GOVERNMENT INQUIRY
The British and Canadian Governments immediately co-operated to make the most thorough possible investigation into the sinking of the steamship Empress of Ireland. On June 5th it was finally decided that the investigation should take place on June 16th. To the original commission of three first advocated (one to be appointed by the Imperial Government and two by the Government of Canada), four other names were added, making the total list as follows:
Lord Mersey, chairman; Sir Adolphe Routhier, Chief Justice McLeod, Commander Caborne, of the Royal Naval Reserve; Professor John Welsh, of Newcastle, England; Captain Demers, Dominion Wreck Commissioner, and Engineer-Commander Howe, of the Canadian Naval Service.
Commander Caborne and Professor Welsh were nominated by the British Board of Trade, the former being a nautical expert of wide experience and the latter a noted naval architect.