Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-24
FLEET AGAIN ON THE STAND.
FIFTH OFFICER LOWE HEARD

loading and lowering lifebosts?''
All Of us do in the White STAR
other than No. s. the boat in which he
pulled away with about thirty pas
sengers.
Saw No Women Left Behind.
Were there any women left on the
decks who did not get in the boat."
No. sir; / saw none.'
Did you call for them?'
YES, SIR
The witness said that there were q
number of men on the decks, but that
, none OF them sought or even asked to be
taken on.
At this point Senator Smith took the
witness. Under questioning Fleet told
of the appearance in the boat of q
stowaway who had hidden beneath a
seat The man. who was an Italian.
was Of no assistance because of an
injured arm. His boat. Fleet said.
asked for and got another man from a
lifeboat to which they tied up.
Did you hear any cries for helpT
asked Senator Smith.
Yes; but they were very faint"
Did you go back to helpr
Quartermaster Refused to Go Back.
mo. sir; some OF the passengers
wanted to, but the quartermaster, who
was in command. ordered us to keep
on rowing
How far were you from the Titanic
when it sank?" the senator asked
'Oh. it must have been a mile" re-
piled Fleet.
Asked how he arrived at that con-
clusion.- Fleet said he heard people
say so.
Il have no judgment" Fleet replied.
and members of the committee laughed.
"As to your experience in trying to es-
innate distance the Titanic was from the
iceberg, l should say you did not have
any Judgment of distance Senator
Smith commented.
mo more 1 haven't" Fleet answered
in the vernacular. Fleet was then ex-
cused.
Committees Purpose Announced.
Senator Smith then arose and formally
announced that he wanted to meet an in
quiry that had arisen as to the purpose
of the committee.
1T is to get all Of the facts attending
this catastrophe" he said. THE sur
viving officers and men Of this ship are
not shipbuilders. and II we can get from
them what they know it IL all that we
can expect. Now q word as to the plan:
1t is the intention of tho committee to IN !.
may be In this country and who may
know anything Of the disaster and to
hold them here until We have learned all
that we can.
This course will be pursued until the
committee conclude they have obtained
all accessible and useful information to
. proper understanding Of this disaster.
"Now a word about the difhculty. To
the credit Of most of the 0ncers and
members Of the crew we have cxpe-
rienced little difficulty In securing such
witnesses as We thought necessary, but
from the beginning until now there has
been voluntary Eratuitous, meddlesome
attempt upon the part OF certain persons
to influence the course Of the committee
and to shape It's procedure.
"Misrepresentati0n0 have been made, I
have heard. I have not, however, read
the newspapers. because did not wish to :
be prejudiced.
The representatives Of the press
have all co-operated In every possible
way to tighten the burdens of the COM
mittee.
Win Not Brock Interference.
The committee will not toieeats any
further attempt sa the part oe any one
to shape its course. We shall proceed
in our own way. ana the tudsmsnt Of
our efforts well may b withhold untii