The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-02
No Need of Smiths Going Into
Narrowing Details
SEN. WORKS SAYS IN ATTACK
Mrs. Astor Asked That Boat Go Back for
More--Woman Survivor Tells How
Others Prevented Seamen
From Returning.

ing against the lengths to which the
Titanic investigation has gone broke out
in the Senate yesterday afternoon, when
Senator Works of California attacked
the subcommittee headed by Senator
Smith Of Michigan.
Senator Works took the view that the
revelation OF narrowing details might
well have been spared and that the in
quiry should have been made in the first
place by the British government. The
occasion for his remarks was his pres
entation of a statement by Mrs. Walter
Miller Clark of Los Angeles, giving her
personal experience at the time of the
wreck. Her husband was lost. Senator
Works said
"This statement was prepared in the
quiet of the home by one OF the unfor-
tunate passengers who was on the ship.
IL is SO fair and apparently just in
giving the details that | ask that it
be printed in the Record without read
ing.
personally. / deplore the fact that
this investigation was entered upon at
all. This was a British ship, manned by
British officers and subject to British
laws, and it should have been under
taken by the British government. The
investigation has gone to unreasonable
and unwarranted lengths in undertake
ing to ascertain the details of that disas-
ter that we might very well have been
spared. The things that the Senate
ought to know might have been ascer-
tanned in a very few hours without GO
ing into the narrowing details
The protest uttered by Senator Works
is matched by remarks that can be
heard among senators about the cor
ridors.
Begged Sailors to Go Back.
Mrs. Clark's statement contained some
important sidelights on the disaster.
Mrs. Clark was saved in the same boat
as Mrs. Aston. She recounted how Col.
Astor stepped out OF a lifeboat when
asked to do so, and then said that Col.
Astor joined her husband and they, with
Major Butt, helped put women in the
lifeboats.
In her boat there was room for fifteen
more. She said that after the lifeboat
rowed away a short distance it was seen
the Titanic was sinking. Sope suggest
ed returning to the Titanic and getting
more people. Mrs. Clark said that some
OF the women in the lifeboat became
hysterical and endeavored to dissuade us
from doing so. even going so far as to
impede the rowers in their efforts to
carry out the plan of the more deliberate
and cool"
Mrs. Aston was among those urging
Al II
After the Titanic went
down, Mrs. Clark said, her boat rowed
about the scene of the wreck and picked
up eight men, two of whom died. Three
or four fishing smaeks were visible in the
vicinity, Mrs. Clark asserted. She could
tell by the lights they were not life
boats.
Mrs. Clark says there was no brutal
no drunkenness, no shock. no
panic. and perfect discipline. She com
mended highly the gallant conduct of
sailor named Mccarthy, who was in her
boat.
The investigation is rapidly drawing
to a close. The subcommittee has adj
journed until Friday Senator Smith
started for New York yesterday after
noon. He may conclude to hold one or
more sessions of the subcommittee 1t
is doubtful if any more testimony will
be taken here but if it is. it win be linn
tied and viii be later than Friday. SEN
ator Smith win remain in New York
Friday.
81 am going to New York to take the
testimony of several Titanic passengers,
said Senator Smith. "and also to clean
up some of the conflicting testimony on
a few points. ! am not sure whether
the hearing viii be held there or deposit
tons secured"
The thing that Senator Smith is still
bent on finding out is the truth or falsi-
ty of the allegations made by Edward J. |
Dunn of Beeehhurst, who saws he was |
told that message was sent bv wireless |
and Western Union to the White Star |
offices about $3.50 Monday morning. tell |
ing of the loss of the Titanic and touch
ing the question of reinsurance.
Dunn was held in custody Tuesday and |
that night and was released Yesterday. |
Senator Smith said he was confident of |
getting the information alluded to by |
Dunn, that he had it we'll in hand. but !
not in the form he desired it. Detec- |
lives are being employed to uncover the
message
Senator Burton SAYS the last open |
hearing has been held and that the |
-eport viii he begun next week and hur-
led to the Senate.