Showing how the fatal accident occurred. At the time of the collision the “Empress of Ireland” was motionless, and the “Storstad” struck her amidships on the port side. The collier tore through her plates and inner shell, smashed the bulkheads of the water-tight compartments and crushed her way almost to the screws. The water rushed into the vessel and she sank in about fourteen minutes.
Photo by Bain News Service.
THE WIRELESS STATION AT FATHER POINT
The first report of the disaster came to this station from the sinking ship. “S. O. S.” (Save Our Souls) came through the night again and again for ten minutes, and then suddenly ceased. All was over, but the station saved many lives by calling ships to the rescue.
WILLING HANDS HELP
At 6:10 A. M. the Norwegian collier Storstad, coal-laden from Sydney, N. S., for Montreal, came along slowly. When her bow was seen smashed in it became known that she was the vessel that had struck the Empress of Ireland the fatal blow. The Storstad was not too much damaged to allow her to proceed on to Quebec under her own steam. She also had some survivors and dead bodies, which were taken from her by the steamers Eureka and Lady Evelyn and landed on the Rimouski wharf.
Most of the population of Rimouski were at the wharf, ready and eager to do what was possible. They carried blankets, clothing, hot coffee, food and medicines. The mayor, H. R. Fiset, was in charge of the relief work, acting with the local Canadian Pacific agents.
McWilliams, the wireless man from Father Point, had hurried over to assist in the relief work, and few gained more praise than was accorded to him. Every doctor in the town was hard at work for hours, going from house to house where the survivors were quartered.