The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-23
Third Officer Pitman of Lost
Steamer Titanic
Tells of the Wreck and the
Scenes Following.
PLEADS With THE COMMITTEE
To Spare Him From Recital OF
AgOnizing Incidents.
Heard Cries of the Drowning
and Could Not Help.

Washington, April 23.-The life and
death struggle of the victims OF the
Titanic disaster were pictured to the
senate investigating committee To-Day
nv Third Officer Herbert John Pit
man of the sunken liner.
Chairman Smith of the committee
pressed Pitman regarding scenes az
ter the sinking of the ship
sT heard no cry of distress until az
ter the ship went down. he said.
.eF4ow far away were the cries from
your lifeboat?'
several hundred YARDS, Propap1sf pr 20 sIsf
some of them. 1 told my men TO sec
The oars out and pull toward the
wreck. that we might be able to save
y few more. The people in my boat
demurred. They said it would be a
Ibid any one in your boat urge or
anpeai to you to go back toward the
wreck?"
mo. not one"
back"
WHO demurred, the men with the
oars?" ,,,, orders and
all the passengers said it was a mao
idee TO 20 back, that we should add
another 40 to the list of drowned
Then we took in the oars and lay
quiet" - tho tr,nor-
tunities of the passengers he did NOT
+,r1 hack to see. but merely pulled
IN his oars and drifted
"Describe the screams.
.0on,t sir: pSase I'd rather not
talk about it. ---o.,
I'm sorry to press it. but what was
II like? Were the screams lnterIhi
tent or spasmodic p
One Continuous Moan
eft was one long continuous moan.
~ said the means and cries cont1h-
ned an hour and he made no eIIort ~
go to the rescue. ~
..Yon drifted near the drowning peo-
pie and made no eIort 70 g
4.p1esse sir: don't" pleaded Pit
man. Il can't bear to recah II, ;,
wish we might not discuss the scene,
ssT have no desire to Iacerate YOU
eae,ines' said Senator Smith, but we
,,ons+ know whether you dr1fted therS
without offering aid. Answer that anu
7 shall press you no more.
at did. sir" answered the WltnesS.
s.1id YOU ever hear anything OF a
boat known as the Helltg Olav? SUI
deniv asked Senator Smith
'sNo. I did not. There may oe d
boat of that name" said Pltman-
Tbe OIav docked at New York APP
ril ~ and is reported to have encoun-
tered an iceberg near Where tne "a
tanic sank 1t has been suggesteu
+ba+ the Olav may have been the poaI
rbose lights Fourth officer Boxhali
ssw and which he Intellectually trleo
70 signal with distress rockets.
Pitman's Testimony
xxber the investigation was resumed
q was announced that j. b BoXhall
4o,,-+f1 oA1cer of the Titanic was i'll and
could not be heard further at this time
n ! Pitman. third officer of the SNIP
then was called to the stand
Owing to the great confusion caused
nv the rush of the crowds to the near
ing and the constant interruptions our
f1C the questioning of witnesses the
senate committee determined today to
exclude the general public. To accom-
n1ish this the hearing was transferred
10 a smaller room in the senate ONCE
building. ONLY witnesses. those particu-
larly interested in the inquiry and re-
Dorters were admitted. The change
caused disappointment to thousands,
most of them women, who crowded
about the corridors leading to the mar
BILE caucus room
There was loud protests and humid
reds remained about the building clam
oring for admittance.
Third officer Pftman told in detail
his experience of II years on the seas.
Were you present during the trial
tests OF the Titanic?'' asked Senator
Smith.
yes. sir I was on the bridge most
of the time
The witness said the tests consisted
of steaming in circles and in perform !
ing other evolutions and in adjusting
compasses.
Were there any trials of speed?' he
was asked.
No. sir. I believe they have no such |
tests on the White Star Iiners.''
Tell the committee the circum- /
stances of the departure from South /
amptOn."
Begins at the Beginning.
I'VE left Southampton at I2:15 D. m.
Wednesday, April 10. Nothing exciting
happened except breaking the mooring
of the New York, caused by the back /
wash from our starboard propeller. We
got clear and proceeded to Cherbours. /!
after a half hour delay
What was the weather.
Perfect"
Was it good all the way to the place
of the coIlision?'
An the way and no heavy sea"
WAS there starlit sky?''
Every night and. morning.
Was it part of your duties to drill !
the men or go through practice with the
men?" asked Senator Smith.
No, sir; merely gave them orders.
The witness said boat drills aIways !
were held at Southampton and at !
Queenstown. The Ti+anic's drill at (
Southampton he said consisted of low I
ering and lifting two boats.
Anything else done?"
mo. sir; the drill was to satisfy the
British Board of Trade. We lowered /
the boats. sailed around the harbor
and then returned to the Ship
The witness said it was customary
aboard ship to have boat and fire drills |
every Sunday.