The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-04-26

'ment given out here j. Bruce Ismay
replies to various published state.
ments regarding the Titanic disaster
particularly those in whose his name
has prominently figured.
MIR. Ismay denies that he had any.
thing to do with the navigation OF
the Titanic, declares among other
things that he exercised no privileges
that did not belong to any other first
cabin passengers, that he was in bed
when the accident occurred and that
he had no idea Of returning to Eu-
ropo quickly, to avoid appearing at
the senatorial investigation. His
statement in part follows:
when 1 appeared before the SEN
ate committee Friday morning, I sup
posed the purpose of the inquiry was
to ascertain the cause of the sinking
OF the Titanic, with view of deter
mining whether additional legislation
was required to prevent the recur-
renee OF 80 horrible disaster.
II welcomed such an inquiry and
appeared voluntarily, without sub
poena and answered all questions
put to me, by the members of the
committee, to the best of my ability.
with complete frankness and without
reserve. l did not suppose the Dues
ton Of my personal conduct was the
subject Of the inquiry, although I
was ready to tell everything 1 did on
the night Of the collision.
when went on board the Titanic
at Southampton on April 10, it was
my intention to return by her. I
had no intention Of remaining in the
United States at that time. 1 came
merely to observe the new vessel, as
l had done in the case Of other ves-
sells of our line.
Il. Merely a Passenger.
During the voyage 1 was a pas
seEger. and. exercised no greater
rights or privileges than any other
passenger. I was not consulted by
the commander about the ship, her
course. speed, navigation, or her con-
duct at sea. All these matters were
under the exclusive control of the cap
tain. I saw Captain Smith only cas-
ually, as other passengers did; 1 was
never in his room; was never on the
bridge until after the accident; I did
not sit at his table in the saloon;
had not visited the engine room nor
gone through the ship, and did not
reo,-os- attemupt to go to any part OF
the ship, to which any first-cabin pas
senger did not have access.
ut Is absolutely and unqualifiedly
false that ever said that I wished
that the Titanic should make a speed
record or should increase her daily
runs. I deny absolutely everything
said to any person that we would in
crease our speed in order to go out
Of the ice zone, or any words to that
effect
"As / have already testified, at no
time did the Titanic, during her voy-
age attain her full speed. 1t was not
expected that she would reach New
York before Wednesday morning. If
she had been pressed she could prob
ably have reached New York Tuesday
evening.
Never Consulted Mr.. Smith.
1.-The statement that the White Star
Line would receive an additional sum
by way of bounty, or otherwise, for
attaining a certain speed Is absolute
lily untrue.
II was never consulted by Captain
Smith nor by any other person nor
did ever make any suggestions what
,soever to any human being about the
course of the ship. The Titanic as
I am informed, was on the southern
most westbound track Of trans-At-
lantic steamships. The tracks, or
lanes, were designated many years
ago by steamship lines and all cap
tains of the White Star Line are re-
quired to navigate their vessels as
possible on these tracks, subject to
standing Instructions"
The instructions, according to Mr..
Ismay require that commanders OF
vessels must bear in mind that the
safety OF the lives and property en-
trusted 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 racing Of time on the voyage is to
be purchased at the risk Of accident
Received One Wireless.
"The only information | ever re-