A starboard bow view of the Canadian Pacific Steamships cruise ship Empress of Australia (1914) anchored in an unknown location, possibly in the Adriatic. Her starboard anchor is deployed and an accommodation ladder is rigged at a shell door amidships. Numbers 1 and 3 lifeboats have been launched, two of the ship's boats are alongside the accommodation ladder platform and Number 4 lifeboat is in the foreground heading away from the ship laden with tourists. Some people (possibly ship's company) are swimming near the ship's bow and a local rowing boat with four men aboard is close to the side of the ship. Steep sided mountains are in the background and a group of buildings, including a church with a tall spire, are on the narrow coastal strip of land on the right.