The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-23
Not More Than Five Miles
Away, He Says.
THE SIGNALS WERE IGNORED
Kept on It's Course Past the
Sinking Vessel.
At First Could Find No Damage
From Iceberg.

OIlS UNS IlllOS away the 1lldIlG 6ll4
into its watery grave. carrying with
it more than 1000 Of its passengers and
crew. while an unidentified steamer
that might have saved all. failed. or
refused to see the frantic signals flash
ed to it for aid. This phase of the
tragic disaster was brought out before
the senate investigating committee.
when j. b. Boxhall. fourth oIIIcer of the
Titanic, told of his unsuccessful at
tempts to attract the strangers at
tentioa-
This ship, according to Boxhall, could
not have been more than five miles
away and was steaming toward the Ii
tanic. So close was it that from the
bridge Boxhal plainly saw its mast
head lights and side lights. Both with
rockets and with the Morse electric
signal did the young officer hail the
stranger. Captain Smith and several
others in the vicinity of the bridge de-
clared at the time their belief that
the vessel had seen them and was sig
mailing in reply. BoXhall failed to see
the replies. however, and in any case
kthe steamer kept on it's course OBJ
liquely past the Titanic without extend
ing aid.
Boxhan testified to the sobriety and
good habits of his superior and brother
officers.
you were on WaICn Suuudy uAkn~
from o'clock till midnight2"
"Ees.'
do you know whether the officers
were at their customary posts at the
forward end during that watch!
Yes, Lghtoller was on the bridge
when 1 came on at o'clock He was
relieved at 10 o'clock by Mr.. Murdock,
who remained until the accident hap
pened."
''Who else was on deck?"
Moody, the sixth officer"
who occupied the crows nest during
your watch?"
"Fleland Leigh
'sVyho else was on the lookout2"
1.-THE bridge officer, Mr.. Murdock.
was the ordinary complement of Of
hcers at their posts?'
Yes, sir"
Did you not know of the proximity
of icebergs?" asked Senator Smith.
mo, sir"
Under questioning, however, Boxhan
said Captain Smith had told him of the
positions of certain icebergs which he
marked on the chart.
Senator Smith then asked the wit
ness:
do you know whether the tempera-
ture of the water taken from the sea
was taken?"
yes, sir; saw the quartermaster
doing it. He reported to the junior ona-
Ger, Mr.. Moody"
"Any other ohicer?"
mo, but always made a reference for
them to see. The log contained the
temperature"
.'Did you see the captain frequently
Sunday night?" asked Senator Smith
Yes, sir"
''Did you see Mr. Ismay with the
captain on the bridge or In the wheel
house?"
mo. sir; not until after the aoci-
dent
''Did you know when he dined that
night, where he dfned or with whom -
mo, sir"
Boxhall said he did not believe tho
captain had been away from the vi
cinity of the bridge at any time during
the watch.
when did you see the captain lastT''
asked Senator. Smith.
when he ordered me to go away in
the boat"
where were you at the time OF the
collision2''
Just approaching the bridge"
did you see what occurredY'
mo, I could not see.'
did you hearT'
Yes, the senior officer said, We have
struck an iceberg"
WAS there any ice on the deck7s'
Just little on the lower deck. I
heard the sharp report of the crash
Did you see the iceberg?"
mo, SIR
did it strike the bow or shave nF''
ut seemed to me to have struck tha
bluff of the starboard bow"
Then 1t was not a square blow on
the bow of the ship?"
mo, glancing blow"
Was 1t a hard impact 20
No. it was so slight that I did not
think it was serious"
Boxhan then went on the bridge
where he saw Captain Smith. Box
hall said the captain asked what was
the trouble and the first officer re-
piled they had struck an iceberg. and
added that he had borne to star
board and reversed his engines fun
speed after ordering the closing of the
water tight doors
did you see the iceberg "
"Yes, sir; 1 could see 1t dimly. It
lay low in the water and was about
as high as the lower rail of the ship,
or about 80 feet out of the water
Fo.md No Damage.
BoxweIl said he went down the steer
age, inspected all the decks in the vi
cinity of where the ship had struck.
found no traces of any damage and
went directly to the bridge and so re-
ported.
"The captain ordered me TO send a
carpenter to sound the ship. but ]
found a carpenter coming up with the
announcement that the ship was tax
ing water. In the mail room 1 found
mail sacks floating about while the
clerks were ct work. I went to the
bridge and reported and the captain
ordered the lifeboats to he made
ready"