Empress of Ireland Cut in Two.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12805, 1 June 1914, Page 5

Empress of Ireland Cut in Two.

By a Norwegian Collier. In the Estuary of River St. Lawrence Liner Sinks in Few Minutes. 1032 Passengers Perish; 335 Saved. Only Twelve Women Rescued. COLONEL AND MRS BLOOMFIELD AND DAUGHTER, OF AUCKLAND, DROWNED. ALSO SALVATION ARMY DELEGATES. _____ V HEROIC CAPTAIN AND OFFICERS AND CREW.

By Electric Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. QUEBEC, May 29. The Canadian Pacific steamer Erapress of India collided with the Norwegian collier Storstad off Father Point, near Rimouski, during a dense fog, the liner sinking ten minutes after the collision.

Most of the members of the crew escaped. Many of the passengers leaped into the water and clung to the wreckage, thus escaping. The Storstad is expected to reach Quebec shortly with a number of the survivors and dead bodies aboard.

Scores of prominent Salvation Army officers, including Mr Rees, the South. African (?Canadian) Commissioner, have been lost.

Four hundred and twenty of a total of fourteen hundred of the crew and pasengers were taken from the life boats to Rimouski by Government steamers, which are standing by. The 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.

I Twenty-two are reported to have died from injuries. LONDON, May 29.

The majority of the Empress of Ireland 's officers and crew belonged to Liverpool, where distressing scenes occurred.

The office of the shipping company is beseiged all day long. Prayers were offered up at the Salvation Army headquarters for the safety of the missing Salvationists. QUEBEC, May 29. There is hope of Colonel Bloomfield having been saved. The Storstad landed only a handful of survivors and several bodies.

Immediately on receipt of the

"5.0.5." signals, the Canadian Government steamers Eureka and Lady Evelyn from Father Point, hurried to the rescue. The earlj r news received was barely more than the "5.0.5." call, naming the ship, and stating that there was fear of the immediate sinking of the Empress of India. The absence of a further call is explained by the fact that the vessel sank almost at once.

The Empress of Ireland's passengers were unable to dress and were flung overboard in their nightclothes into the icy waters. The crew hurled themselves over the side of the vessel when the terriffic impact of the collision shook them out of their bunks.

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.

Much wreckage was torn off the vessel 's side. This enabled them to cling thereto until rescued. Mr Lawrence Irving's death is practically certain.

SYMPATHY. EXPRESSED IN CANADIAN PARLIAMENT. OTTAWA; May 29. The Premier (Mr Borden) expressed in the House of Commons his sympathy in the terrible disaster. He explained that it would have been impossible to avert it even by anything the country could have done in rendering the river more safe. Sir Wilfrid Laurier (Leader of the Opposition) joined in the sympathy with the relatives of those lost. NEW ZEALAND'S MESSAGE. DUNEDIN, May 29. The Prime Minister has sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister of Canada: —"On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand I desire to express sincere sympathy with our sister Dominion in the appalling 10-s of life which has taken place in the foundering of the steamship Empress of Ireland and our heartfelt condolence with the relatives of those who have perished." Mr Massey has cabled to the Prime Minister of Canada asking for the names of New Zealanders on the passenger list of the Empress of Ireland, stating whether they are saved or lost in order that friends and relations may have information as quickly as possible regarding those who may have been 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 Miss 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 Liverpool. The scene immediately after the collision baffles description. Shrieks from the passengers, rudely awakened from their slumbers, the hoarse erics

if 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 time to launch the boats.

The "5.0.5." signal sent out by the wireless operator of the Empress of Ireland reached the Government

steamers Lady Evelyn and Eureka, which immediately steamed at full speed to the scene of the disaster.

Father Point has sent a Government message reading:—"No sign of the Empress of Ireland. Lifeboats are visible in the distance circling round. The Government steamer Eureka and the steamer Lady Evelyn are also on the scene now."

The Empress of Ireland had hove-to in the fog when the collier struck her amidships. When the liner steamed away from Quebec the brass band of the Salvation Army played "God be with you till Ave meet again."

ROYAL SYMPATHY. Received 5.5 p.m. QUEBEC, May 29. Prince Alexander of Teck, the Premier (Mr Borden) and King George have telegraphed their condolences. FRANCE'S SYMPATHY. Received 5.5 p.m. LONDON, May SO. President Poincare telegraphed the King his personal condolences and France's great sympathy.

The Empress of Ireland was commanded by Captain Kendall, R.N.R., who commanded the steamer Montrose when the murderer Crippen was captured on board that vessel. The master 's life was saved. It is reported that the Empress of Ireland carried 77 first, 206 second, and 504 third-class passengers. 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. QUEBEC, May 20. It is reported that the Storstad rescued 200 passengers from the Empress of Ireland, and is conveying them to Quebec. MONTREAL, May 20. The Canadian-Pacific Company admit that only 337 were saved out of a total of 1367 passengers, leaving the remainder to have been drowned or else killed by the impact. QUEBEC, May 20. The rescued include Mr, Mrs and Miss Byrne, Brisbane. Captain Kendall escaped. The fate of Mv Law rence Irving, and also of his is not known. The arms and legs of some of the survivors were broken. Twelve bodies lie on the wharf at Rimouski. They are those of persons fatally hurt by the collision, but who escaped in the lifeboats and died therein. Wreckage strews the St. Lawrence river. The funnels of the Empress of Ireland are visible at low tide. The Lady Evelyn saved 390 lives and the Eureka 60.