Norwich bulletin., 1912-04-24
MAJOR PEUcHEN.
Says Sailors Were Not at Posts When
 Lifeboats Were Lowered.

When the inquiry was resumed at the afternoon session, Senator Smith called to the stand Major Arthur Peu- chen of Toronto, Canada, a passenger on the Titanic, who was ordered to man one of the life boats by Second Officer Lightoller.
 Major Peuchen was the first pas seuger witness to appear before the committee. All ten of his friends with whom he was travelling lost their lives.
 Senator Smith urged him to strive to remember the names of as many passengers as he could.
 T cannot remember many said the witness. "but I saw a list being copied in the smoking room of the Carpathia. I did not get a copy"
 Senator Smith then asked Major Peuchen to tell the story of the voy- age, telling the weather, accidents, and whether there was any fire aboard. The major told of the trip and said:
 Hays Said Boat Couldn't Sink.
 There was no mention of fire and we were pleased with the trip until the crash. After II o'clock I went to my stateroon. I scarcely was un- dressed when I felt a shock. I thought merely that a large wave had struck the ship
 T put on my coat and went up on deck" he continued. T met a friend who said. We've struck an iceberg So we went up on deck and saw the iceberg from the fore part of the ship. Some ice had fallen four or five feet inside the rail.
 After a few minutes l went to other friends and said it was not seri- ous. Fifteen minutes later I met Charles H. Hays of the Grand Trunk Pacific. I asked him. Have you seen the iceT He said, No Then I took him I'D and showed him. Then I mo- ticed the boat was listing. I said to Mir. Hays:
 She's listing; she shouldn't do that
 He said. Oh. I don't know. This boat can't sink He had good deal of confidence. and said, No matter what we have struck, she's good for eight or ten hours
 Scarcity of Sailors and Lifsbeats.
 q went back to the cabin deck and
 met men and women coming up look ing very serious. I met my friend Beattfe and asked him what was the matter. Beattie said to me, The or der is for the ufeboats-it is serious.
 q couldn't believe it at first; but went to my cabin and changed to some heavy clothes.
 '~Fhe women came forward one by one. many accompanied by their hus- bands.
 They would only allow women. Men had to stand back. The second officer stood there and that order was enforced. No men passengers got in that boat"
 Did you see any man attempt to get T' asked Senator Smith. No: the boat was partly lowered. There were about 36 or 51 persons in it. Then we turned to the next boat. 1 I was surprised that the sailors were not at their posts as they should have been. I have seen fire drills and the actien of the sailors did not impress me, They seemed 10 be short of sail 1 ors around the lifeb0ats where ! was, ! When 1 came on deck first fl seemed | to me that abeut 10o SJsleTs came l ap with their guH1 sacks and crew ded l the deck.
 1 Women Would Not Leave Their Hgs- l bands. "Cte of tae officers, q splendid man, | drove these taen rigtt eT the deck. 1 He draVe them like sheep. ! When we get ts the next boat a terraz ster and sailor were put in l and the boat WAS then filled with
 WVmeh We caIled out for more Ho-