It was a sad anniversary that returns each April.  Early on a Sunday morning, ninety eight years ago, the RMS Titanic sunk in the North Atlantic Ocean after it’s collision with an iceberg.

A new generation is now familiar with the events that took place on that fateful night on the ship, thanks to James Cameron and his version of the tragedy.  .

Strange how there is so much interest in the story even after all these years.  Stranger still, with all the history and disasters and yes, even maritime disasters that have happened since, how much interest still lies in the story of this tragedy.  Perhaps it is the fascination with the people on the ship (the Titanic had more than its share of the then rich and famous).

One such forgotten maritime disaster is the sinking of the RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Empress of Ireland.  This ship sunk in the fog shrouded lanes of the St. Lawrence River during the late spring (May 29) of 1914.  Although nothing like the Titanic in either size, elegance or the well known names it carried that particular trip, however, the 14,191 ton liner was the pride of the Canadian Pacific steam ship lines during that time.  It was on a familiar run between Quebec and Liverpool, England on that particular evening and was winding its way up the St. Lawrence River after leaving Quebec.  Most of the passengers and crew were sleeping as the drama unfolded during the early hours of the morning of May 29th, unaware of the disaster about to happen.

The Empress of Ireland came from the same Line as the Empress of Brittan and set sail for her maiden voyage in 1906.  Her maiden voyage became the run she would follow for the rest of her days, from Liverpool to Quebec and then back.  Although not as richly appointed as the Titanic, First Class rooms were nice in their own right.  The Empress was under the command of Henry Kendall, who had seen 25 years of sea duty and 12 years on the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway), he was new to the Empress.

The ship sailed east on the St. Lawrence on what had been previously a clear night.   She had just dropped her pilot off and was hugging the shore.   Suddenly the River was completely engulfed in an all encompassing fog.  It shrouded everything in the Empresses’ path making navigation almost impossible.   The two ships noticed each other at 2:00 am on that fateful morning.