APPALLING ATLANTIC DISASTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 33, 30 May 1914, Page 5

APPALLING ATLANTIC DISASTER.

Steamer Sunk by Collier Ten Minutes After Collision. * A Heart-Rending Narrative, New Zealand Personages on Board. \ Received 10.20 a.m.) . Ottawa, May 29. The Canadian Pacific Company admit that only 337 were saved. The total number of passengers was 1367, leaving the remainder either drowned or killed by the impact.

Quebec, May 29. The Canadian Pacific Railway Co.’s liner, the Empress of Ireland, is believed to have collided with the Red Star liner Hanover, east of Father Point.

The message to the Government says there is no sign of either liner. Lifeboats are visible in the distance, circling around. The Government steamer Eureka, which responded to the Empress of Ireland’s “5.0.5.” calls, and the Government steamer Lady Evelyn, are standing by.

The Empress of Ireland cleared yesterday for Liverpool, with 77 first, 206 second, arid 504 third-class passengers, and crew. The passengers include five hundred members of the Salvation Army going to the International Congress in London.

Both vessels are believed to have sunk.

The Empress of Ireland was a liner of 14,191, tons, 548 feet in length, 65 feet wide, and with a draught of 36 feet. She was a 20-knot vessel, built in 1906 by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company. The Empress of Ireland made a record west-hound passage, Liverpool to Quebec, of 6 days 2 hours 47 minutes.

The Empress of Ireland had hove o in the fog, when the collier struck her amidships. When the Empress of Ireland steamed away from Quebec, the brass band of the Salvation Army played: “Cod be With You Till We Meet Again!” The Empress <#■ Ireland was commanded by Captain Kendall, A.N.R., who commanded the Montrose when the murderer Crippen was captured. The captain is among the saved. THE STORSTAD AND THE SAVED. Latest reports state that the Storstad is badly damaged about the bows, but is proceeding to Quebec under her own steam. She has on board the survivors and the "dead bodies from the Empress of Ireland. She is reported to have rescued two hundred passengers. LIVERPOOL IN MOURNING. PRAYERS FOR THE MISSING SALVATIONISTS. (Received 8.30 a.m.) London, May 29. The majority of the Empress of Ireland’s officers and crew belonged to Liverpool, where distressing scenes occurred, and the office of the Company was besieged all day long. Prayers were offered at the (Salvation Army headquarters for the safely of the missing Salvationists. ; r,.; i t; : '< i The latest great sea disaster recalls the loss of the Titanic on April 15th, 1912. THe Titanic was bf 45,300 tons register, and was on her maiden voyage from Queenstown to New York. 'She struck an iceberg near Cape Race and foundered with the loss of 1503 lives, 661 of whom were men, 101 women, and 53 children. The aid of wireless telegraphy was called in, and hut for this thd number of those saved would have been practically nil, though, as it was 703 were saved by the Carpathia and other steamers who responded to the wireless call.