TERRIBLE MARINE DISASTER

New Zealand Tablet, 4 June 1914, Page 27

TERRIBLE MARINE DISASTER

LOSS OF OVER ONE THOUSAND LIVES. Oyer one thousand lives were lost when the Canadian-Pacific steamer Empress of Ireland collided with the’Norwegian collier Storstad off Father Point, near Rimquski, on the St. Lawrence River, during a dense fog. She sank ten minutes after the collision. The crack liner of the Canadian-Pacific Railway fleet left Quebec on Thursday, the total number on board being 1387. The scene immediately after the collision baffled all description. The shrieks of the passengers (who were rudely awakened from their slumbers), the hoarse cries of the captain and officers, and the wailing of the women mingled with the rushing water in the gap that had been opened in the vessel. There was little time to launch the boats. The Empress of Ireland was reached by the Government steamers Lady Evelyn and Eureka, which immediately steamed at full speed to the scene of the disaster at Father Point. The Empress of Ireland had hove-to in the fog when she was struck amidships by the collier. Sir T. G. Shaughnessy, chairman of directors of the Canadian-Pacific Railway Company, declares that the disaster is the worst in St. Lawrence history. The Empress of Ireland was torn from the middle to the screw, and sank before there was, time to rouse the passengers or to get them on deck. An unfortunate feature is that the women suffered most, being unable to leap overboard as the men did. Most of them stayed quietly in their cabins and were drowned while attempting to, ascend the companionway. Nine lifeboats were loaded in the darkness and pushed off. Meantime help was summoned by wireless, and survivors were picked up, many being maimed by the Storstad’s hull. The crew did their utmost. One woman swam to the Lady Evelyn, but died through her efforts. The wireless operators jumped overboard and were saved. The captain remained half an hour in the water before he was rescued. Scores of prominent Salvation officers are among the lost. It is officially announced that the Empress of Ireland carried 87 first class passengers, 153 second class, 715 third class, and a crew of 432. There were saved 18 first class passengers, 131 second and third class, and 206 of the crew. Four hundred bodies have been recovered. - -

Among the survivors is Miss Townsend, of New Zealand. Many limbs were broken. There was no time to arouse all the passengers. Mr. Burt, of Toronto, on coming to the surface, saw Miss Townsend. She besought his help, and he caught a floating suitcase, which kept them both up till they were rescued. Though there was a sufficiency of boats, those on board were unable to launch them owing to the list.

There was no panic, though there was some confusion, in ; the midst whereof the Empress of Ireland lurched'. .-The passengers rolled down the deck into the sea, the * women crying and praying, and the men shouting. The cries continued until the Jby waters ended their sufferings. The officers behaved splendidly, facing death fearlessly. Captain Kendall remained on the bridge until the vessel sank. The- following is the final official list of the number of lives lost and saved Lost, 1032 ; saved, 355. An Englisman named Duncan declared that every one of the crew acted like men, attempting to rouse the women. They secured numbers of lifebelts on deck ready for those below when they should reach there. The- Union Company has received official’ advice that the Auckland passengers on board the Empress of Ireland were Mr. W. R. Bloomfield, Mrs. Bloomfield, Miss Bloomfield, Mrs. H. Wynn Price, and Miss Townsend. All of them were drowned except Miss Townsend. Mrs. Wynn Price was an aunt of Miss Townsend.