New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-30
DISASTER APPALLS
SALVATION ARMY
Delegates to Convention
Attempt to Cancel Pas
sage on Olympic.
SON OF NEW YORK
COMMANDER SAVED
Mere Chance That 700 Americans
Who Will Sail To-day Were
Not In Wreck.

Several hundred members OF the Saliva.
ton Army who will sail for England TO-
morrow on the Olympic, to attend the
international convention. waited abou.
the corridors OF the national Salvation
Army headquarters. in 18th St, near Sixth
av., yesterday. anxious concerning ,hs
fate Of members OF their Organization
who we're passengers on the Empress, q,
Ireland, which sank in the ST. Lawrence
River yesterday.
Nearly all OF the 1sO-odd Salvationists
on the steamer were known or re-
lated to the delegates now in this CITY
OF the Canadian expedition. according TO
a telephone message from Montreal re-.
ceived at the Salvation Army Building
late In the afternoon by Colonel w. A.
MacIntyre. New York commander. only
twenty-five were saved Among thoss
was Colonel MacIntyres son, Kenneth
twenty-five years old and a graduate OF
Cornell.
The three highest officials OF the Cana
dian Salvation Army persisted. They were
David Rees, commissioner from Canada:
Colonel Sidney Maidment, chief secretary.
and Colonel Albert Gaskin. field secretary.
Commissioners Rees, whose wife and
four children also were drowned. had
been in the army more than thirty-three
years. He worked his way up through
the ranks to one OF the highest positions.
He at one time commanded the London
army. and later took charge Of the work
in Scotland. From there he was ordered
to Canada, twenty-five years ago, where
he served several years In a subordinate
position, being recalled TO London 10 take
charge or the international training
homes. Sweden was his next post. Then
he went back TO London. Three years
ago he went to Canada and succeeded
Commissioner T. b. Coombs.
Colonel Maidment was about forty
seven years old, and had been stationed
in nearly every country OF the world
where the Salvation Army has posts lie
served in Norway, Sweden. England.
South Africa, the West Indies, SCUM
America. the United States and Cansos
OF his eight children no TWO were born
in the same country.
Colonel Gaskin, the field secretary OF
Canada, had occupied that position
eighteen years, an unequalled record in
the Dominion. Before coming there he
served in London under Miss Evangeline
Booth, the present commissioner Of tina
United States.
Mrs. Kenneth Maclntyre, who saw her
husband depart on the Empress of Ireland
from Toronto. arrived in New York yes
terday with Mrs. William Humphrey. Of
Toronto. whose husband was a member Of
the band Not until they reached this city
did they learn that the steamer had gone
down.
Commissioner Booth kept 10 her Office
yesterday afternoon and would see none
OF her subordinates, so upset was she at
the news OF the disaster. Late in the
afternoon, however, she made a short adj
Dress 10 the delegates on the roof OF the
building in lith ST.
II was only by the merest chance that
the American Salvationists were not on
the Empress OF Ireland. for the Canadian
Pacific Railroad made special transporta-
ton offers to those going abroad 10 at
tend the convention. Ii was finally de-
cided 10 go on the Olympic.
Fifteen hundred persons attended the
mass meeting OF the Salvation Army In
Memorial Hall last night. With resig-
nation they listened to the simple words
in which Commander Eva Booth told OF
the loss the army had sustained.
"Out OF 175 officers of the army in Cam
ada" she said, who sailed on the En-
press OF Ireland only fourteen survive.
our forces in Canada have received ter
rife blow Practically all the higher Of
ficers have been wiped out"
Late last night Commander Booth an
nounced that a subscription list would be
opened in this city to aid the survivors.
The money collected will be sent to Can
ada. II was stated that subscriptions
could be sent to any newspaper or to the
headquarters OF the organization In tins
city. Checks sent TO the local head
quarters should be made payable TO tina
Salvation Army.
Telegrams OF sympathy were received
last night from John Wanamaker ana
Lieutenant Governor Gibson OF the Pro-
vince of Ontario.
IL was also announced that during the
absence OF Commander Booth in England
Colonel w. II. Cox will be the acting
commander in this country.