Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-30

range for a pittance from a private
source. The witness replied that they
were 'sall doing the best they could"
Both Senator Smith and the witness be-
gan TO show signs of irritation, the for
mer contending that Sgmmis was evading
questions and the latter complaining that
he did not know what the chairman was
seeking to ascertain. Il dislike to pre- IS
these questions said the senator. but
! want TO bring out all the facts. to the
end that this practice which Is vicious
shall he stopped"
The witness said he was in complete
accord with Mr. Maroon who frowned
upon the custom He added that aboli-
ton of the practice should be effected
| with great care.
ITO save the feelings of the operators
who have grown mp in the company's
| service?" inquired Senator smith, sarcas-
Ideally. "Not ut all, responded the Wit
ness; but it might have bad results
4 When operators realize they cannot do
any writing or sell their experiences.
much Of their ambition would be gone. .
The witness said that the question Of
| salary did not enter into The matter lie
thought about $40 month was fair
After explaining that the criticism OF
the naval operator on the cruiser. Chester
was not intended to cast any reflection
on that service. Mr.. sammls was excused
aud the committee took Il recess.
Survivor Woolner's Story.
When tile inquiry was resumed after
luncheon Hugh Woolner Of London. Il
survivor of The Titanic was called 10 the
stand. He was asked To recte his oh
lseryatlon on the trip from Southampton
until the accident, with especial refer
ence TO the speed of the Titanic and her
equipment
THE speed increased daily" said the
witness. zone dag the record was Sli
miles and the next ii had increased to
SIC miles. ! { was the last record posted,
think"
Mr.. Woolner said that he inspected the
iifehaats and the life apparatus lie said
be considered the work of the sailors
very slow.
u made one remark 10 Capt Smith"
said Woolner. when / heard him say
that he wanted all the passengers to go
70 the "A deck TO get into the boats
there. ! went up to him and saluted and
said: Captain. haven't You forgotten
that all those windows on ~ deck are
elesed?' and he said: My Cod You're
right. Call those people back Only a
few had gone down and they came back.
Everything went all right after that"
Woolner said he was asleep when the
Titanic struck the iceberg. The shock
could be felt all over the ship Regard
ing the launching of the lifeboats the
witness said
There was a certain amount of re-
metanee ON the part of the women TO get |
in the lifeboats. and many had to be
persuaded that it was only a matter OF |
canton before they would go willingly" |
"IIow many We're in the first boat?" |
asked senator Smith. 81 didn't count |
them said woolner. because II was
rather difficult to get it filled"
From your own observation. do yoH
believe All the women and children got
away Il do. all except Mrs. Straus
She refused TO leave Mr.. Strauss al |
though l made two appeals to her
Woolner related an incident relating to
the flashes OF pistol which aroused his
attention when the first eollapshie boat
was being filled
Il looked back and heard Mr. Murdoch. |
the first officer. shouting TO Il group of
men: Get back out of here Get back
ont of here They were lowering the
first collapsible boat. Men-Italian, I
think they were-were crowding into the |
boat We helped Alr Murdoch pun them
out Of the boat. as they Were blocking |
the way of a crowd Of women We pull |
ed the men out by the legs and any way
We could. As soon as we got them out of
this boat we lifted the italian women |
into the boat and it was lowered away"
Woolner said that as the last collapsi- |
bile boat was being lowered he and a |
friend jumped for il.
II managed To catch hold of the gun
vale. AS / did so l felt my legs in the |
sea. Then I was pulled into the boat
The witness said they rowed away from
the ship for about quarter of an hour. |
when an officer came along and ordered |
the boats TO tie up to each other. He
said no attempt was made to so back to
the wreck and that one of the women
urged Ii. They drifted about until dawn,
when Fifth Officer Lowe rowed up and
unloaded a number of his passengers and
took ON sailors.
"He said he was going to the rescue
of some men who We're afloat on a
raft said the witness. HE rescued
Them
discipline of the crew or conduct of
The officers" asked the senator. ABB
solutely none" said Woolner. He was
excused
Operator Bride Recalled.
Harold Bride. surviving operator of
the Titanic, was recalled to the stand.
He previously had testified in New
York, the day after. the Carpathia
locked. Bride was first asked how
much he received for selling the story
of his experiences on the wreck to a
New York newspaper and he said he
got $1,000.
when did you last see Capt.
Smith, asked Senator Smith. when
he went overheard from the bridge.
about three minutes before | left the
ship myself" said Bride.
did he have a life preserver on?"
Il don't know l know he hadn't any
on when we were working in the cabin
just before the ship sunlS-he didn't
have any on" said Bride.
you spoke of Your mate, Operator
l nbilIinS a1a y,,urcaIf ruffiney nm t,rn.