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.
CAPTAIN LINDSAY’S WORK
Meantime a preliminary inquiry was opened in Montreal on June 1st by Captain Lindsay, Dominion Wreck Commissioner. He prepared for the investigation by examining witnesses privately and taking stenographic records of their testimony. This was done under the direction of J. D. Hazen, Minister of Marine. The evidence was submitted to the Minister, who then decided what witnesses should be called at the inquiry. The procedure was an unusual one, and called forth some adverse comment. Captain Lindsay, however, defended it on the ground that it was likely to facilitate the investigation, save time, and bring out the salient facts.
CAPTAINS’ STATEMENTS CONTRADICTORY
Excitement over the cause of the disaster ran high, stimulated by the more or less conflicting stories. Captain Kendall and Captain Andersen, in their public statements, agreed that fog signals were exchanged when their vessels were a considerable distance apart, but there were irreconcilable statements as to the speed and as to the Storstad’s conduct immediately after the collision.
Extracts from the captains’ statements follow:
Captain Kendall: “I saw my ship was stopped. I blew two long blasts, meaning ‘My ship is stopped and has no way upon her.’”
Captain Andersen: “The Empress was going a good speed ahead. She was going fast. She was making considerable headway.”