The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-07
No Boat Drill or Provisions in
Titanic Boats.
British People Little Interest
ed in Investigation.
ARE ASKING QUESTIONS
Officers of the Vessel Tell of
Accident.
Repeat Stories Told Before e.
S. Committee.

London, May THE apathy of the
British public which has been one OF
the features thus far of the board OF
trade inquiry into the Titanic disaster
was again demonstrated by the thin
attendance when the commission
under the presidency of Lord Mersey
resumed their investigation today. Inc
first witness called today was George
Beaucamp, a fireman of the Tltanlc'
who testified:
Il did not know which was my boat
station: I heard that a list had been
put up that morning but 1 did not see
H. None had been put up before. did
not know where to go, so 1 went up to
the boat deck and to lifeboat No. -, on
the starboard side, where L helped 20
mt in the women and children. There
was an officer there and when the me
boat was full he gave the order Lower
away There were between 90 ar ~
in all in the boat.
Everything was orderly and all the
neoDle were quite CALM Beuchamp
added Beauchamp said he could not
tell whether the passengers were travel
ing first or third class There was no
light, compass, provisions nor water IN
the boat.
Reuchamp testified that he had seen
no boat drill on the Titanic He mad
been ten years at sea and on most OF
the liners on which he had been en-
gaRGQ
Beauchamp said Stoker took chdi Sc
on boat No 49,
Thomas Seaman, member of parlia-
ment for North Sligo who is appearing
as counsel for the seamen's and nre-
mems union in cross examination ask
ed Beauchamp:
Have YOU ever before known of
stoker being placed in charge of
liners lifeboat?'
Lord Mersey ruled that the question
was not relevant.
Ordered to Keep a. Lookout.
ouartermaster Robert Kitchens testi-
fed that he was on duty on the br1dge
of the Titanic at o'clock. He hearo
second Officer Lightoller through the
telephone give an order to the men IN
the crow nest to keep sharp LOOKOUT
for ice and GROWERS
Kitchens went on duty at the wheel
at 10 O'Clock He testified that the log-
hook showed it to have been 40 knots
in two hours and that there was M
change up to the time the IltanlC
struck the iceberg at 11:40.
Kitchens had understood the two quar-
ternoasters on duty were to take charge
of the two emergency boats in the event
of trouble He did not know which OF
them he was supposed to go to-
Kitchens explained. that he joined the
Titanic four days before she salIeor
While he was attempting to get on a
into a lifeboat that carried two men as
crew and As passengers, all of whom
were women except Major Peuchen ana
a hoy. The boat might have held hVe
or six more persons. There was par
rel of water on board but no compass
and he thought there were no biscuits
A lamp was served out to him before
the boat was launched.
The boat proceeded toward the nghC
of a ship for FIVE miles. The ship was
living two points on the port DOW out
her light gradually disappeared.
Kitchens testified that the boat should
have been manned with not less than
five seamen in calm weather.
Would the lifeboats have been OF
anv use at all if there had been rough
sea 90 asked Lord Mersey-
The quartermaster replied emphat1-
cally:
Il am sure they would not, my lord
There had been no instruction gwen
to the crew in opening and working
the collapsible boats, although tney
were more difficult to handle than HE
boats.