The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-04-26
COULD HAVE seen
ICEBERG IN Time
Opinion Of Titanic Lookout Il
He Had Binoculars.

Washfngtpno, April 24.-Like the
Aassins horseshoe nail that cost a
monarch his kingdom the failure to
provide binoculars or spyglasses for
the lookouts on the Titanic was one
contributing cause of that ships loss
and, with it, the loss of more than
1,see lives.
Two witnesses before the senate in
vesttgating committee agreed on this.
They were Frederick Fleet, lookout
On the Euer, and Major Arthur God
frey Peuchsn, Canadian manufacturer
and yachtsman, who was among the
rescued passenger
Fleet acknowledged that If he had
been aided in his observations by a
good glass be probably could have
spisd the berg into which the ship
crashed in time to have warned the
bridge to avoid it,
Major Peuchen also testified to the
much greater sweep of vision afforded
by binoculars and, as a yachtsman,
said he believed the presence of the
iceberg might have been detected in
time to escape the collision had the
lookout men been SO equipped.
1t was made to appear that the
blame Of being without glasses did not
rest with the lookout men. Fleet said
they had asked for them at Southamp-
ton and were told there was none for
them. One glass would have served
In the crows nest.
Major Peuchen criticised in strong
terms the lack Of experienced sailors
on board the Titanic. He said when
the call to quarters was sounded not
enough of the crew responded to I'M
dsrtake the work required in lowering
and filling the boats. Furthermore, he
said, no drills had been held from the
time the ship left Southampton, al
though 1t was customary to hold such
drills every Sunday.
Third Officer Testifies.
Herbert J. Pitman, third officer of
the Titanic, told OF his failure to turn
back the hfeboat in which he and his
passengers were idly drifting to at
tempt the rescue Of others when the
Titanic went down
Shuddering at the recollection he
said the cries for help made "one long,
continuous moan" The passengers
insisted that 10 go back to aid would
mean their destruction, he asid, so
that eftcr starting in the direction OF
the cries he rescinded his orders and
waited for the dawn
The opportunities and activities of
a squad Of photographers so aroused
Senator Smith thai he Indignantly Or
dered them all excluded from the
Chambc".
"This i2qpiry is Official and solemn
he said in explanation, "and there will
be no hippodrolning or commercializ-
ing OF it. l will not permit it,
An amateur photographer managed
to slip past the guard later, but was
summ2riy elected when he sought to
get a snap of the scene. .....
]. Bruce Ismay, managing director
Of the international Mercantile Ma
rine, and Vice President P. A. s. Frank
lin of the White Star line urgently re-
quested the committee to permit them
to return to New York.
In executive session at the close of
The hearing the committee declined to
allow either to leave Washington until
he is no longer needed.
It was decided also to call no more
passenger witnesses until all the Brit.
lsh witnesses have been heard. The
committee also decided to delay other
important business before it until the
Titanic inquiry has proceeded far
fhop