Evening journal., 1912-04-24
Senate Committee Hints White Star Line
Officers Shape Investigation Course
tContinued from First Page.l

Continued from First Page)
examination on his story yesterday
that the officers of the ill-fated liner
did not furnish lookouts with bino-
culars.
The committee worked behind closed
doors just as soon as all the seats in
the room had been taken. In the
front row We're fashionably-g -gowned
women. many of whom had been watt
ing for hours
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska. and
Representative Victor Berger. we're on
hand early A bunch OF vivaclous,
chattering seminary girls lent live
ly touch of color to the scene.
The hearing began when Senator
Burton. of Ohio. impatiently ordered
the lookout on the stand. Burton re-
fused to wait until Senator Smith.
chairman. arrived.
Fleet told of eye tests he had un-
dergone a year ago.
Up until this trip you had the use
of glasses?" asked Burton.
'Yes, SIR the seaman said, posi-
lively
"Wc had eyesight tests, too. every
year or so" he added
Fleet said the lookouts had no
glasses or lights in the "crows-nest" -"
Fleet said he did not sec tho lights
of the ghost ship" which several wit
nesses testified they discerned near
the Titanic. until after he got into a
lifeboat. He said Quartermaster Hich-
ems believed he saw the lights of the
distant ship on board the Titanic
Fleet then retold of his first sight
ing OF the iceberg from tho Titanic's
'crows-nest" He could give no opin-
ion as to it's distance ahead of the
liner
1T was Just after seven bells when
saw the ice" he said
That's about 11.3O p. m"
Pressed by Senator Burton, Fleet
could give no idea Of the time between
his sighting the ice island and when
the collision occurred.
Fleet said he was told by tho relief
watch in the "crows-nest' TO look out
for small ice--not icebergs.
Il gave the three bells signal when
7 saw the iceberg said Fleet, TO let
them know IL was right ahead Then
telephoned the bridge"
After Fleet phoned to tho first Of
ficer. the Titanic changed her course
two or three points to port he said
Questioning by Senator Fletcher
brought ont the fact that the prepon-
derancc of the impact was below the
water The witness was unable TO
give any estimate of the icebcrgs; OK
cept that 1t was not as high as the
crows nest.
Women nj the Oar
Senator Smith questioned Fleet re-
garding the conduct of Quartcrmaster
Hichens, who was in command OF the
lifcboat which the witness helped 70
man. Two or three women took turns
at the oars. Fleet said The women
passengers repeatedly urged Hichens
to pull toward the shrieking victims
who were begging for aid but he re-
fused to listen TO them.
Fleet made the statement that his
iifeboat was about mile from the IL
tanic when the latter sank.
How &C. you kaow? questioned
Senator Smith.
81 heard others say So
But what is your own Judgment
Smith persisted.
tphe witness caused litter by reply
ing: Il have no Judgment
Senator Smith who had been lbren
for f'e first fifteen minutes OF tho
hearing then took the witness ovei
the same ground that Senator Burton
had covered Fleet was then excused
Raps at Interference.
Senator Smith then took occasion tc
vent his displegsure at what he in.
ferred was the attempt of certain
interests to dict to how the commit
tecs work should proceed.
~ want again to state the purpos'
Of this inquiry" he said.
elt is to get all the facts bearing
upon this unfortunate catastrophe /
is OF course. important that the Off
GERS shipbuilders or architects ant
the committee has assumed that the
viii tell all they know OF the cir
cumstances that surrounded the pro
eress OF the ship before the collisio
and what transpired thereafter; tha
would be all we could expect
1T has been our plan from the b6
ginning first to obtain tho testimon
of citizens Of Great Britain temporal
lily here and this course will be pui
sued until the committee believes the
have obtained all useful and accessib
information.
1T is 70 the credit OF the office
and crew that we have had no vel
Troublesome difficulty in securing vi
ncsscs. But from the beginning un'
now there has been a voluntary, graf