Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-04-26

ny Lowe, the OHlcer SAID lSmay Went
to aid in lowering another life boat
Some of the most sensational testi.
mony thus far adduced came from OF.
ficers and members of the crew who
admitted that there had been no
drills aboard the Titanic except a per.
functory one for the board of trade
at Southampton.
British Witnesses Called.
Washington, April Ex-senator viii.
liam Alden Smith, the chairman, an.
nounced after a meeting with his COL
leagues that the British witnesses
would be called as rapidly as possible
before any more passengers were ex-
amined.
Frederick Fleet, lookout on the IT,
tanic, was recalled as the first wit.
ness of the day.
Senator Fletcher asked Fleet if he
had helped in the loading of the
boats.
Yes, sir"
Had you ever had any experience
in loading and lowering lifeboats?"
"All Of us do in the White Star
He said he saw no lifeboats loaded
other than No. 6, the boat in which
he pulled away with about thirty pas.
sengers.
Were there any women left on the
decks who did not get in the boat?"
mo, sir; l saw none"
did you call for them?"
Eyes, SIR"
The witness said that there were a
number of men on the decks but that
none of them sought or even asked to
be taken on.
did you hear any cries for help?"
asked Senator Smith.
eyes, but they were very faint"
did you 60 back to help?"
mo, sir; some of the passengers
wanted to, but the quartermaster,
who was in command, ordered US to
keep on rowing"
"How far were you from the Titan
ic when it sank?'
"Oh, it must have been mile
Thought Boat UnsinkabIe.
Maj. Arthur Peuchen Of Toronto }
passenger on the Titanic, who was
ordered to man one OF the lifeboats
by Second Officer Ligholler, was call
ed.
Major Peuchen was the first pas
senger witness to appear before the
committee. All ten of his friends with
whom he was travelling lost their
lives in the wreck.
The major told of the trip and said:
There was no mention Of fire and
We were all pleased with the trip un'
til the crash. After II o'clock I went
to my stateroom. scarcely had un'
dressed when felt shock. thought
merely that large wave had struck
the ship.
II put on my coat and went up on
deck. l met a friend who sald'
We've struck an iceberg After few
minutes l went to other friends and
said it wasn't serious. Fifteen min
utes later l showed Charles M. Hays
OF the Grand Trunk-Pacific the ice.
Then l noticed the boat was listing.
I said to Mr.. Hays: She's listing; she
shouldn't do that
HE said, oh, 1 don't know. THIS
boat can't sink He had a good deal
OF confidence, and said, NO mater
what we have struck she's good FOR
eight or ten hours
Il went back to the cabin deck
and met men and women coming up
looking very serious. met my FRIEND
Beattie and asked him what was the
matter. Beattie said to me, The ORDER
Is for the lifeboats-it is serious.
couldn't believe it at first, but went
to my cabin and changed to some
heavy clothes"
The witness said when he got on
deck the boats were being prepared
for lowering on the port side.
Women Came First.
THE women came forward one by
one, many accompanied by their hus'
bands. They would only allow wom'
en-. Men had to stand back. No, men
passengers got in that boat"
did you see any man attempt "
get imp
mo. I was surprised that the SAIL
ors were not at their posts as they
should have been. I have seen nlo
drills and the action Of the sailors dla
not impress me. ~
when we got to the next boat =
Quartermaster and q sailor were put
In and the boat was then filled VIII
women. We called out for more WON
en- and some would not leave thels
husbands" M
Major Peuchen said that in the life-
boat the quartermaster in charge
made woman row while he held tne
tiller, steering for a. light which the
major declared did not exist SO IL
as he could see. The quartermastel
refused to turn about and attempt ~
pick up survivors. said the witness,