The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-22
WELCOMES INQUIRY
BY THE COMMITTEE
Denies He Was Dining Wit
the Captain at Time Of Co.,
Accident - Says H 9 W1
Only Passenger and Would
Not Have Thought Of Civ
ing Captain Smith Any H.
structions.

every charge that has been mnA0@
against his official or personal CON-
duct. in connection with the sinkin1
of the steamship Titanic, J. Brti0oS
psmay. managing director Of the
White Star line, tonight issued ax!
statement in which he said. In part: II
When I appeared before the SetI~
ate committee Friday morning. SUP
posed the purpose Of the inquiry H4m
to ascertain the cause Of the slnIxfnl]
OF the Titanic, with q view to detn1w3
mining whether additional leGislAtlo1
WIS required to prevent the reocul
renee OF 10 horrible disaster. S
Il welcomed such inquiry. and apsS
peared voluntarily. without subpoonG
and answered all questions put to -
by the members OF the COMMITTEES toss
the. best Of my ability, with cchnpletoS
frankness. and without reserve. W
did not suppose the question OF MT
personal conduct was the subject -
the inquiry. although I was ready o..
tell everything did on the night O.
the collision.
"As I have been subpoenaed to IN
pear before the committee In WaelS
ington tomorrow. should prefer o.
make no public statement out Of fess'
spect for the committee, but DO noea
think that courtesy requires me to ~
silent in the face of tho untrue stats
ments made in some Of the news
papers.
Was Merely . Passenger.
when l went on board the Titan16|
ut Southampton on April 10th. 1t 49,
my Intention to return by her. ! hA1s
no intention Of remaining In tn
UnitAd States At that time. I Gang
merely to Dbserve the new weed n69
]; had done In the case Of other veaoaIl
four hnes ssss
During the voyage I was q pA3&;
senGer and exercised no greater rlghtUs
or privileges than any other passaNsB
ger. WINS not consulted by tn
commander about the ship. her c0ufno.
speed. navigation. or her conducts ~
sea. All these matters were UNDER
the exclusive control Of the captain.
I saw Captain Smith only casually. ~
other passengers did; I was never IT,
hts room; was never on the bridm
Ontil after the accident: / did net
sit at his table in the saloon: hM1S
not visited the engine room nor -9o1l
through the ship, and did not 70, 0t&
attempt to go. to any part OF the al151e
to which any other first cabin p1l1
senger did not have access. M
1T ~ absolutely and un1ualfflod1XS
false that ever said that wishS
the Titanic. should make sp&S
record. or should increase her dailJ
runs. 50
''As I have already testified, at a.
time did the Titanic. during the yUyxS
age. attain her full speed. ss@
No Increased bounty.
The statement that the White G&1la
line would receive an additional ak31
by way OF bounty. or otherwise. 1
attaining 4 certain speed. u a6q&
Iutely untrue. The White Star ~
receives from tho British governHn&
q fixed compensation Of f70. 600 S
Annum for carrying the mails, WIN
|, out regard to the speed OF any
Its vessels. ss
II was never consulted by Carts
Smith. nor by any other person, I
did ever make any: suggestion waGH
eo0yer to any human being about t
course Of the ship. The Titanic, e.
1 am informed. waA on. the n0ist1
most westbound track OF traue-x
tantic Steamships. Tho tracks
lanea were designated many -
ago by agreement Of all the impor195
steamship lines, and al captains
| the White Star line are requlro&
navigate their veasels ~ CLOSELY
possible on these tracks. sub5ect%
the following standing instructt0uol
Commanders must distinctly
defstand that the issue Of these ~
fAtions does not In any way re5(
theni from responsibility for Hal
and efl1cient navigation OF fheir n
spective vesselA and they are also
Joined to remember that thek a
rum no risk which might by any ~
sihility result In accident 10
ships
Received Warnin9 Mesaneek
The only information ! evo1
cefved on the ship that other v
| had sighted ice. was by I W1v~
| massage received from the ~
which have already testified tox
was handed to me by Captain
without any remark an he Wn9sJ
in4 me on the passenger deck q ~
afternoon OF Sunday. Arm 1
read the telegram casf1aliy. ~
II In my pocket. At Nbout tel
utea past seven, while II Wa6
In the SmOkerooIn. Captain
came In and asked me 10 Etra TT
| message received from the u&r
order to posi- It for the infurTaG
tho oflicefs. I handed Il 70 x1J
nothing further Was sid VI 1l
~ I did mot 1peAk u any
odlcesp On the suhject.
~ the sln66rMlAtt0n I FecelG
arou1e4 tny 2pprehannton hi
ehiclE Il ia not--I a1eNl
ventuHed 70 mlAke any oa11
cOmmandef u CaptAtn l&
b1s14nCe. The reGp0n1fU<)
nAvleet1on % fhe aitt O.
~ bssa afAtsd
1MateA nd Wefe
1Nfty a otIse a. q ~ i. I j