The Sinking of the Empress of Ireland

Background and Context

• Date: May 29th, 1914
• Location: St. Lawrence River
• Ships Involved:
  • Empress of Ireland: Luxurious ocean liner, pride of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
  • Storstad: Coal-carrying freighter.
• Historical Context: Just months before the outbreak of World War I.

Empress of Ireland

• Ownership: Canadian Pacific Railway.
• Significance:
  • Important for transporting immigrants from Europe to Canada.
  • Known for its safety features, including double-bottomed hull and watertight compartments.
• Safety Features: Designed to remain afloat with two compartments flooded.
• Capacity: Could carry 1,500 people.
• Voyage:
  • First round trip of the season to Liverpool.
  • Departure Date: May 28th, 1914.

Passengers

• Diverse Background: Included immigrants, businessmen, Salvation Army members, and prominent individuals like actors Lawrence Irving and Mabel Hackney.
• Salvation Army: 167 members aboard, headed to a conference in London.
• Notable Passengers:
  • Lawrence Irving and Mabel Hackney: Renowned actors.
  • Sir Henry Setton Carr: Adventurer.

The Collision

• Conditions: Dense fog bank rolled in, reducing visibility.
• Initial Actions:
  • Empress of Ireland sounded its whistles and slowed.
  • Kendall ordered full astern, intending to stop in the fog.
• Impact: Storstad struck Empress of Ireland amidships.
• Damage: Massive hole, water flooding in at 60,000 gallons per second.

The Sinking

• Rapid Sinking: The vessel sank in 14 minutes.
• Attempts to Save: Lifeboats lowered; chaos and limited time for effective evacuation.
• Electrical Failure: Lights went out, complicating evacuation.
• Casualties:
  • 1,012 lives lost, including prominent figures.
  • Only four out of 138 children survived.

Rescue and Aftermath

• Rescue Operations: Storstad and other ships aided in rescuing survivors.
• Captain Kendall: Assisted in rescue efforts despite the sinking.
• Fatalities: Bodies recovered and laid to rest; large number of child casualties.

Inquiry and Blame

• Investigation: Led by John Bigham, blamed Storstad.
• Contention: Some testimony suggested issues with Empress of Ireland's steering.
• Outcome: Storstad found at fault; minor safety recommendations made.

Legacy

• Impact on Society:
  • Significant loss for the Salvation Army and theater community.
  • Overshadowed by the outbreak of World War I.
• Remembering the Disaster: Stories of heroism, like that of Ronald Ferguson, and personal tales of survival, like Florence Barber.
• Wreck Today: Largely forgotten, remains encrusted on the riverbed of the St. Lawrence.

Key Takeaways

• The disaster was overshadowed by larger global events but remains a significant maritime tragedy.
• The rapid sinking left little time for traditional rescue operations or heroic narratives.
• The inquiry's findings remain contentious, with debates over responsibility continuing.