The Canadian Staff Band back to ''Empress Of Ireland' - The Salvation Army Connection'
The following article was originally published in 'The Musician' - 27 May 1939
Let us Remember Them!
On 29th May 1914 the Empress of Ireland went down in the St Lawrence River with a loss of 167 Salvationists, including thirty nine members of the Canadian Staff Band. Colonel George Attwell, one of the survivors, tells the story of their bravery.
Colonel George Atwell - Survivor
Twenty Five years ago, on 29th May 1914 the Canadian - Staff Band, forty-one strong, on its way to the International Congress in London, met disaster when the Empress of Ireland collided with another boat and sank in the River St. Lawrence a few hours after leaving Quebec.
The whole world was shocked and anguish and distress were brought to the hearts and homes of thousands of Salvationist who lost their loved ones. Of .a contingent of more than 200 Salvationists, no fewer than 167 found a watery grave on that fateful morning, among them. Commissioner Rees, the Territorial Commander, Mrs. Rees, Colonel Maidment, the Chief Secretary, and Mrs. Maidment.
For twenty-four years the survivors have gathered around the impressive monument in Mount Pleasant, Cemetery, Toronto, to conduct a Memorial Service. They will meet again on 29th May, of this year.
I would specially refer in the pages of THE MUSICIAN to the Staff Bands men who met their Maker on that morning; How happy they were as the boat left Quebec at about 6 pm on that glorious May day! How magnificent the dining saloon appeared as we sat at supper, each of us in full regalia!
The Canadian Staff Band
The trip down the river was a joy. The setting sun on the Laurentian Mountains made a picture that thrilled our hearts, and later, tired but happy, we made our way to our berths.
Unknown to us a fog had settled on the river. Before this occurred, however, Captain, Kendall saw the lights of a steamer approaching us at possibly two miles distance; he therefore cut off his engines and waited for the fog to lift. Suddenly the. S.S. Storstad loaded with coal, bore through the fog and struck the Empress of Ireland slightly aft of midships tearing a gaping hole in her side. Tons of water immediately began to pour in, and, to such an extent that in a few minutes the stricken ship was lying on her side. In fewer than ten minutes she had begun to sink by the bow, carrying down with her 1046 men, women, and children.
When it is remembered that all lights went out shortly after the collision, and that the giant ship had turned over on her side, it will be realised how utterly hopeless it was for most of the passengers to do anything for themselves. When the Empress was struck my wife and I became alarmed, and rushed from our cabin. On our way up the various flights of stairs to the top deck we met five Staff Bandsmen each of whom was playing the part of a hero.
First, Major Hugh Findlay who was trying to help his wife up -the sloping companion-way. It was evidently too much for her and they died together. On the next deck we came across Adjutant DeBow, a magnificent swimmer, who was endeavouring to comfort his wife, unnerved by the dreadful situation. He chose to stay with her to the end. Then Bandsman Evans told me where I could find a life belt for Mrs Attwell. I found it where he had said, and, it meant life to us both.
Reaching the top deck was a perilous undertaking, but we managed it, and immediately, encountered Bandsman and Mrs Foord, with their little baby. Mrs Foord was in anguish over the child and, knowing that I was a, good swimmer, asked me if I would try to save it. She and Ernie she said would do their best to save themselves. Giving her treasure a mother’s last kiss, she placed it in my arms; and turned away to find some possible means of rescue.
Just at that moment Bandsman Kenneth McIntyre came near and seeing Mrs Foord with no life belt gallantly took off his own and placed it around her; he himself was not a good swimmer! That act speaks volumes. Mrs Foord overjoyed at the possession of a life belt, came back to me and took her baby again.
By this time the boat was on its beam-ends, and as the few of us, standing on the outside plates of the ship, watched her sink gradually by the bow, we felt the end was near. Suddenly we were plunged into the icy waters, and then we struggled to reach the lifeboats that the Storstad had lowered.
We were brought aboard, chilled, wretched, and speechless at the thought of the loss of the noble comrades whom we should meet no more on earth. Only eleven Staff Bandsmen were saved out of the forty-one. It was a deathblow to the Canadian Staff Band.
It was a sterling body of Salvationists, and the memory of their chivalrous conduct in the hour of peril is a constant inspiration. They knew how to live.
Their outstanding ability as Bandsmen was matched by their devotion to the glorious cause of saving the souls of men. And they knew how to die! Let us hold their memory in high esteem, for in the hour of peril they proved themselves Christian gentlemen.
The names of the surviving Officers are as follows: Commissioner E. Pugmire, Colonel D. McAmmond (R), Colonel and Mrs Attwell, Brigadier R Spooner, Brigadier G Wilson, Major R Turpin (R), Major A. Keith, and Major E. Green.
The only loss in the twenty-five years has been that of Lieut-Colonel F. Morris, Chief Secretary for Canada West.
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