REUNIONS THAT FAILED
One of the saddest features of the wreck and its dreadful loss is the number of men and women, separated from their family for many years, who sailed in the confident hope of uniting long-broken family ties.
Other shattered ties swelled the burden of grief. Commander David M. Rees, with his wife, two daughters and son perished with over one hundred others—the very flower of the Salvation Army in Canada.
One sobbing girl said the most distressing thing to her was the number lost who were looking forward to seeing their parents. “They left them years ago,” she said, “to work in Canada, and just when their reunion seemed assured death severed them forever.”
Two newly-married couples belonging to the Salvation Army were on the Empress of Ireland. They were Captain and Mrs. E. J. Dodd and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Greenaway, all of Toronto.
“It is a horrible honeymoon,” said a Salvation Army officer as the list of the Army people on board was eagerly scanned at the Army headquarters.