STEAMERS COLLIDE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11991, 30 May 1914, Page 5

STEAMERS COLLIDE.

QUEBEC, Friday. * The Canadian-Pacific steamer Empress of Ireland (14,191 tons), is he--licved to have collided with the Red Star Company's steamer Hanover, to the east of Father Point, at the mouth of the River St. Lawrence.

A message received by the Government states that there is no sigh of either liner, but lifeboats arc visible in the distance, circling round. The Government steamer Eureka, which responded to wireless calls from the Empress of Ireland, and tho Government steamer Lady Evelyn, are standing by. The Empress of Ireland cleared for Liverpool yesterday, her full complement of passengers and crew being made up as follows: — First Class .77 Second Class 206 Third Class 504 Crew 500 Total 1,287 A party of five hundred Salvationists, who were going to the International Congress at London, were aboard. Both vessels .-vre believed to h?.ve sunk. (Received Saturday, at 9 a.m.). OTTAWA, Friday. It. is believed that a thousand lives •were lost when the Canadian steamer Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian collier Storstad off Father Point, near Rimouski, during a dense fog, and the sinking of the steamer in ten minutes after the collision Four hundred and twenty of the total of 1400 cf the crew and passengers were taken from lifeboats to Rimouski by Government steamers, who were standing by. .The list of drowned is not known, but the passengers included Lawrence Irving, the actor, and a number of New Zealanders. Nothing is known of the fate of the Storstad. Immediately on,receipt of S.O.S. signals the Canadian Government steamers Eureka and Lady Evelyn from Father Point hurried to the rescue. The early news was barely more than the S.O.S. call, naming the ship, and stating that she was in fear of immediate sinking. The absence of further calls are explained by the fact that the vessel sunk almost at once. There must have been a tterriblof shock as the vessel is believed to have been cut in two. At early dawn boats were seen hovering over 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 conference at London, including most of the head officials. The list included many Australians and New Zealandcrs, including Colonel, Mrs and Miss W. R. Blomfield, Auckland, Miss E. Townsend, E. Bfyne, G. Byrne, Brisbane. , The steamer left Quebec yesterday with 990 passengers for Liverpool. The scene immediately after the collision baffles description.

The shrieks of the passengers rudely awakened irom slumbers, the hoarse cries of the captain and officers, and the wailing of women were mingled with the rushing of the water in the gulf opened up in the boat. There was little time to launch the boats of the Empress of Ireland. Thi Government steamers, Lady Evelyn and Eureka, immediately steamed full speed to the scene of the disaster :it Father Point, and sent a Government message reading "No sign of the Empress of Ireland. Lifeboats are visib'e in the distance, circling round. The Government steamers Eurake and 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 vessel steamed away from Quebec the brass band of the Salvation Army played "God be with you till we- meet again. ,. The Empress of Ireland was commanded by Captain Kendall, R.N.8., who commanded the ' Montrose* when the murderer Crippen, was captured. He is among the saved.

— o— : Heavy Loss of life. Liner Cut in Half. Harrowing Scenes. Press Association—Electric Telegraph— Copyright