The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-31

London, July so-The Judgment Of
tile British Board of Trade. court OF tn
curry into the disaster OF the White
star liner Titanic. which sank in mid
ocean with 1911 souls after collision
with an iceberg April Il, was pro
nounced to-day by Lord Nlersey. the
presiding judge. before = large audi
ence.
The court hnds tina, the collision OF
the Titanic with the iceberg was due
to the excessive speed at which tho
ship was navigatod that a proper
watch was not kept. that the ships
boats were properly lowered but that
ARRANGEMENTS TOR manning them were
'rsuilicient. that tho LeNland liner
Californian might have reached the Tie
TAME If She mad attempted to do SO,
That the track followed was reason
ably safe with proper vigilance. and
that there was no discrimination
against third-ciuss passengers in the
saving OF life.
The court Of inquiry cxonerates j..
Bruce Ismay chairman and managing
director OF the White star line and
SIR cosmo Dun Gordon. one Of tho
Passengers, from any charges Of i'm
proper conduct.
water-tisht compartments IN scasoins
snips the provision OF lifehoats for all
ON board and more efficient drills IF
tle crew. rs Well as = he,trr lookout
Lord Merseys Judgment IS formal
legal document giving tho history OF
inc voyage ana of the disaster. while
The nndlngs and recommendations of
tne court extend to great oneIh Much
az the judgment is highly technical
In it there was no argument and no di-
rect reference to the inquiry by the
committee OF the United States Senate
under rho chairmanship OF Senator VIII
liam Alden Smith
Charges of Improper Conduct.
Lord Mersey said it was not the bus
mess OF the court to inqairo into at
tacks on the moral conduct of tr
Cosmo Duff Gordon ana Bruce Ismay.
but silence on the part OF the court
~ ght be- Nlisundorstood. He coutin-
ued
The very gross charge against Sir
Cosno Dun Gordon that he bribed tho
hoatmen TO row away from drowning
PEOPLE SIS unfounded do not hclicv,
The men IN the boat were deferred
from makins AN attempt to Rescue
others by any act % sir Cosmo puM-
Gordon at the same time think II
be had encouraged tine men to return
20 where the Titanic had foundcred
they probably would have made an ef-
tort TO do SO. and could have saved
some ives
The attack on j. Bruce Ismay.
concluded the fudge. "resolvcd .tscli
into the suggestion that occupy ng the
position OF managing director of the
line. some moral duty was imposed
upon him to wait ON lonrd after the
vessel foundered do not agree. Mt
lsmay. after assisting many passengers
found the last boa, On the starbOard
side % the Titanic actually being
lowered SO other people were thegg
a. Ing time There was room for him
AID ne jumped n Had he not done
80 he would merely have added one
more life To the number lost
EmerEcncs ArrnnEcmcn;s Faults.
The most important hndlugs Of the
coNr; were that tAe Titanic was sum
ciently ard .flcienty ofnccrod and
manned ana complied with am tic reg
rlauons ot ihe Httush merchant ship
ping act regarding safety bu. THAI ths
arrangements tor manninp and launch
Ing tie lfeoo4ts iu an emerp,ncy were
Insufficient aid tnai uo dril haG been
held the insrucii'rs for the Voyage
given prior 90 sailing we're. in tho
opinion of the couct sdequate hut
Having regard to suhseruenr svenis
they would have hoeu better II ref.r-
ence had been made 10 tho course ia