This year, 2004, was the 90th Anniversary of the sinking of the "Empress of Ireland" May 29, 1914
This event of May 29, 1914 was something indelibly in the mind of Arthur Delamont, as he survived this sinking with his family His brother Leonard Samuel Delamont perished.
This was a huge disaster, which has been overtaken public accounts by the Titanic and the Lusitania.
The Delamont Family were among the 3rd Class Passengers. One was lost.
Passengers and Crew of the Empress of Ireland
1 Class Passengers
36 saved, 51 lost, total 87 2nd Class Passengers
48 saved, 205 lost, total 253 3rd Class Passengers
133 saved, 584 lost total 717 CREW
245 saved, 175 lost, total 420 GRAND TOTAL
462 saved, 1015 lost, total 1477
Here is account of the journey:
On her first trip of the summer of 1914 the Empress of Ireland sailed away from her berth in Quebec Harbour bound across the North Atlantic to Liverpool, England. The Empress of Ireland never reached it's port. Only hours into her voyage, she collided with the Norwegian collier, Storstad and sank in the gulf of the St. Lawrence River.There is a detailed passenger list found on this web-site:Reunions never happened, families were torn apart. Over a thousand lives were lost in a tragedy that rivaled that of the Titanic.
In this list is this stark reminder of the tragedy:
3rd Class
Delamont, John - To Toronto
Delamont, Mrs. Seraphine Cooper - To Toronto
Delamont, Miss Lizzie - To Toronto
Delamont, Leonard Samuel - Lost
Delamont, Arthur William - To Toronto
Updated to: June 6, 2008