THE EMPRESS DISASTER

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 27

THE EMPRESS DISASTER

OTTAWA, July 13. Captain Anderson, of the Storstad, has expressed the opinion that Lord Mersey is a fool for holding him responsible for the collision. Any reputation Lord Mersey had, he said, he is sure to lose through such a decision. Lord Mersey really favoured the Canadian Pacific Railway Company throughout. Anderson has announced his intention of starting a suit against the Canadian Pacific Company on behalf of the Storstad’s owners. He will also begin a suit in the British Admiralty Courts. Anderson has promised much litigation before things are settled between, him and the Canadian Pacific Company. July 14. The Canadian Pacific Company’s legal representative, has been instructed to proceed immediately against the Storstad’s owners to recover damages for the loss of the Empress of Ireland. The Canadian Pacific Company claims that Lord Mersey’s decision relieves them of the responsibility of paying damages to the relatives of drowned and injured passengers. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company announces that Captain Kendall will receive promotion and be given a shore appointment owing to the severe strain affecting his health. LONDON, July 13. The Times, in a leading article on the Empress of Ireland Commission’s verdict, says that it offers an adequate and intelligible explanation of the disaster, which is attribufed to human error. It is satisfactory, says The Times, because it does not leave an obscure and unexplained danger overhanging vessels navigating the St. Lawrence estuary, and disposes of the suspicion that 1007 deaths occurred through deliberate wrong-doing and neglect due to base motives. An error of judgment is no crime, and Mr Tuftness will meet with more sympathy than condemnation.