New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-08
MERSEY HEARS TITANIC
HELD NO BOAT DRILLS
Also That Liner Made As Knots
in Two Hours Just Pre-
viouS to Disaster.
THREE WITNESSES HEARD
British Government Determined
TO Discover What Steps Were
Taken to Rescue Those
= in Storage.

london. Nav 7-Shipvreck experiences
consumed the time Of the Board of Trade
inquiry into the Titanic disaster to-day.
nnlv three witnesses were disposed of. No
new light was shed on the sinking of the
steamer beyond the facts elected by the
American Senate Committee.
The examination was significant because
I, showed the governments determination
70 discover what steps were taken TO get
orr the third class passengers. The main
roints brought out in the general inquiry
were that the ship was going at full speed
that no boat drills had been held: that
some Of the sailors did not know their sta
-iors and that the boats were inadequately
manned and directed and were not provid-
el with lights. oompasses. water or ra-
tons
Whatever comparisons may be drawn be
tween this stately and we'll ordered tri-
bunal." as one Of the weekly reviews pre-
dicted II would be, and the proceedings he
fore Senator Smith, the British court Ger
tainlv is anything but expeditions Sir
Rufus Isaacs. the Attorney General, who is
conducting the governments case person
ally is not sufficiently acquainted with the
details TO manage with any economy OF
time This is not surprising. when the bur-
den Of the work the Attorney General IS
attempting 70 carry on is considered Be
sides acting as chief government counsel in
the wreck inquiry he is attending to the
regular routine Of his Office and participat-
ing IN the Home Rule debate from his
place in the House OF Commons. The re-
suit is that ne has 10 stop frequently 20
consult with his assistants while the in
qUiry hats
p. Senate Inquiry Referred to.
The number Of counsel representing the
various unions who take hand in the
DISCRIMINATION also tends to draw out
the testimony. The first reference made TO
the American inquiry was when Sir Rufus
Isaacs compared the statements Of Quar-
teru1aster Hichens with those he made at
Washington. but no material discrepancies
we're discovered.
The first witness called to-day was George
Beauchamp fireman OF the Titanic, who
testified:
4 did not know which vas my boat sta
ton I heard that list had been put up
that morning. but I did not see IL None
had been put up before
Lord Mersey asked: When did you look
for it,"
Beauchamp replied: 1t may have been
or the second DAY out Continuing his mar
rative he said: Il did not know where TO
20. so I went up TO the boat deck and 10
lifeboat No. Is. on the starboard side. where
7 helped 10 put in the women and children.
There was an officer there and when the
Mfebost was full he gave the order: There
are enough IN that boat. Lower away l
heard two or three ladies say, l will not
20. Some of the men passengers then got
in 7 could not say now many, but there
were between 50 and 20 in all in the boat
Everything was orderly and all the people
we're quite calm.
Beauchsmp said he could not tell whether
the Messengers were travelling FIRST or
third class There was no light, compass
provisions or water in the boat. Every
one looked for them.
Beauchamp testified that he had had no
boat drill on the Titanic. nor had he seen
snv. He had been ten years at sea, and On
most OF the liners on which he had been
enCaged there was a weekly boat drill
on the liner New York boat drill was held
on Sundays.
sesuchannp made the statement that a