Fonds ID179 - Enquiry into the Empress of Ireland

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Enquiry into the Empress of Ireland

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  • Textual record

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Fonds

Reference code

CA MNBM ID179

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29 cm of textual records

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(1914)

Administrative history

The steamship "Empress of Ireland" was sunk by a collision with the Norwegian steamship "Storstadt" in the St. Lawrence River, Quebec during, the early morning hours of 29 May 1914.

The "Empress of Ireland" was owned by Canadian Pacific Railway, built in 1906 at Glasgow, Scotland, and registered in Liverpool, England. Captain H.G. Kendall was her master . The "Storstadt" was a Norwegian collier (coal-carrying vessel) built in 1910 at Newcastle, England, by Armstrong, Whitworth, and Co. It was registered in its homeport in Norway. The commander was Captain Thomas Andersen.

The collision between the "Empress of Ireland" and the "Storstadt" occurred in foggy conditions on the St. Lawrence River. The "Empress of Ireland" left Quebec, bound for Liverpool on 28 May 1914. A crew of 420 and 1057 passengers were on board. She was also carrying general cargo destined for Liverpool. After making stops along the way, the "Empress" arrived at the next stop, near Father Point at 2:00 a.m. on 29 May 1914. The "Storstadt" was bound for Montreal from Sydney, Nova Scotia, with a full cargo of coal. The "Empress of Ireland" was struck by the "Storstadt", filled quickly, turned over on her beam ends and sank within 20 minutes. The loss of life was high; 1014 people lost their lives. In proportion to the number of passengers carried, the death toll was higher than that of the "Titanic".

Commissioners were appointed to investigate the incident by the Hon. John Douglas Hazen, Minister of Marine and Fisheries of Canada, under Part X, the Canadian Shipping Act. John Charles Bigham, Baron Mersey of Toxteth, who also headed the inquiries into the "Titanic" and the "Lusitania" disasters, was president. Ezekiell McLeod, chief justice of New Brunswick was vice-judge in Admiralty, as was Adolphe Basile Routhier, former chief justice of Quebec.

This catastrophe was the subject of an in-depth enquiry to ascertain the immediate cause, with possible extension to more remote causes, if any, connected with the structure, equipment or mechanism of the ship to determine what lesson(s) could be learned in the future. Captain Andersen of the "Storstadt" was later held responsible for the collision.

Sources:
Musk, George, "A Short History and Fleet List of the Canadian Pacific Ocean Steamships 1891-1956"; Logan, Marshall, "The Tragic Story of the Empress of Ireland and other great sea disasters"; and Lloyds Register, 1907-08, Part I Steamers, Volume I

Custodial history

This fonds belonged to Ezekeil McLeod, a member of the commision and was given to the Museum by one of his descendants, John McLeod, of Penobsquis, N.B., in 1948.

Scope and content

This fonds consists of 4 bound volumes of typescripts and 1 folder dealing with the commission into the wreck of the "Empress of Ireland."

The 4 bound volumes are one of the sets of original copies made for the members of the commission and contain the verbatim evidence heard by the enquiry. Volume 1 - (2 copies) 16-19 June 1914 includes typed alphabetical index of volumes I and II. Volume III, 26-27 June 1914, includes the closing arguments. There is also a file folder including a certificate of appointment of commissioners; a photograph of commissioners, and a copy of a map prepared by Captain Kendall showing the course of the "Empress" and the supposed course of the "Storstadt".

Physical condition

Volume II's spine has totally separated from rest of book. A few pages loose in remaining volumes.

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  • English

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