The Wagner post. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-current, 1912-05-03
REFUSED 10 60 10
AID OF The TITANIC
Donkey Engineer On Oaliforn-
ian swears Captain Could
See Distress Signals. /

Washington, April "a
worn statement that the cap
tain Of the liner Californian
refused to 60 to the aid OF the
Titanic, although only q few
miles away, today was filed
by Ernest Gill, donkey engi-
neer on the Californian, with
the Senate committee investi-
eating the Titanic disaster.
Gill said that the distress
rockets were plainly visible
from the deck Of the Cali
fornian and must have been
visible from both the bridge
and the lookout.
Capt. Stanley Lord, of the
liner Californian, prepared to
enter a sweeping denial Of the
statements by Ernest Gill,
next took the witness stand.
Captain Lord. OF the Californian. In
Boston last night denied GilIs state
ment.
GIN was placed on the witness stand
Immediately after Senator Smith, tho
chairman. had finished reading his af-
fidavit.
II saw the ship. which / took to be
the Titanic" said gill after being
sworn. some time before midnight.
She was about 10 miles away and went
past US apparently at full speed. She
was a big ship and I saw two tiers OF
lights. The Californian at the time was
caught in field Ice. Her engines were
stopped and she was drifting with the
ftoe.'
The vessel. GIN testified. must have
been plainly visible to the bridge and
which she SEN up later. The Califor-.
MANS captain. he said paid no atten-
ton to h distress signals and his re-
fusal to get up steam and go to the
aid Of the stranger 30 incensed h
crew that Gill tried to organize q pro-
failed. he said, because ''the men were
afraid they'd lose their jobs"
Babies Thrown Into eoats.
1t was necessary for women and
children on the sinking Titanic to Jump
a three-foot chasm from the deck to
the life boats. and babies were tossed
into the boats, according to testimony
given to Senator william Alden Smith.
chairman of the Senate COMMITTEES, by
e.. W.. ItaAA6 OAAC Va AO "a SkCWs
Evans credited this method Of loading
the boats with the heavy loss Of life
among the women and children. Evans
was examined by Senator Smith last
night and the purport OF his testimony
was made public today.
Evans told Senator Smith that when
the boats were swung out they were
at least three feet out from the steam
er's deck, which was 20 feet above
the sea. The height was 30 terrifying
that women refused to attempt the
jump. Several were thrown bodily
across the gap, Evans said, and one
was propelled with such force tina she
went over the far side or the boat and
was saved from plunging into the sea
only by her shoe which caught In
an oarlock. Babies and children" said
Evans. were tossed into the boats
like sacks Of grain. There was no 9TH
or way"
Senator Smith further announced that
a lamp trimmer on the Titanic, whom
he examined last night. declared that
there were no lights in the life boats.
He said that after four boats had
cleared the ship, he went to the store
room and discovered the lamps. flares
and oil there. BY orders from the
as many Of the remaining boats as he
could.
The other senators of the COMMITTEES
put in a strenuous night with their
quotas of witnesses, but none finished
with his share of b work of elimina-
ton.
p. A. s. Franklin, vice president OF
the White Star line. was the first witt
mes today.