The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-04-25

! coed in our way TO complete the reg
ord. Judgment OF orr efforts may ae
appropriately withheld until tho ac..
( ual Official report
/ Saye Litepoats Were All Right.
/ Harold j. Lowe, the fith officer.
was the next witness. He is a sturdy
little Briton. 20 years OF age. who has
been on the sea ever SINCE he was IA
wears OF age His answers were CIV
en- i'm a firm. clear voice i'm sharp con
trast 10 that OF Fleet When told TO
give his experience at sea, he said
II ran away from home when ] was
Ia wears of age and shipped aboard a
schooner. served aboard vessels
plying along the West African coast
for Ave years after which | Joined
the White Star Line. served as
third officer on several White star
vessels. | was never in the north At
lantic until made this trip. l joined
the Titanic on March 81 In Beliast.
I was present at her trial tests.
was in charge OF overhauling the star
board lifeboats, seeing that they were
supplied with oars. rigging, masls'
provisions. etc. Everything was ao-
solutely correct except that one DIP
per was missing personally exam
med every life boat and collapsible on
tie starhoard side There were COM
passes and lights supplied with oil
enough 10 burn for eight hours Ch
the a7th. we went over the entire
ship noting all OF the equipment ana
its conditions
The Titanic's trai tests were 10
have been made OIL Monday April !.
Lowe said. but were postponed untll
the following day, because of squally
weather The witness was OF the
Iopinion that the Titanic could have
done easily "a or 25 knots an hour
had she been put under forced
craught. Her greatest speed during
the trial tests. however. was 20 IL
TO 2l knots. None OF the officers or
directors OF the White Star Line was
aboard during the trial tests except
Ismay aud Mr.. Andrews, one OF the
builders OF the Titanic. who later
sank with the vessel he helped design
When Senator Smith asked what an
Iceberg was composed OF, everyone
laughed and the chairman lecturec
the audience against demonstrations
of any kind. The senator then ques
toned Lowe about the temperature
when the Titanic sailed.
1T was about As degrees" the wit
ness answered.
"Do yca mean AS or below the
senator aqeried.
Above" answered Lowe, evidently
irritated by the tedious questioning.
Can't Recall Titanic's Position.
Lowe worked out the position OF the
Titanic at 8 o'clock on the evening OF
the disaster and then went on duty
lie could not recall her position al
that time, although Smith urged MIN
to think hard"
| Frequent tits between Smith and
Lowe enIivened the proceedings. The
Iphlegmatic Briton often misunder'
stood Smiths involved questions
Lowe recounted the trip TO Southamp-
ton and the sailing. He described
Are and lifeboat drills before the de-
parture.
mo drills took place from the time
OF departure until the time OF the
disaster" Lowe testified.
Were the officers strangers TO each
Iother?" asked Smith.
mo sir; most OF them had worked
together before Lowe answered. :.
Lowe said he knew his ship was on
the Grand Banks. Sunday, although
he had never crossed the Atlantic be-
fore. The witness said he saw about
90 icebergs from the Carpathia after
his rescue >,
"They were all around, in every di'
rection." said Lowe Some were In
The course that the Titanic had been
steaming The largest was about 100
feet high
Gould YOU tell in what direction
they we're moving?" Smith asked.
No sir; they were three to i've
miles away" the junior officer said.
Secretary of the Treasury Mac.
yeagh and Mrs. MacVeagh were In
terested auditors at the hearing today.
They sat around the committees
table. There were half dozen mem
bers of the diplomatic corps In the
audience.
The last time I saw the captain
was after the accident, just before
midnight" Lowe testified. The col
lision never Weakened me-
Lowe grew extremely angry wnen
Smith asked him IL he was a drink
ing man. az ;,
Il never took drink in my HE,
he asserted with heat.
Il have just had a note passed up
10 me saying you were drinking that
night" said Smith suavely.
"Who. me-" asked Lowe, leaning
over in his chair, his face flushing.
Il never did. | say II without lear OIL
contradiction"
Awakened BY Voices On Board.
The young officer said he Went 10
he'd before s O'Clock, before the col
lision and was awakened by nearing
voices OF many people on deck.
II went out and found all the pas
sengers wearing belts and the lie
boats getting ready" the witness con
tinued. Il felt the boat tipping. she
had a downhill grade by the bow. an
angle OF about IL to 10 degrees by
the head. | don't know what time
that was.
Fourth Officer Boxhall told me we
had struck an iceberg. | got my re-
yolyer YOU never know when you
need II. Then helped load boat NO.
: and lowered il, away ] was under
First Offcer Murdock's orders. He
was in charge of everything. About
ten aen helped me.
Il ordered MIR Ismay away from the
- Il IL ~