SHIPPING DISASTER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12253, 2 June 1914, Page 5

SHIPPING DISASTER.

AUSTRALIAN SYMPATHY. RELIEF FUNDS OPENED. SEARCHING INQUIRY TO BE MADE. PBt Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association.) Received June 1, at 10.45 p.m. London, June 1. 'The Company's offices in London were again besieged all day long by a crowd of sorrowful inquirers. Every new list of names are posted at the entrance and eagerly scanned. During the afternoon the celebrated Silver Band belonging to the Regent Hall branch of the Salvation Army marched past playing "Eternal Father, strong to save." The band was accompanied by the New Zealand contingent attending the Loudon Conference. The Company's officials stood in the doorway with bared heads. Subsequently the Salvationists held a memorial meeting in the vicinity, the New Zealanders addressing the mourners. The Lord Mayor has opened a Mansion House fund for the victims and their dependents, and _ invites tjie mayors throughout the United Kingdom to open funds. : A convention in London representing two million Irish residents of Britain offered their profoundest sympathy with the victims and their dependents. Received June 2. at 0.5 a.m.

Montreal, June 1. The Storstad has arrived. The Canadian-Pacific Company lias issued a writ against Captain Anderson claiming two million dollars, v The seamen of the Storstad say that Captain Anderson was not on duty at the time of the collision. The Storstad was ordered astern before striking the Empress. Ottawa, June 1.

The Government has ordered an investigation into the disaster, in conjunction with the British Board, of Trade.

The Government has appointed Captain Lindsay, superintendent of the St. Lawrence, pilots, to hold a- preliminary investigation, with the object of securing the survivors' declarations. Quebec, June 1. The steamer Lady Grey has arrived with 176 bodies.

Received June 2, at 8.35 a.m. London, June 1. The King has given £SOO and the Queen £250 to the Mansion Houso fund for the Empress of Ireland disaster.

Advices state that the bodies of Sir Henry Mrs H % Wynne and Mrs H. W. Price, both of New Zealand, and Miss G. Bryne (of Brisbane) have been identified

Received June 2, at 9.10 a.m. Melbourne, June 2. The Governor has cabled to the Secretary of State for the Colonies: "Will Tou convey to Canada Australia's deepest- sympathy with the sister Dominion and therelatives of those who perished in the terrible shipping disaster." Received June 2, at 10.50 a.m. Ottawa, June 1.

Examination of the Storstad shows that her anchor point pierced the side of the Empress of Ireland, killing numbers in their cabins. The anchor was covered with blood. The anchor evidently opened the Empress of Ireland's plates like a salmon tin-opener. _ Contain Anderson, of the Storstad, asserts that the Empress of Ireland changed her course, as he maintained his undeviatingly. The Storstad's speed was checked before she struck the Empress of Ireland. Captain Anderson savs be attempted to keep the Storstad's nose against the Empress of Ireland's side, but owin<z to the speed at which the Empress of Ireland was proceeding he was unable .to do so. . , Captain Anderson asks that judgment be suspended until a competent tribunal apportions the blame. r Commander Tweedic Crusher, or Essex. says that it is impossible to raise the Empress of Ireland, but that divers may recover the money and valuables. Received June 2, at 0.45 p.m. London, June 1. . News has been received that Mr Laurence living's body drifted ashore. His face was unrecognisable, and his hand was clutching a piece of his wife s night attire. . . • The fund being raised in Liverpool has reached £15,000. Ottawa, June 1.

The Canadian-Pacific Company is arranging a public, funeral for tho dead.

Sydney. June 1 ' Sir R. Munro I Ferguson and the State Governors have cabled sympathy to. Canada. Mr HolmaJi, referring to the disaster, said he-supposed tlio enquiry would end in the condemnation of some unfortunate second mate or seaman. There would he no safety for the travelling public until tho directors of companies which sent 1500 people to sea in a ship capable of destruction in fifteen minutes were put on trial as accessories to manslaughter. He hoped the Canadian Government would deal with the calamity in that spirit. _He was not saying the directors wore innocent or guilty. It may have heen a mere

NEW ZEALAND SALVATIONISTS ADDRESS, A CROWD OF MOURNERS. CANADIAN-PACIFIC'S WRJT AGAINST CAPTAIN ANDERSON.

act of God, but if due to human failing the people who make money by gambling in human lives ought to -be punished. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received June 1, at 8.10 p.m. London, June 1. Bishop Ryle, Dean of Westminster, preaching at Westminster Abbey, said the English people quivered under the blow. The disaster was but an enlargement on a terrible seal© of the daily disasters by road, rail, aeroplane, and motor car. But this was more dreadful, because death and destruction was caused to hundreds of their own kith and. kin through no fault •or fcolhardiness, in protected waters of a - river in the . dead of night. Quebec. June 1. Ensign and Mrs Smith cancelled their passage in the Empress of Ireland- liecause of the wife's dream of another Titanic disaster. *' There were pitiful scenes in the shed where the corpses were laid oiit in plain pine coffins. "Thirty are unidentifiable. Distraught women and heartbroken men searched for missing relatives. Men-o'-warsmen carried the coffins ashore, the procession up the gangway lasting an hour.

BEST TRADITIONS OF RACE UPHELD.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. - Quebec, May 31

It is difficult to fix the-responsibility for the loss of the Empress of Ireland, in the view of tho many conflicting •stories. ~

Major Attwell. of the - Salvation Army, said lie did not see the captain cf the ship, nor did' he hear any orders given, or see any officer <at any post. Others who were saved' corroborated this statement.

Another survivor says that the boat he clambered into had 50 people in it. The davit-ropes were fouled, and people were sitting on the oars, so that rowing was impossible. He saw the stern of the vessel rise, and the bow drop! Tlx; ship then gave a. hiss and a gurgle and sank. Some when rescued went crazy.

The balance of the evidence suggests that the best traditions of the race were not dishonored. There was confusion and frenzy, but over .all a. concern for the weak, self-sacrifice, and spondid patience and endurance. The New Zealand contingent headed a Salvationist procession past the Cana-dian-Pacific offices, which are open continuously. and played "For tliose .in peril on the sea." - -

A NEW ZEALANDER SAFE. MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY. Per Press Association. Christchurch, June 1- • Fears for the safety of a yrell-kuown New Zealander, Mr Leslie Lilly, - who. it was thought, was a passenger by the Empress of Ireland, were; set at rest yesterday by the receipt .of a cable sent by him from Montreal. His brothr, Mr Arthur Lilly, late organist at St. Luke's Church, Christchurch, states that Mr Leslie Lilly was travelling representative of Messrs Smith and Lister, silk merchants, of London in Eastern Canada and the United States. In the last letter received from him by his brother he stated his intention of leaving last week on his return to Liverpool in the ill-fated ship, but a cable message stated that he was prevented from joining the steamer last Friday, as he had intended.

At the Christchurch Methodist Ministers' Association's meeting ■ this morning, twenty-three members being the following resolution was carried: "That this meeting of the Christchurch Methodist ' Ministers' Association expresses its deep regret at the loss of life involved in the wreck of the s.s. Empress of Ireland in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and hereby commends to God's sustaining grace all those to whom this ""reck has brought sore bereavement."

At the same meeting this further resolution was- also carried: "That this meeting has heard with .great sorrow of the terrible loss of life involved in tho wreck of the s.s. Empress of Ireland on the St. Lawrence, including .a number of Canadian Salvationists. This meeting expresses its deep sympathy, with tho local members of the Salvation Army in tho loss of their comrades and prays that the bereavement may be sanctified by the" consolation of the Holy Spirit to a wider extension of the Kingdom of Christ.'"

TKIBUTE TO ME W. R; BLOOMFIELD. (Peb Pkess Association.) Auckland, Juno 3. - At tho Suprenu/Court-reference was i made to Mr W. :R. Bloomfield by' Bench ; and Bar. Mr J ustico Cooper said Mr i Bloomfield was a Tory old friend of his. Mr '-Bloomfield earned the respect and afFection of all with whom he came in . contact. .He had the affection, respect i and goodwill of all members of the community. He- had taken up his. share of ; public work, an'd was'-an experienced, ; useful, and leading officer in iho Terrii toriar forces.