The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-06-04
300 PERSONS PERISH WHEN SHIP
SINKS IN ST. LAWRENCE RIVER
CANADIAN PACIFIC LINER, EN-
BY COLLIER.
A LARGE HOLE IN SIDE
Steamer Goes Down in Fourteen Min.
utes After lmpact.-Little Time
For "Women First"

Rimouski, Quebec-Sinking In 80
feet OF water within Is minutes after
being rammed amidship in the upper
Of the ST. Lawrence River,
the Canadian Pacific liner Empress of
Ireland carried down with her more
than 900 of her passengers and crew.
OF the 1857 persons on board the
liner, only 433 are known to have
been saved, making the probable
death list 1874.
Looming up through the river
mists, as the Empress of Ireland was
lying to, waiting for the fog to lift
or day to break, the Danish collier
Storstad crashed bow on into the side
of the big Canadian liner, striking
her about midway of her length and
ripping her side open clear to the
stern.
Crash Near Shore.
The crash occurred not for from
the shore off Father Point, $50 miles
from Quebec, which the Empress OF
Ireland left the afternoon before
bound for Liverpool and 10 miles
from this point on the st. Lawrence.
In reality therefore, although the
liner was heading for the sea and
the collier coming in from it, the dis
aster was not one of the ocean, but
of the river. Unlike the Titanic's vic
tins, the Empress of Ireland's lost
their lives within sight of shore-in
land-locked waters.
Immediately the ships crew recov-
cred from the shock of the collision
and when it was seen that the liner
had received a vital blow a wireless
IS. o. S." call was sounded.
A special train was made up on
which many were taken to Quebec
and Montreal.
The president of the Canadian Paci-
fc Railway, issued a statement say
ing that the Empress had sunk with
in fourteen minutes. No one aboard
had time to size his belongings much
less to dress. Those found in the life
boats were in their night clothes. The
women suffered most. Only a few
were saved, according to the earthly
lists, and indications are that they
lacked the strength to combat condi-
tons which confronted them. There
was not time, as was the case on the
Titanic, for calm deliberation and rig
Id observance of the unwritten rule OF
the sea, women frst!"
A party of Salvation Army mem
bers en- route to London. was almost
wiped out; Laurence Irving, son of the
late Sir Henry Irving, is among the
missing and other prominent persons
in the first cabin were unaccounted
for.
OF those saved crew members and
third class passengers predominated
From partial lists available it was
evident that but mere sprinkling Of
the first cabin passengers were res
cued. Only three names of those il
the cabin appeared in the preliminary
list of rescued. They were G. w. G
Henderson and c. R. Burt, address:
not stated and Walter Fenton O.
Manchester Eng.
The stricken vessel sank as if sht
were lead. An explosion, apparent.
originating in her engine room, has
tened her end, and those person
who were able to make their wa!
from their cabins found themselves OF
a perilously slanting deck. Many leap
ed and were drowned. Others wer
fortunate enough to grasp driftwoo'
or were picked up by lifeboats. 1t i
apparent that the great hole torn il
the ships side admitted such a delug
of water that many must have bee
IN
The rescued, fighting their way t
the lifeboats from the careening decl
singing desperately to the rails Q
leaping blindly overheard, brok
their arms or legs or otherwise inju7
ed themselves so badly that twenty
two died after being picked up Groa1
ing and in some cases practically il
sensible, others were landed her
while the populace of the village gail
cred with medicines and stimulants t
relieve their suffering
Vessel Cut Wide Open
The vessel bound for Quebec fro,
Liverpool with II first, 2O6 second an
504 third class passengers, was CT
wide open by the collier Storstad an
sank within 20 minutes in 10 fathom
of water.
Many Were Injured.
OF those saved the majority appea
ed to be members of the crew or fro
List Of Salvation Army Officers.
MISREPRESENTATION Army de-
gates to the London Worlds Conve
ton who were booked on the Ell
press of Ireland follow: Commissic
er and Mrs. Rees, Toronto; Field Sc
rotary Col. Gaskin and wife; Fe
Secretary Col Maidment and wifi
Adjutant Becksted, of Grace Hos
tai, Winnipeg; Brigadier Scott Pott,
financial secretary, Toronto: Brigadi
Walker, editor Of the Canadian W
Cry, Tonronto, Mayor and Mrs. I
vid Creighton, of the immigrant {
partment.
Major and Mrs. Findlay, Win
peg; Major and Mrs. Howell, Tore
to: Major Turin, manager trading
partment Toronto; Major Frank M
ris, divisional commander of t
London department, London divisio
Staff Captain Arthur Morris, Toront
Staff Captain Arthur Morris, Tonr,
to; Staff Captain McAmmond, Win
peg; Staff Captain Hayes, comma1
ing officer of the temple corps,
ronto; Staff Captain Goodwin, &C