Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-25


ly In the position she should have bee,
according to the charts"
Asked what the speed OF the Titanic wa.
at the time OF the collision. Mr.. Frankli,
responded: II don't know"
wasn't It 81 knots an hour?"
NO KNOWLEDGE OF SPEED.
II have absolutely 10 means OF know
ing"
Senator Smith then returned to the
subject of the messages exchanged or
the day OF the disaster.
Did YOU send any by cable7 hi
asked.
Il did. They did not refer however
to any one aboard the Carpathia."
Senator Smith ordered the cable.
grams placed in the records The,
were not read.
Mr.. Franklin then was excused but
It was limited that he would be re.
called later.
! j. u. Boxhall fourth officer Of the
Titanic, then was called. He was
questioned as to his duties He said
that as NTH. sixth. then third and
eventually fourth officer his duties al
ways consisted Of assisting the senior
officer in charge.
Senator Smith entered into lengthy
fire OF questions dealing with the
duties Of the various officers.
Were there any drills or any in.
spection before the Titanic sailed?" he
asked.
Both, said the witness The men
were mustered and the iifeboats low.
N ho 80
from the hoard of trade
LOWERED TWO BOATS IN TEST.
"1Iow many boats were lowered?"
Just two. SIR
"One on each side of the ship"
mo. sir They were both on the same
| side. We were lying In dock"
The witness said he did not know wheth.
er the lowering tackle ran free or not on
that occasion
I'm lowering the lifeboats at the tes,
did the gear work satisfactorily"
$50 far as know
In lowering a lifeboat. he said, first the
boat has to be cleared. checks knocked
down and the boat hangs free. Then the
davits are screwed 20 the ships eide
and the boat lowered
"How far would lifeboats on the boa,
deck swing from the vessel?"
Not very far"
Are they supposed to be loaded IRON,
the boat deck"
That's matter Of opinion. but the
boats are always lowered to the level OF
the deck" said Boxhall.
But under ordinary circumstances the
boat deck is really the loading deck OF a
lifeboat7"
Yes"
At the time Of the tests all officers Of
the Titanic we're present.
SHOULD HAVE HELD S EACH.
Were there any lifeboats on the Titanic
not sufficiently fastened and In a posi-.
ton to be iowered2"
"All Of them were, "A lifeboats, two sea
boats and four collapsible boats" said
BOxhall
BoXhall said that under the weather
condition experienced at the time OF the
collision. the lifeboats were supposed IA
carry f5 persons. Under the regulations
of the British Board Of Trade. In addition
to the oars. there were In the boats water
breakers. water dippers. bread, bailers.
mast and sail and lights and a supplv of
OIL All OF these supplies said Boxhall
were In the boats when the Titanic ,ef,
beifast He could not say whether they
| were In when the vessel left SOUTHAMPTON,
now repeated Senator Smith. ''sup.
| pose the weather was clear and the sky
| uhrunled. as II was at the time OF the
disaster how many would the boat hold ."
III would depend largely on the people
who were to enter n they did as thev
were told believe each boat could accom-.
modate 6 persons"
OFFICERS IN THEIR PLACES.
Boxhall testified to the sobnety and
good habits OF his superior and brother
| officers. lie said he was on watch Sim.
day night from eight o'clock till midnigh,
! and that the officers were at their Gus.
| tomary posts at the forward end DURING
that watch.
Lightoller was on the bridge when
| came on at eight O'clock" he said. He
was relieved at ten o'clock by Mr.. Muir.
dock who remained until the acciden,
happened"
Who else was on deck?"
Moody. the sixth officer"
Who occupied the crows nest DURING
your watch?"
"Fleet and Leigh"
Who else was on tho lookout"
THE bridge off1cer Mr.. Murdoch"
was the ordinary complement Of ON.
GERS at their posts?"
yes. sir"
Senator Smith asked il there had been
any one on lookout on the EYE" Of the
ship.
Il don't know" said the witness.
Where IL the eyer"
| "As far forward as one can yet on
the ship without climbing the tan.
rail-"
DID NOT KNOW OF ICE AHEAD.
| Did you not know the proximity OF
icebergs?' asked Senator Smith.
| mo. sir"
Under questioning. however. Boxhall
said Captain Smith had told him of
the positions OF certain iceberes
which he marked on the chart
| DO you know whether the temper.
ature OF the water taken from tho
sea was tested7" asked Senator smith.
| Yes. sir. ! saw the quartermaster
doing II. He reported to the tunior
officer. Mr., Moody"
ANY other officer?"
| NO. nut always reference for
them to see. The log contained the
Temperature"
were there any additional officers
or members Of the crew stationed IN
the bow or on the deck after you
went on deck Sunday nisht."
u don't know that there were any
aao't'onai ofticers or mon on the for
ward deck Just the regular force. -