RMS Empress of Ireland facts for kids

The RMS Empress of Ireland was a large Canadian ship that sailed across the ocean. It sadly sank in the Saint Lawrence River on May 29, 1914. This happened after it crashed into another ship, the Norwegian SS Storstad. Out of 1,477 people on board, 1,012 lost their lives in the accident.

The Empress of Ireland was built in 1906. It was on its 96th trip when the accident happened. The ship had just left Quebec City and was heading to Liverpool when it sank.

The Wreck Today

The remains of the Empress of Ireland lie about 130 feet (40 meters) deep in the water. This depth makes it fairly easy for divers to visit the wreck. Many interesting items from the ship have been brought up from the bottom of the river.

Images for kids

• 

  Announcements of the liner's maiden voyage touted the passenger capacity and the speed of Empress of Ireland and her near-identical sister ship, Empress of Britain, achieving passage "between Canada and the Mother Country" of less than four days.

• 

  Damage sustained by Storstad after its collision with Empress of Ireland.

• 

  Storstad in Montreal after the collision. Note the damage to the bow

• 

  The New York Times published this list of survivors and casualties two days after the disaster.

• 

  Unloading the coffins of the children from Lady Grey

• 

  Inquiry court room presided over by Lord Mersey

• 

  Illustrative navigation lights of Storstad as were claimed to have been seen from Empress of Ireland.

• 

  Illustrative navigation lights of Empress of Ireland as were claimed to have been seen from Storstad

• 

  Commemorative plaque in Pointe-au-Père

• 

  Memorial monument at Pointe-au-Père, Quebec

See also

In Spanish: RMS Empress of Ireland para niños