Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-04-23


! and | think II was after the wreck.
Pittman said that J.. Bruce lsmas
had helped to put women n children
into the boat which he had charge of
In explanation of the reason for thu
comparatively small number in eacl
lifeboat he said that all persons a
hand were placed in the first lifeboats
New, them said Senator Smith
''you had room in your boat for more
while some were in the water crying
for help?"
No. he answered. the Titanic
hadn't sunk yet"
]. Bruce Ismay, managing director
of the White Star line, may be called
late today, but some of the member:
of the committee favor examining frs
the Titanic officers, C. II. Llghtoiler
second: H. j.. Pltman. third, n II
G. Lowe, fifth officer. Thirty-sever
witnesses from the International Mer-
camille Marine Company and from tbs
officers and crew of the Titanic are
here waiting to testify, and many Of
the surviving passengers also are to be-
heard.
About 1880 Monday morning Pittman
said he saw a light straight ahead
which ma have been the lights of the
ship that Fourth Officer Boxhall vain
ly appealed to for help
did you hear anything of proximity
TO the Frankfurt, of the North Ger
man Lloyd line?" asked Senator Smith.
mo. SIR answered the witness.
To questions by Senator Perkins,
Pittman said thai the Titanic carried
more than 1000 passengers and crew
and that the lifeboats would mo- ac-
commodate more thar 100.
Senator Burton questioned him about
the lights he saw ahead, but he
couldn't tell if they We're of a steamer
or a sailing vessel. He said he saw
them about l o'clock about three miles
ahead. There was no possibility that
they were on a llfeboat. he said.
Senator Fletcher asked the witness
if it was not the duty of a command
er of a lifeboat to direct the move
ments of his craft irrespective of the
desires of the passengers. He replied
affirmatively.
Senator Fletcher brought it out more
clearly than before that icebergs were
marked on the ships chart. He
brught out that the speed OF twenty
one knots an hour, at which the I'll
tanic hit the iceberg, was a knot an
hour faster than the steamer had been
making up to Saturday night.
I How a vessel not more than five
miles away ignored the sinking Titanic's
call for help was told yesterday after
noon by j. G. Boxhail, fourth officer
of the lost ship, TO the Senate commit
tee which is investigating the disaster
which cost SOC lives.
Boxhall swore he could plainly see
the masthead lights Of the vessel he
was signaling with rockets n electric
flashes. He could also discern her side
lights. 1t was no imaginary vision,
he told the committee, because others
also had seen the same vessel aud had
watched her answer the signals of dis
tress. But the reply they could not
make out.
Mr.. Fletcher developed also that the
proper way to fill the boats would have
been to lower them first and then I'LL
them. On the Titanic, however, the
boats took on passengers and were
then lowered at great risk.
why did you take f1remen, two
stewards and a sailor IN board the
lifeboats?' asked the senator.
The witness replied to man the boat.
He said that he saw no women or
children step into lifeboats and back
again. A %searchlight might have re-
Vealed the iceberg. he thought.
Senator Smith asked If there had
been a fire on the Titanic after leav-
ing Southampton. He said he had not
heard of any.
why wasn't the speed Of the Ii
tanic slackened when you heard of the
icebergs?"
Not customary was the reply.
Pittman did not know if the fire had
been dragged from the boilers after the
collision. He saw no evidence that the
ship caught fire below.
was the steam whistle used sun
day night"
NO. sir.
Couldn't ii have been used 10 detect
icebergs by echo?''
Il have no faith in that, sir
"If there had been a vessel five miles
+ ahead wouldn't a steam whistle have
attracted it?' asked Senator Fletcher
The blowing off of steam could have
been heard further than a whistle. Hell
steam could have been heard ter
miles.
Frederick Fleet, lookout and sailor,
was the next witness. He was in the
crows nest at the time Of collision. Nd
other officer or sailor was stationed at a
higher point. He took his watch at II
o'clock. He didn't know If the captain
was on the bridge, but First Officer
Murdoch was there. he said.
Simons and Jewel. the men whom he
relieved in the crows nest, warned
him to keep a sharp lookout for small
ice. Lee, his companion in the nest
was similarly warned. He gave E
warning Of the iceberg that split tht
Titanic open.
How long before the collision?"
IT have no idea,' he replied.
He struck three bells when he saw
the iceberg and telephoned to th'
bridge
What did you seq asked the mar
at the phone.
IAN iceberg" he replied.
Thank you,' came the answer.
The telephone was in the crows nest
Fleet and Lee stayed in the mes
until relieved about ten minutes aftel
the accident by two other sailors.
Now can you indicate in any way
the length of time from the warning
you gave Of icebergs till you struck
II don't know"
Was it five minutes
II can't tell
How large did the iceberg seen
when you frat saw it?"
mot very large"
Was Ii as big as an ordinary house?