Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-25
Fifth Officer of Titanic Filled His
Boat to Capacity and Saved
Men in Water.
CLUE TO MYSTERIOUS SHIP
Mount Temple Believed to Be
Steamer Five Miles Away
Passengers Say They
Saw Liner Sink.

Washington. April 24-IIarold q. Lowe.
fifth officer Of the sunken Titanic, to-
day told the Senate Investigating COM
mittee his part in the struggle Of the
survivors for life following the catas.
trophe. His testimony developed that
with volunteer crew. he rescued four
men from the water. saved sinking
collapsibe lfeboat by lowing 1t astern of
his. and took off 20 men and one woman
from the bottom of an overturned boat
Every one OF those under his charge he
landed safely on the Carpathia.
From first to last loves story showed
that he played the man. Ordered away
In charge of lfeboat No. IA, he packed
II to its capacity on the top deck and.
fearing that some might attempt to jump
Into II while it was descending. kept up
a fusillade from his revovler. Once
afloat he took charge of a flotilla of small
craft, which eventually were picked up
by the rescue ship without the loss Of a
life.
Competing in interest with the days $
testimony was the interchange of tee-
grams between Senator VIM Alden
Smith, chairman. and the acting premier
Of Canada. George f. Foster.
The latter told Of the docking of the
steamer Mount Temple at St. John, n.
B., with passengers aboard who claimed
to have seen the Titanic sink. 1t was be-
lieved that the Mount Temple was the
ship that was only five miles from the
White Star liner when she took her final
plunge.
DISPOSITIONS ARE REQUESTED.
Senator Smith has requested that the
depositions of the officers and crew of the
Mount Temple be sent to him. In addi-
ton, he accepted the offer of DR.. +. c.
Guitzman OF Toronto to appear before
the committee. DR.. Quitzman was one
of the passengers who said they saw the
Titanic sink.
Acting Premier Fosters telegram. dated
to-day, follows: Captain Mount Temple
reports c. 9. D. message from Titanic
1890 a. IN. ships time Monday. Was then
b. miles west and south of position sent
out by Titanic. Immediately altered
course to reach Titanic but did not ar
rive at her position until 4:30 a. m. when
could not see Ttanic's light Saw no
sign of ship or boats. Cruised around po-
rtion until received message from Car
rathia at s:44 a. m. that she had picked
up 20 boatloads and that Titanic had
sunk. Received another message at $50
from Carpathia. No need 10 stand by
es nothing more could be done Under
these circumstances it does not seem
necessary to detain boat due to sail Fri
day evening. If considered necessary,
commission could be appointed to take
captains evidence. VIII no doubt be ex'
amined later by British commission
OFFICERS DID NOT SEE LIGHTS.
The committee also received a telegram
vigned by ]. II. Moore, master Of the
Mount Temple A. IL. Sargent. chief Of.
6cer. H. Heald. second officer. and j
Durrant, the Marconi operator, dated al
West 81. John, n. B., to-day practically
repeating the information contained ir
The premier's message and adding that the
Mount Temple did not see the Titanic,
lights. At $50 a. m. the Mount Temple
sighted the Carpathia and later the
californian. At eight O'Clock she sighted
me Russian steamer Birma coming from
the south and west. The names Of IN,
passengers who claimed they saw tn,
lights Of the Titanic the message sale
were not known.
Harold G. Lowe, NTH officer Of tn,
UltdIlC, at tO-uay y nearing tOIQ OF MI
harly experience, from the time he rar
hway TO sea at IA and shipped on
schooner. He knocked around the worlc
on sailing ships, then took up steamer
md about 10 months ago Joined the Whit
Star line. Until he shipped on the Titanic
he said, he never before had been in th
North Atlantic.
Lowe pointed out on a deck chart tn,
II NJ oil bo oNQ
WAS filed with the committee.
II was working the boats under Firs
phicer Murdock." he continued "Boa
No. was the first one we lowered"
who got In that boat?"
II don't know. but there is a ma,
here. and had ! not been here, woul,
not have known that / ordered M
1smay away from the boat.
sWORE AT MR. IsMAY.
"a steward met me on the Carpathis
lie said to me What did you saw 4
1smay that night on the deck?' sal
didn't know that had sard any
thing to Mr.. Ismay. said ] 1idn'
know Mr., Ismay, Well, the stewar
on the Carpathia said I had used yer
strong language to Mr.. Ismay
Shall repeat it?" asked Lowe.
Il happened to talk to Tsmay be
rause he appeared to be getting ex
cited. He was saying excitedly lowe
away lower away! lower awayr"
At this juncture Chairman Smit
asked Mr.. Ismay about the languag
and Mr.. Ismay suggest I'D that the oh
3ectionable language be written dow
10 see II II was appropriate. This wa
done.
Lowe said the gear on the davits work
cd perfectly and the launching OF tn
lifeboat No was altogether successfu
There was no trouble he said.
That's why spoke as did to NJ
1smay." he said.
senator Smith asked Lowe IL in HI
opinion the lifeboat before Il was lowere
vas loaded to Its proper capacity.
Lowe u1sd 10 avoid making diyAc