The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-27

White Star Liner Might Have
Been Saved if Calls for Helm
Had Been Heeded-Captain
Enters Vigorous Denial.
Washington. April 2G.-Abluze WITH
light from her saloons and cabins, tho
litahic dashed full speed ahead to her
destruction. according TO Ernest GIL,
donkey engincman on the steamer
Californian. who testified to day be-
fore the Senate committee investigate
ing the disaster.
Gil said that Captain Stanley Lord,
OF the Californian, refused later TO 80
to the aid of the Titanic. tn, rockets
from which could be plainly seen.
ana MS wireless operator .,vknawi-
eosed having seen rockets. Their ship.
they said, was fast in the ice
rili submitted affidavit to the
committee, and when sworn and put
on me stand. stuck 10 his charges
against the captain of the Californian.
rte said he was standing on tho deck
rate sunday night. when nc sighted
great snip sweeping along AT top speed
about ten miles off. He did not know
IL was the Titanic. but he mudo oar
reauiiy that 1t was not ~ freighter or
small vessel because OF the manner
IN which it was illuminated.
Some time later he saw distress
rockets on the horizon. lie saws tho
captain Was appraised OF these signals
uut made no effort to get up steam anu
go 10 the rescue. The Californian was
r,il,hs with the foe. So indignant
did lac become, said GIL. that he on
ueavorcd to recruit a committees 90
protest from among the crew. bur the
men failed him. N'''
About Ten Niles Amnv.
saw the ship which ! took to be
.he titanic, said Gill, some time be-
fore midnight. She was abour ian
,,"' awas' ana went past rs appar-
ehtiy at full spaed. she was a big
snip. and saw two tiers of lights. Tha
californian at the time was caught in
the held ice. It's engines were stopped.
ana she was drifting with the foe"
The vessel, Gill testified. ,nust bava
ocen pia'niy visible to the bridge and
me iookouts. as we'll as the rockets
Which We're sent up later from tho ves
sci The Californian's captain. he safd
PAID no attention to the distress sic
nails. and his refusal TO get ND steam
and 80 TO the aid of the stronger so
lncensed the crew that Gill tried 70
organize a protest from the PARTY
among the men. He failed, he said.
because they feared ito lose their
jobs"
From the rockets. Gill judged the
distressed ship to be not more than
twenty miles off. He described the
rockets, his description talIyinc with
that given by Fourth officer Boxhali.
or the Titanic, who sent them aloft
captain Lord entered a sweeping de-
NAL of ellis accusations. and read
from the Californian's log to support
his contention.
Cyril Evans. the Californian's wirc
less operator. told of hearing much
talk among the crew, who were crIti-
cal or the captains course. Gill, ha
said, told him he expected to get $500
for his story when the ship reached
Boston.
Told 90 "Iiecp Out,
Evans told of having warned the
Titanic, only brief time before tho
great vessel crashed into the berg.
that the sea was crowded with ice.
The Titanic's operators. he said ar
the time were working with the wire
less station at Cape Race. and they
told him TO shut up" and keep OUT
Within a half-hour the pride OF the
sea was crumplcd and sinking
II developed to-day that one reform
that is certain TO spring from tho
present investigation will be enforced
in the wireless room OF ships entering
or ieaN!nE ports. THIS concerns lack
OF authority over the operators. pay,
hours and freedom from Responsibilities.
as brought out by the testimony 10
date. Senator Smith. its chairman, an
nounced publicly to-day that such
such legislation was inevitable.
Senator Smith read into the record
the following note from operator
Young. of the United states Naval
Wireless station at the New York
navy yard:
"Carpatha would at no time ac-
knowledge receipt of messages from
navy ships or stations. This station
called them at $50 z. NJ. April is.
when she was trying to get into
communication with New York sta
lions. but her operator refused 10
take any assistance from us. This
was the only station she could work
at that time as no other station could
hear her.
(Signed) YOUNG.
OPERATOR
Captain stanley Lord. of the CALI
fornian. then took the stand. He had
brought the log of the Californian
with him from Boston. and read from
the record. The entries include sew
eral references to iccbergs.
Did you try to got into communi-
cation with the Titanic on Sunday
night" asked Senator Smith.
Yes, sir. about 1915 that night,
ships time. We told him we were
surrounded by ice and had stopped"
Did the Titanic acknowledge thar
message"
Yes. sir. 1t told us to shut up or
Keep out, or something like that"