TRAGIC SUDDENNESS OF THE DISASTER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 1 June 1914, Page 5

TRAGIC SUDDENNESS OF THE DISASTER.

OTTAWA, May 30

Sir. Thomas O'Shaughnessy declares that the disaster is the worst in St. Lawrence history. The Empress of Ireland was torn from middle to screw, and sank before there was time to rouse the passengers or get them on dteck.

An unfortunate feature was that women suffered most, being unable to leap, overboard as the men did. Most of them stayed quietly in their cabins or were drowned while attempting to ascend the companion ways. Nine lifeboats were loaded in the darkness and pushed off into the river. In the meantime help was summoned by wireless. The Storstad picked up the

survivors, many of whom were maimed. The Storstad's crew did their utmost. One woman swam to the Lady Evelyn, but died by the effort. The wireless operators jumped overboard and were saved. The captain remained half-an-hour in the water before being rescued.