The Empress of Ireland about to set sail for Liverpool. The passenger liner sank on the 29th May 1914, while sailing down the St. Lawrence river in dense fog and colliding with the collier, Storstad. Captain Kendall sent a wireless telegram to Captain Walsh the C.P.R 's marine superintendent saying, 'Empress of Ireland. stopped dense fog, struck amidships vital spot by collier Storstad.' Over 1000 people died in the disaster, only 500 less than the Titanic.