The Sun SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1914. ANOTHER ATLANTIC DISASTER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 97, 30 May 1914, Page 8

The Sun SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1914. ANOTHER ATLANTIC DISASTER.

Another of those terrible marine disasters that at long intervals shock the world has occurred .on the * St. Lawrence river, Canada. The CanadianPacific liner, Empress of Ireland, with 1367 souls on board,'while hove-to in a fog,, was cut down by, a Norwegian collier and sank immediately, amidst pitiable and heartrending scenes. While assistance was almost immediately requisitioned by means of "wireless, most of the passengers ' on the ill-fated steamer were lost, and the death-rolljl according" to the latest cabled advice, is" of such proportions -as. to mak,e the disaster one of the most stupendous in marine history. It is only a matter of two years since the Titanic,' on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic, collided with an iceberg and went down with 1300 souls, and once again the treacherous fogs that frequent the Canadian coast in these latitudes and at this time of the year have brought disaster to those that go down to the sea in ships. The sinking of the Empress of Ireland will mean a poignant lbssv to New Zealand and Australian- families. Several New Zealanders are mentioned in*the passenger list. Public sympathy will go out spontaneously and warmly to those bereft. Latest advices show that . there is little hope for the big majority of the passengers wh.o sailed with the stricken liner. The terrific impact, was sufficient

to send her to the bottom almost immediately, .and the confusion under the. mantle of fog may be easily imagined. It is a melancholy catastrophe, the more stunning since it was so unexpected.