DETAILS OF DISASTER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 127, 30 May 1914, Page 5

DETAILS OF DISASTER

NAMES OF SOME OF THE PASSENGERS VESSELS TO THE RESCUE. LINER BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CUT IN TWO. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) (Received May 30, 3.30 a.m.) QUEBEC, 29th May. The Canadian Pacific steamer Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian collier Storstad, ott' Father Point, near Rimouski, during a dense fog, the liner sinking ten minutes after the collision. Four hundred and twenty of a total of fourteen hundred of the crew and passengers were taken from the life boats to Rimouski by Government steamers, which are standing by. Tho passenger list is not known, but the passengers included Mr. Lawrence Irving, the actor-manager, and a number of New Zealanders. Nothing is known of the fate of the Storstad. EARLY NEWS. Immediately on receipt of the"S.O.S." signals, ths Canadian Government steamers Eureka and Lady Evelyn, from Father Point, hurried to the rescue. The early news received was barely moro than the "5.0.5." call, naming the ship, arid stating that there was fear Of the immediate sinking of the Empress of Ireland. The absence of a further call is explained by the fact that the vessel sank almost at once. The disaster must have been terrible. The vessel is believed to have been cut in two. At earliest dawn boats were seen hovering around the spot, but there were no signs of the steamers. The Empress of Ireland carried many Canadian members of the Salvation Army to attend the Army conference in London, including most of the head officials. NIAGARA'S PASSENGERS. The passenger list included many Australians and New Zealanders who came across by the Canadian-Australian steamer Niagara in April, including Colonel, Mrs., and Mis*} W. R. Blomfield, of Auckland, Miss C. Townsend ; and Mr. E. Byrne and Mr. G. Byrne, of Brisbane. The Empress of Ireland left Quebec yesterday with 990 passengers for Liver, pool. SCENE BAFFLES DESCRIPTION The scene immediately after the collision baffles description. Shrieks from the passengers, rudely awakened from their slumbers, the hoarse cries of the captain and officers, and the wailing of the women, mingled with the rushing of the water into the gulf opening in the boat. There was little timo to launch the boats. The "5.0.5." signal sent out by tho wireless operator of tho Empress of Ireland reachdd the Government steamers Lady Evelyn and Eureka, which immediately steamed at full speed to tho scene of tho disaster. Father Point has sent a Government message reading: — "No sign of the Empl'ess of Ireland. Lifeboats are visible in the distance circling round. The Government steamer Eureka and the steamer Lady Evelyn arc also on the scene now." WHEN THE DISASTER OCCURRED. The Empress of Ireland had hovo-to in the fog when tho collier struck her amid»

When the liner steamed away from Quebec the brass band of tho Salvation Army played "God be with you till we meet again." WELL-KNOWN COMAIANDER. The Empress of Ireland was commanded by Captain Kendall, R.N.R., who commanded the steamer Alontrose when the murderer Crippen was captured on board that vessel. The master's life was saved. It is reported that tho Empress of Ireland carried 77 first, 206 second, and 504 third-class passengers. STORSTAD BADLY DAMAGED. . Latest reports state that the Storstad was badly damaged about the bows, but is proceeding to Quebec under her own steam. She has on board survivors and dead bodies from the Empress of Ireland.