Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-23

IcOurse Of the ship. The Titanic, as
am Informed. was on the southernmost
west bound track of transatlantic
steamships.
THE tracks or lanes were designated
many years ago by agreement of all
the important steamship lines, and all
captains of the White Star line are re-
quired to navigate their vessels as
closely as possible on these tracks
subject to the following standing In
structions:
Rules for Captains.
Commanders must distinctly un'
derstand that the issue of there regu'
lations does not in any way relieve
them from responsibility for the safe
and efficient navigation of their re-
spective vessels, and they are also en-
joined to remember that they must
run no risk which might by any pos
sibility result in accident to their
ships. It is to be hoped that they will
ever bear in mind that the safety of
the lives and property entrusted to
their care is the ruling principle that
should govern them in the navigation
Of their vessels and that no supposed
| gain in expedition or saving Of time on
|
risk of accident The company de-
sires to maintain for it's vessels a
reputation for safety, and only looks
for such speed on the various voyages
as is consistent with safe and prudent
navigation.
Commanders are reminded that
the steamers are to great extent un-
insured, and that their own livelihood
as we'll as the company's success de-
ponds upon immunity from accident;
no. precaution which insures safe
navigation is to be considered excess
sive.'
One Ice Warning.
"The only information / ever re-
ceived on the ship that other vessels
had sighted ice was by a wireless mes
sage received from the Baltic, to
which have already testified. This
was handed to me by Captain Smith
without any remark as he was passing
me on the passenger deck on the after
noon Of Sunday. April IA. read the
telegram casually and put it in my
pocket.
cat about 10 minutes past 7, when
was sitting in the smoke room. Cap
tain Smith came in and asked me to
give him the message received from
the Baltic in order to post it for the
information Of the officers. I handed 1t
TO him and nothing further was said
by either of us. did not speak to any
of the other officers on the subject.
eff the information I received had
aroused any apprehension in my mind
which it did mott should not have
ventured to make any suggestion to
a commander Of Captain Smiths ex-
perience. The responsibility for the
navigation of the ship rested solely
with him.
'It had been stated that Captain
Smith and I were having a dinner in
one of the saloons from 1870 to 1890
Sunday night and that at the time of
the collision Captain Smith was sit
ting with me in the saloon.
Calls Statement False:
Both of these statements are alb
solutely false did not dine with the
evening of April IA. The doctor dined
I went directly to my stateroom and
went to bed at about 1920. I was
asleep when the collision occurred.
felt jar, went out into the passage
way without dressing, met steward,
asked him what the matter and he
said he did not know. returned to my
room.
II felt the ship slow down, put on an
overcoat over my pajamas and went
up on the bridge deck and on the
bridge. I asked Captain Smith what
was the matter and he said we mad
struck ice. asked him whether he
thought it serious and he said he did
On returning to my room. I met the
chief engineer and asked him whether
he thought the damage serious and he
said he thought 1t was.
ri then returned to my room and put
on a suit of clothes. had been in my
overcoat and pajamas up to this time
I then went back to the boat deck and
heard Captain Smith give the order to
clear the boats. I helped in this work
for nearly two hours as far as can
fudge. I worked at the starboard boats
helping women and children into the
boats and lowering them over the side.
did nothing with regard to the boats
on the port side
"By that time every wooden life
BOAT OH Inc SLdTUOdIu Sluc udu uCOh
lowered away and found that they
were engaged in getting out the for
ward collapsible boat ON the starboard
side. assisted in this work and air
the women that were on this deck
were helped into the boat. They were
all, think, third class passengers.
In Boat With Chinese.
GAS the boat was going over the Side
Mr.. Carter, a passenger, and myself got
in. At that time there. was not a
woman on the deck nor any passenger
of any class so far as we could see or
hear. The boat had between thirty-five
and forty in it. l should think, most OF
them women. There were perhaps
four or five men, and it was after
wards discovered that there were four
Cinnamon concealed under the thwarts
in the bottom of the boat
"The distance that the boat had to