
2695. Lord Mersey: So far, I have heard no suggestion that these drills were not properly attended to, and I have heard no reflection upon either the conduct of the men in the engine-room or upon the condition of the machinery, except the steering gear, and I shall assume that everything is in order unless someone suggests to me that it was not.
Mr. Meredith:
I quite understand that, my Lord, but I was anxious that the Court should be informed.
Lord Mersey:
I think it is altogether beside what we have to do.
Mr. Meredith:
I thank your Lordship, I have no more questions.
By Mr. Haight:
2696. When you left the engine-room, Mr. Sampson, after the Empress had started away from Father Point, I understood you to say that the telegraph stood at full speed ahead and that you were getting up steam?
- That is right.
2697. How many pounds of steam did you then have?
- I couldn’t say, I was not down below.
2698. Would anybody know?
- Yes, I should think so. I will give an approximation - I should think she would have 200 pounds.
2699. You think she would have 200 pounds?
- Yes.
2700. And your maximum is what?
- 220.
2701. That is your safety valve blows off at 220?
- Yes.
2702. Did you yourself hear any whistles blown by the Empress?
- None whatever.
2703. Whenever any repair work is needed on any part of your engine, including the steering gear, are you informed?
- I give the orders, as a rule.
2704. Then if there is any trouble with the steering gear in particular, a report would be made to you to that effect?
- Naturally, I should imagine so.
2705. Has that been the past experience?
- Always.
2706. And during the time you have been Chief Engineer on the Empress of Ireland, how often have you received a report that the steering-gear needed overhauling for one reason or another?
- That it needed overhauling?
2707. Yes? That it needed overhauling, that it was not working well?
- Well I don’t think I have heard it above once or twice in the whole eight years.
2708. Well, when was it you last got such a report?
- I really couldn’t say, it is so long ago.
2709. Have you had the telemotor system on the Empress since she was built?
- Yes.
2710. Now what has been the nature of the complaint when you did get a report that it was not working right?
- Well I have never heard of it being really out of order. Perhaps there was a little water passing the leathers, but that is neither here or there. It might want pumping up. That is the only thing that I know of.
2711. Have you ever heard the report that your steamer did not steer well, and when they wanted to change the course and sheer from one side, the wheel had to be put all the way over to counteract a sheer?
- I don’t know anything about that.
2712. Have you ever heard quartermasters complain that it was so hard to turn your wheel to pump the glycerine from one side to another, that a man had to physically strain himself to do it?
- There is no necessity to strain with that gear.
2713. Have you ever heard of a complaint from a quartermaster that he did have to strain himself?
- I don’t take quartermaster’s reports.
Lord Mersey:
Please answer the question . . . Have you ever heard of such a complaint from a quartermaster?
- I never heard a quartermaster complain.
By Mr. Haight:
2714. Have you ever heard that a quartermaster did complain?
- Never to my knowledge.
Lord Mersey:
Will you please suggest to us, Mr. Haight, what the quartermaster complained of, when he complained, and what he said when he did complain?
- I haven’t the information, my Lord, in quite as specific a form as that.
Lord Mersey:
Then put it in the unspecific form, only let us have it.
Mr. Haight:
My information is . . . I don’t know the man’s name nor the time it happened, but my information is that one of the quartermasters on the Empress of Ireland threatened to bring suit . . . grotesque as it may seem . . . against the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, because he had been strained in working the steering gear on the Empress of Ireland. Have you ever heard of that, Mr. Sampson?
- He must be a very weak man indeed or a baby.
2715. I think the name of the quartermaster was Cadwadaller. Do you remember any such man?
- No, sir.
Lord Mersey:
A Welsh name, evidently.
By Mr. Haight:
2716. You yourself have never heard it was difficult to turn the wheel and pump the glycerine from one side to the other?
- No, sir.
2717. How often is the glycerine changed?
- Well, it is made up probably every three or four months. There is apt to be a little leakage through and that is made up.
2718. Does the consistency of the glycerine alter any while it is in the cylinder?
- No, I don’t think so.
2719. It does not thicken?
- Not a bit.
2720. Have you ever worked at the wheel yourself?
- Yes.
2721. Does it happen if you put the wheel over rapidly and let it go it will of itself start back again?
- Sure.
2722. Why is that?
- As soon as you get it to the piston on the other side it brings it back to the central position.
2723. My information may be very imperfect, but as I understand the telemotor system, when you turn the wheel to starboard you pump an amount of glycerine from one side of the cylinder to the other?
- You actuate the steam-engine from your motor.
2724. What is that?
- You actuate your steam valve. That does the steering.
2725. But does the glycerine, as it empties one side and fills the other, start the steam valve upon that side?
- The piston.
2726. And then as long as the wheel remains in that position the rudder will continue to be turned in the appropriate direction?
- True.
2727. So your wheel must be brought amidships in order to have the steam bring your rudder back amidships?
- No, no, the wheel does that itself. That comes back itself by releasing the wheel; that comes back to amidships position.
2728. If then your system is in perfect order, your wheel will come back to amidships automatically?
- Sure.
2729. Now, what would be the defect which would cause it not to come back automatically?
- Well I can’t say that.
2730. Suppose some glycerine had leaked out of the cylinder, would that do it?
- But we don’t allow it to do so.
2731. But would it, if you did allow it to do so?
- Of course it would if the system is slack.
Lord Mersey:
Not to waste too much time on this, Mr. Haight, can you tell us when it was that this complaint was made which you are referring to?
Mr. Haight:
Well, your Lordship, I haven’t the hour.
Lord Mersey:
Oh, never mind the hour.
Mr. Haight:
Well, I haven’t the day, nor the month, nor even the year, but I will have before the day is out.
Lord Mersey:
Who is going to bring the information?
Mr. Haight:
A former quartermaster of the Empress, and the man who was at the wheel of the Empress from ten o’clock to twelve on the night of the collision.
Lord Mersey:
Is he the man that made the complaint?
Mr. Haight:
No, my Lord.
Lord Mersey:
The man who made the complaint was named Cadwallader, I understand?
Mr. Haight:
That is my information, my Lord.
Lord Mersey:
Where is he?
Mr. Haight:
I don’t know my Lord.
Lord Mersey:
Does he exist?
Mr. Haight:
I have only been told of him, and so cannot say for certain that he does exist, but the man who does exist, my Lord, was at the wheel of the Empress up to twelve o’clock on the night on which she sank.
Lord Mersey:
Now, that is very much to the point.
2732. Do you know, Mr. Sampson, who was at the wheel up to midnight before this accident?
- No, sir.
2733. Does anyone know?
- I presume the captain will know.
Lord Mersey:
Where is the captain?
Captain Kendall:
Here, sir.
2734. What is the name of the man who was at the wheel up to midnight on the night of the accident?
Captain Kendall:
Galway, I believe, sir.
2735. Is he in court?
Captain Kendall:
I believe so.
Lord Mersey:
In the meantime, Mr. Haight, will you please continue with the examination of the Chief Engineer.
By Mr. Haight:
2736. You, Mr. Sampson, as I understand it, heard absolutely no complaint that the steering gear of the Empress during the watch from eight to twelve, while you were on the way down the river, had been giving trouble?
- None whatever.
2737. Were you on duty while the Empress was coming up to Quebec on her westbound voyage, immediately before the accident . . . . are you usually in the engine room when going up and down?
- Between my room and the engine room. Probably on deck.
2738. Do you happen to remember hearing that on the way up, and just before you got to Quebec, perhaps an hour or two before, there was a sheer on your vessel and that you nearly ran down a two-masted schooner?
- I never heard that.
(Witness discharged.)