The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-04-23
PAGE TWO

2NcA-S . a4obi OoS AOShEtbr icS N1QSCh
sensation for further investigation
by the committee.
Fifth Officer H. j Lowe. and Thirs
Officer Herbert J. Pittman will tes
tify before J. Bruce Ismay and Wire
less Operators Bride and Cotton ars
called. The Marconi company, how
ever, is urging the committee to finish
with Cotton before Wednesday, SC
he can sail from New York early
Thursday morning On the Mauretania
Secretary of the Navy Meyer has
ordered to Washington the wireless
operators of the scout cruisers Ches
er and Salem, who talked with the
Carpathia's operators during the yoy-
age OF the rescue ship to New York
Today a large chart OF the Atlantic
ocean, with tracinEs of steamship
routes. was raised in the committee
room by officers of the navy hydro,
graphic Offices. A heavy dotted line
from Southampton and Cherbourg on
the map to large black star in mid
ocean on the grand banks Is the grim.
mute story OF the Titanic's maiden
voyage.
]. Bruce Ismay and the wireless
operators have been given steno-
graphic copies of their preliminary
testimony before the committee in
New York. This concession ip TO re-
fresh their memories before retelling
their stories to the full committee.
The committee vas late in conven-
ing. due to conference. Before
calling the meeting to order, Smith
stated that for the present it had been
decided not to subpoena additional
witnesses until the committee has
discovered how much those already
held as witnesses know OF the disas-
ter.
II VIII not ask Mrs. John Jacob
Astor to appear at the present time.
Said Smith. Her physical condition
necessitates consider alton
Everything will be done by the
committee to expedite the hearing.
We expect only to hear evidence to
the point and VIII release those who
want to go just as coon as We feel
that they have told us all they
know
Third officer Herbert j. Pittman
of the Titanic, was the first witness
called today. Smith said he had re-
ceived note from physician that j.
G. Boxhall. whose cross examination
vas to have continued today, was
Ill and could not appear.
Officer Pittman, stock, ford
Briton. testified in New York that he
knew nothing OF the Titanic's log"
being saved-
Pittman began his story today by
reoounting the THAMES final trials
q Belfast loch.
How long did -ou tase7' asked
Senator Smith.
About s. hours, Ptt+man said.
Were there any trials for speed =
90. sir. ] believe there are no
such trails in the White Star ser,
vice. .
Pittnan told OF the Tisanic's sail
ing for Southampton at 1918 p. M,
April 5. Nothing exciting happened
except the trouble with the steamer
New YORK breaking It's moorings by
the backwash Of our propellers" he
said.
1T detained US half an hour. We
had perfect weather; no heavy seas
fine and clear. .
Pittman told Of the life boat tests
at Southampton before the British
board of trade, saying only two star
board boats were lowered and ma
neuyered In the water with eight men
In each boat.
Pittman said there was no fire
aboard the Titanic from the time it
left Southampton He was on the
bridge Sunday afternoon but saw no
iceberg or field ice. He heard, how
ever, that q wireless message had
warned Of their proximity. Fourth
Officer BoxhalI had drawn cross on
the chart noting the location of the
berg against which they were warned
Pittman did not talk with any of the
officers about the icebergs, although
he frequently came in contact with
Captain Smith.
Did you see any ice on Sunday"
he was asked
no sir
"On a clear day over the ice, is It
rot true the sky is pale and brighter
IN color In the north Atlanticg'
no SIR" was his answer.
Icebergs can be seen for long
distance on clear sky If they are
az big az the one that sank the II
tanic, Pittman said
Chairman Smith tried to get Pitt.
man to admit that an echo from the
horns would indicate the presence of
icebergs, but the witness had never
heard OF this. His testimony was in
contradiction to that given by Boxhall
yesterday.
Pittman told of once seeing an ice