The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-05-08
GREAT CAUSES or
TITANIC c

Tha Sfafa

The State.
Washington, April 27.-Failure to give
her exact position a great field of floating
Ice that offered a barrier to ships hurrying
to the rescue, and the mistake Of her own
captain in rushing at top speed through
an Recovered sea-all these combined to
send the Titanic and her 1000 victimes to
their watery grave In the north Atlantic.
This was strongly indicated today In. tes-
timony before the senate committee inves-
tigating the ocean tragedy. '.:
Capt. James Moore Of the steamer Mount
Temple, which was hurried to the Titanic
In response to wireless calls for help, thId
Of the great stretch Of Ice which held him
off. Within his view from the bridge he
discerned, he said, another strange steamer
probably a tramd, and q schooner which
a making her way out Of the ice. The
lights Of the schooner, he thought, proba-
bly, were those seen by the anxious survi-
vors Of the Titanic and which they franti-
cally were tryifg to reach T..
.s. sPFAD TOO GREAT.
Capt. Moore denounced as "most unwise"
the action Of the Titanic's commander, at
rushing at 81 kuots when he had been ad-
vised Of proximity Of Ice. The Mount Tenn
pies COMMANDER testified that he had
spent 81 years In the north Atlantic. When
ever Ice was around, he said, he doubled
his watch and reduced speed, and If he
happened to get caught in an Ice pack, he
stopped his engines and drifted until the
sea was clear.
The witnes also was emphatic In his de-
.claration that the position sent out by the
Titauic was wrong. He said the ship was
eight miles futher eastward than its ope-
reported. This, he declared, he proved by
observation taken the first thing on the
day after the disaster.
With what virtually wasa feeto of steam
ers within a radius Of 80 miles Of the II
tanic, the officer said this mistake In fix
ing accurately the position Of the doomed
ship was a fatal n With icebergs and
floating Ice covering the sea, a ship OF even
the size Of the Titanic might well be over
looked through such a variance.
IsMAY CHRERED.
j. Bruce 1smay, managing director of
the International Mercantile Marine COM
pany, was much cheered by the testimony
Of the afternoon. Today he listened eager
ly to the accounts Of his conduct at the
lfeboats, as told by the stewards and sea-
who came In contact with him the
night Of the disaster. His eyes fairly be-
AIMED when Steward Crawford told how he
had said to a"woman who told him she was
a st~ewardess: "You are a woman; take
your place In the ifeboat." =
After the session was over, the corridor
In the senate office building near the com.
mittee roomwas crowded with anxious sail
ORB OF the Titanic who have been at call OF
the committee since the rescue ship Carpa.
thia brought them to New York. They
were a nervous lot. In fact they were
broke. Not being PERMITTED to leave, they
faced the prospect Of a Saturday night and
Sunday without funds. Most Of them are
men OF families, DESTROYS Of sending word
home. Mr.. hmay knew Of their circum.
stances, and asked Senator Smith Il some
thing could not be done for them. They
are entitled to 81 a day In witness fees and
expenses but no preparation has been
made to pay them until they are released
MONEY FOR sAILoPs.
III 1t Is too late to get money for the
sailormen," Mr. Ismay declared, II can see
that 1t Is advanced"
Finally MI. Cornelius, assistant sergeant
alarms, found a way to cheer the hearts
Of the sailors and they were escorted to
capitol In a body and advanced money
This made them a happy lot.
P. A. 8. Franklin vice president of the
International Mercantile Marine company,
left for New York In the afternoon to re-
turn Monday. Mr.. Ismay did not leave,
through Senator Smith told him he was
free to go anywhere he pleased, provided
he reported in Washington Monday morn
ing.
The committee has not yet released any
OF the British members Of the Titanic crew
or officers, though all now have given tes-
timony. Some Of them will be recalled
next week. Officer Boxhall Is still Ill here