PARLIAMENT SHOCKED BY THE CALAMITY
ST. LAWRENCE DISASTER DISCUSSED IN THE COMMONS -- AN APPALLING
SHOCK -- FATE'S HEAVY HAND -- BORDEN AND LAURIER EXPRESS SYMPATHY
GOVERNMENTS may seem a little aloof from their people in times of
prosperity; but not so in times of trouble. The Canadian Parliament
met on May 29th under the shadow of a great disaster. No other
business was discussed.
The extras issued early in the morning had been read by members, and
when the orders of the day were called the Premier rose with a paper
in his hand.
"I would like to say just a word," he said, "respecting the disaster,
tidings of which have been brought to us to-day in awful suddenness,
and in a dreadful toll of human lives taken. The disaster is one which
brings a shock such as we in this country have never felt before. I am
speaking of the earlier reports. Later reports are more reassuring. I
sincerely hope they are true. That this ship, only a few hours out
from Quebec, in the dead of night, and with 1,400 passengers on board,
should be so badly damaged as to sink in ten or twenty minutes comes
to us in this country and this House as a most appalling shock.
"I do not believe, from reports which have come in, that this is a
disaster which could have been averted by anything the country could
have done in rendering the navigation of the St. Lawrence more safe.
It came in a fog, and could not have been prevented by any safeguards
to navigation. In view of the magnitude of the disaster it is fitting
that something should be said in this House; that we should express
our deepest regret for the disaster and our profound sympathy for
those bereaved."
"The hand of fate has been heavy against us during the past few
months," said Sir Wilfred Laurier. "This is the third disaster on the
St. Lawrence route since navigation opened two months ago, and in loss
of life it has surpassed anything since the wreck of the Titanic. In
proportion to the number of passengers carried, the loss of life in
this event exceeds the Titanic itself.
"It is premature to express an opinion on the disaster, but it is
difficult to believe that such an accident could take place in the St.
Lawrence so near to Father Point and not be prevented. I will not pass
judgment, and I hope it will turn out to be one of those disasters
which could not have been prevented by human agency. The sympathies of
all will go out to the victims, and perhaps in a more substantial way
later on. I will join with the Premier in extending to the families of
those who have been lost our sincerest and deepest sympathy."