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

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up until this trip you had the use
OF glassesg" asked Burton
Yes, sir" the seaman said positive
IS. We had eyesight tests, too. evers
year or So"
Fleet said the lookouts had nc
glasses or lights in the crows nest
lie said he did not see the lights Of
tue ghost ship" which several wit
nesses testified they discerned near
the Titanic. until after he got into a
lifeboat lie said QuartermasteI
Hichens believed he saw the lights oil
the distant, ship on board the Titanic
,Retelis story About lseberg.
Fleet then re7told OF his first sight
ing the iceberg from the Titanic S
crows lnest.
He could give no opinion as 10 its
distance ahead of the liner.
1T was just after seven bells | saw
the ice" he said. that's about 1880
D. m"
Pressed by Senator Burton, Fleet
could give no idea OF the time be-
tween his sighting the ice island and
whe nthe collision occurred. Fleet
said he was told by theI relief watch
small ice. but not icebergs.
Il gave the three-bell signal when
saw the iceberg said Fleet, ito
let them know it was right ahead.
Then | telephoned the bridge
After Fleet telephoned 10 the first
officer. the Titanic changed her course
two or three points to port, he said.
Questioning by ! Senator Fletcher
brought out the fact that the greater
part OF the impact was below the
water. The witness was unable 10
give any estimate OF the icebergs size
except that il was not as high as the
crows nest.
Senator Smith questioned Fleet re-
garding the conduct of Quartermaster
Kitchens, who was in command OF the
lifeboat, which the witness helped TO
man. Two or three women took turns
at the oars, Fleet said The women
passengers repeatedly urged Kitchens
to pull toward the shrieking victims
who were begging for aid but he re-
fused 10 listen TO them.
Fleet made the statement that his
lifeboat was about mile from the
Titanic when the latter sank.
How do YOU know questioned
Senator Smith.
Il heard others say so"
But what is your Judgment"
Smith persisted.
The witness caused litter by re
plying:
Il have no Judgment"
Smith Becomes Angry.
Senator Smith then took occasion
t. vent his displeasure at. what he
was the attempt of certain
interests TO dictate how the commit
tees work should proceed.
4 want again To state the purpose
on this inquiry" he said 1T Is TO
get all the facts bearing upon this
unfortunate catastrophe. II Is, OF
course, apparent that the officers are
or architects, and the
has assumed that If they
tell all they know or the circum-
stances that surround the progress o.
the ship before the collision and what
thereafter, that would be
all we could expect.
at has been our plan from the be-
ginning first TO obtain the testimony
OF -eitizeAs- of Great Britain temporar-
AAg hClC anu TINS COuioc viii OC puI-
sued until the committee believes
they haye obtained all accessible In
formation,
1T is to the credit OF the officers
and crew that we have had no very
troublesome difficulty in securing wit
nesses. But from the beginning until
now there has been voluntary, graf.
uitous meddlesome attempt on the
part of certain persons to influence
the course of the committee ana 20
stop its procedure.
Misrepresentation have been
made, L have heard. / did not wish
to subpoena witnesses whose only
story was based on bias or prejudice.
The, press has co-operated In every
way TO tighten the burdens OF the
committee.
The committee will not tolerate any
further attempt on the part of anyone
10 shape its course. We shall pro