The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24


 It was made to appear that the blame for being without glasses did not rest with the lookout men. Fleet said they had asked for them at Southampton and were told there were none for fhcm One glass would have served in the crows. nest
 Major Peuchen criticised. in strong terms, the lack of experienced sailors on board the Titanic He said when the |t call to quarters was sounded not enough of the crew responded to undertake the work required in lowering and filling the boats. Furthermore, he said, no drills had been held from the time the ship left Southampton, although 1t was cus- tomary to hold such drills every Sun day.
 The importunities and activities of q squad of photographers today so aroused Senator Smith, that he indignantly order ed them all excluded from the cham 1 Der.
 2 This inquiry is official and solemn, . he said in explanation, and there will be no hippodronling or commercializing of it. I will not permit it.''
 An amateur photographer managed to slip past the guard later, but was sum marily elected when he sought to get a snap of the scene.
 Ismay Detained
 Bruce Ismay, manager director of the International Mercantile Marine and vice president P. A. s. Franklin of the White Star line, urgently requested the commit tee to permit them to return to New York.
 In executive session at the close of the hearing, the committee declined to slllow either to leave Washington until fe is no longer needed. MT. lsmay was 10 have been recalled to the witness hf1f mn U Q row, though that has not been detcrm- tired.
 It was also decided to call no more passengers as witnesses until all the British witnesses had been heard. The committee also decided to delay other :! important business before itl until the ! Titanic inquiry had proceeded farther.
 Death Struggle Pictured
 Life and death struggles of the Titanic s victims reluctantly were pictured today to the Senate Investigating commmittee by Third officer John Pittman of the sunken liner.
 Chairman Smith of the committee pressed Pittman regarding scenes after the sinking.
 How far away were the cries from Fyour lifeboat?" he asked. b Several hundred yards," witness re piled q told my men to get oars and pull toward the wreck that we might be
 
 in my boat demurred. They said it would be a mad idea.'
 Did anyone in your boat appeal to you to go back toward the wfeck?'
 "No, not one, was the reply.
 Did any woman urge you to go back?" NO"
 ,.5 Who demurred. the men with the y oarsg
 oh, no: they obeyed my orders, and all the passengers said 1t was mad idea to go back; that we should add another 40 to the list of drowned" Pittman said. Then we took in the oars"
 Describe the screams.
 Don't sir. please; I'd rather not talk about it,' he replied.
 I'm sorry to press 1t, but what was 1t like? Were the screams intermittent or spasmodic?" asked the chairman.
 Tt was a long moan' l< Witness said the cries continued % min utes and he made no effort to go to the rescue. 4s
 The Witness Protests
 You drfted near the drowning people and made no effort to give them reef?'' asked MT. Smith.
 Please sir, don't" pleaded sI'ittman. T cannot bear to recall my experience"
 T have no desire to lacerate your wounds" said the chairman, but we must know whether you drifted there EssWithout offering relief. Answer that, and su will not press you"
 T did" answered the witness.
 Did you ever hear anything of a boat known as the Hellogoav?" asked MT. Smith.
 'No.'
 she doclSed in New York April r, and is reported to have encountered an ice- berg near where the Titanic sank, sug- gested the chairman. Tt is suggested this crafts light may have been observed by .s.Officer Boxhall and which he tried to sig Enal with distress rockets"
 Frederick Fleet, who was lookout in the crows nest of the Titanic, said that on Sunday night some time after 10 o'clock he reported black mass of ice ahead to the officers on the deck. How long this was before the collision occurred he could not remember.
 In the crows nest there were no outlook ( or telescope glasses leaving Glasgow. If Hhe had had glasses" said witness The could have observed the berg and the ship escaped. He said glasses were fur nisfed the lookout from Belfast to south anIpton, where they were taken away near the wireless mast"
 Will Take Many Days
 Upon resuming the investigation today -tho fourth day of the inquiry members of. the Senate investigating committee were convinced that the hearing would require many days.
 In the opinion of Senator William Alden <, Smith. the chairman, and many of his Y colleagues. so much already has been learned of the circumstances which led up to the awful marine disaster from the examination of but a few witnesses that it is incumbent upon them to obtain still more Information from other sources.
 The facts already disclosed point out inadequacies in marine regulations, they are convinced, and the whole story when faa. fof U laws and lead to international confer- ences entirely revising ocean steamship Transportation they do not doubt .s 7, Information has come to the Senate that .{ne authorities of all the great maritime " nations of the world are watching the investigation closely. The committee had planned to recall to the witness stand ! ITni1rtia CAfYicar EnxJnall of fle Titanic