The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-04-24

there were no noises until the ship went
down"
when you heard these cries and
groans." inquired Mr.. Smith. "did you
not row to the assistance of the reople!"
"Whcn the ship went down and the
passengers were in the water" Piitman
replied. II gave orders to row 10 them.
Our boat was not full and we could have
accommodated more passengers. but
the passengers in the lifeboat pleaded
with me not to return. They said IL would
be foolish. as we would only capsize our
boat and end not only in saving no one
| but in losing our own lives.
| an spite of the cries and groans. You
did no, row back. persisted Senator
Smith. "and yet you were in sole charge
| of the lifeboa,?'
Il did not go back because the pas
| sengers obiec'cd." Pttman replied in a
| low tone
More Room In His Bont.
| Don't you know your boat would have
held more people?" Senator Smith asked.
Yes. know it would | told my men
| to- try 20 pick upa few more from he water,
but many of the passengers in the boat
we would be capsized turned my boat
around to go in the direction from which
ihe cries came. but when ] saw the pas.
senCers believed the swimmers would
swamp us ! did not go back toward the
spot where the Titanic sank: We took
out our oars and drifted for an hour. Grad
| uallv the cries became fewer and finally
cea sed'
Il know this is an ,moleasant SUD ,ect, ="
commented Senator Smith.
| I'D rather you'd leave it out alto
! gether" Pittman remarked
l . a ,x-,eh
Senator Smith. but this committee mus,
have all the information that can he OBJ
tained as to what steps We're taken 70
rescue the passengers in the water no"
far away were the cries from your life
| boat
several hundred yards. probably. some
of them. told my men to GET the oars
ont and pull toward the wreck that We
| might be able to save a few more"
Did any one in your boat urge or ap'
pea to you to go back"
| "NO. not one
| -Who Gcnurred the men with the
oars
"Oh. no. they obeyed my orders and al
| the passengers said il was q mad idea Il
go back. that we should add another
forty to the list of drowned. Then ",
took in the oars and lay quiet
Describe the screams.
Long, Continuous Moan.
"Don't sir please; I'd rather no, tall
about it"
I'm sorry to press it. but what was i
like We're the screams intermittent o
spasmodlc''
1T was one long. continuous moan"
The witness said the rnoans and cre
cont nued an hour and that no made n,
effort to go to the rescue.
You drfted in the vicinity Of the
drowning people and made no effort to
give them aid'" asked Senator Smith, il
surnrse
cant bear to recall it. l wish We might no
disci,sS the scene.
Il have no desire TO lacerate your feel
ings." said Senator Smith. but We mus
know whether you drifted there without
Offering aid. Answer that and ! shal
press you no more
Il did. sir answered the witness
Mr.. tittman was unable to give the com
mite any definite information as to thu
identity eof the unidentified steamship
which was about five miles on the por
bow Of the Titanic and which ignored o.
! failed to hear her wireless calls for as
sstance or see the distress rockets tina
went up from the bridge.
When his lifeboat was in the water h
declared. he saw a white light far in tn
distance, but did not row toward it. as h,
was not certain it was a steamship
Iamay Suggested Boats.
Mr. Pittman said that j, Bruce Isma,
suggested that the women and childrei
be taken of the Titanic in the iifcboat
and that Mr.. lsmay also assisted per
As ! was walking along the deck afte
the collision" Pittman said. "a man in
dressing gown came to me and said
You'd better have the boats take of tn
women and children / did not know
,, replied I'm waiting for the captain
! orders, sir
; Il then went to the bridge and told tn
captain what had happened. ] said
judged the man was MIR, lsmay. Tn
captain told me to carry on"
Mr., Iittman was unable to give the de
tails as to the events leading up TO the col
lision.
Il had been relieved of duty at 3 o cloc
; and went to my quarters and retired,
he said. "The impact woke me up. Fo
few moments did not know what ha
happened II took me some time to wax
up, The collision sounded like shi
coming to anchor with her chain r,nnin
!, out, wondered why and where the ves
sci was anchoring. ! got up and Wake
forward to see what had happened an
found ev.rything apparently all right
Il went back to my room and lighte
my pipe. and as it was nearing time "a
me to go on watch again began to dres
y ] left my room again about ten minute
. to IL and met Fourth Officer Boxhal
! who told me the ship had struck an ics
= berg. ! then went To the f'castle heat
h but could find no damage.
q Learns ship IL Leaking.
@ 81 then went down toward the firemen
G quarters and met them coming up III
q companionway.
q What's the matter?' I asked
The waters coming in. thcy told m
First Officer Murdoch told me TO n
my boat OF had charge Of lifehoat
!. which wac the second hoas TO leave III
i starhoard side, II carried about fort