Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-03
Canadian Pacific Railway Of
ficiaIs May Raise Hull of
Wrecked Steamer.
ECHOES OF THE DISASTER
OEMPRESS OF IRELAND
Inquiry to Fix Responsibility for
Collision Probably to Begin
~. in Ten Days.

MONTREAL. June 3.-The news that
Lord NIersey. who presided over the in
quiry into the loss of the Titanic. is 10
be member of the royal commission ap-
pointed to investigate the Empress of
Ireland disaster was received here with
satisfaction. AS Lord Mersey was presi-
dent of the Titanic court. it is assumed
that he will be similarly honored when
the royal commission meets here. The
Canadian members of the commission are
Chief Justice Ezekiel Mcleod of New
Brunswick and Sir Adolph Ruthier Of
Quebec
The commission will be assisted by two
nautical assessors. a marine engineer
and a naval architect Appointments for
these positions have not been made, but
it is understood the Canadian govern
nent has in mind a number OF men from
whom to choose.
Just when the commission can begin its
work is still undetermined. but it will
probably not be possible to hold the first
sittings for about ten days.
Inquiry of Wide Scope.
The sittines will be held at either Mon
treal or Quebec. The inquiry will be of
the widest scope and the government will
ne represented by counsel, it is an
nounced as it is probable there will be
a discussion on rules of navigation in
Canadian waters.
Another change has been made i'll the
number of dead. The latest figures, given
out in an official statement by the Ca
madam Pacific Railway Steamship Com
pany, shows that 1,02f persons persisted
as result of the collision between the
Empress of Ireland and the collier Stor-
stad. The company has learned that there
were l.ii6 persons aboard the Empress
instead of 1-asI. as heretofore stated.
hence the increase in the death list. The
total saved is now given at a.
Statement by superintendent.
Capt. Walsh, marine superintendent of
the Canadian Pacific railway, arrived
here today and after looking over the sit
uation issued the following statement;
The Canadian Pacific railway will not
relax one iota in doing everything in its
power in looking after all the bodies it
NAV he able to get No effort on its part
will he spared in this direction.
With regard to the possibility of >raiy-
ing the Empress of Ireland the best pos
sible expert opinion is being sought. I'm
til this advice is secured we are unable to
give any personal opinion of the matter.
Complete patrol of the coast from
RimousN to Matane and beyond hae
been established by picked men sworn
in as Canadian Pacific railway special
constables. under the charge of a spe-
cial officer. to forward any Information
they may be able to secure as to bodies
which may be washed ashore or the re-
covery OF personal effects.
Capt. Walsh stated that the Canadian
Pacific would make every possible effort
70 secure the bodies of those entombed
in the sunken ship. If it was humanity
possible. he stated. to bring the vessel
10 a point where the bodies of the vic
TINS could be removed neither labor nor
expense would be considered.
Rescues by the Storstad.
Capt Owe Iange. Montreal agent of
the Maritime Steamship Company. own
ers of the Storstad. in statement de-
ciared that of about 40 persons who sur
vived the disaster $50 We're cared for on
the Storstad. OF these 225 were rescued
by the crew and boats of the Storstad.
while thirty others rescued by the Stor-
stad's men We're placed on board the
government steamship Eureka. the state
ment adds. The lifeboats of the Empress
of Ireland are credited with saving 125
and bringing them on board the Stor-
stad.
The Storstad's small boats Capt
Lange says, were loaded to the limit of
their capacity and they ceased their eff
forts only when there were no more to be
saved"