The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-04-22
]. BRUCE |SMAY IN
DEFENSE TELLS
HIS STORY
Says Published Reports Of His
Acts Untrue
He HAD NO AUTHORITY
Was Nothing More Than Any Other
Passenger, Never Advised Capt
Smith nor Dlned With Him

New York, April 22.-In a state
ment given out at New York last
night, J. Bruce Ismay replies to var
ious published statements regarding
the Titanic disaster, particularly
those in which his name has promi-
nently figured. He denies that he
had anything to do with the naviga-
ton OF the vessel, consulted with her
captain regarding her conduct at sea
or made suggestion as to the course
or other navigation of the ship. lie
exercised no privileges which did not
belong to any other first cabin pas
senger, he declared; he did not sit a.
the captains table and he was not
dining with him at the time of the
accident, and indeed, was in bed
when the collision occurred. He had
no idea of returning to Europe quick
| ly to avoid hearing at the senator
ial investigation, he adds, and only
knew that the investigation was
pending when informed of it at the
pier when the Carpathia arrived. Mr..
Ismays statement follows:
when appeared before the SEN
ate committee Friday morning / sup
posed the purpose of the inquiry was
TO ascertain the cause of the sinking
of the Titanic, with view to deter
mining whether additional legislation
was required to prevent the recur.
renee of so horrible a disaster. |
welcomed such an inquiry and APP
peared voluntarily without subpoena
and answered all questions but to
me by the members of the committee
to the hes. of my ability, with com
1 plete frankness and without reserve.
/ did not suppose the question of my
personal conduct was the subject OF
the inquiry, although | was ready TO
tell everything ! did on the night OF
the collision.
AS | have been subpoenaed to
attend before the committee in Wash
ington tomorrow, l should prefer to
make no public statement out of res
pect for he committee, but | do not
think that courtesy requires me ia
be silent in the face Of the untrue
statements made in some OF the news
papers. When | went on board the
Titanic at Southampton on April 10
II was my intention of remaining by
her | had no intention of remaining
, in the United States at that time.
came merely to observe the new YES
sci, as had done in the case Of Other
vessels of our lines.
A. Did not Consult About Speed
During the voyage ! was pas
l senger and exercised no greater
; rights or privileges than any othel
: passenger; was not consulted b!
= the commander about the ship, he
: course, speed, navigation, or her con
duct at sea. All these matters wer,
under the exclusive control OF III,
: captain. saw Capt. Smith only cas-
Q ually as other passengers did, | wa
p never in his room; ! was never OIL
4 the bridge until after the accident
d | did not sit at his table in the sal
+ Don; had not visited the cngin
r room nor gone through the ship an,
i did not go, or attempt to so to an
o part OF the ship to which any othe
first cabin passenger did not bav
= access.
h ut is absolutely and unqualified
l. false that ever said that / wishe
l. that the Titanic should make a spec
d record or should increase her dali
i runs. ! deny absolutely having sal
to any person that we would ncreas
q our speed In order to get out of IN
n ice zone, or any words to that effec
% AS | have already testified, at n
o time did the Titanic during the vo.
x age attain her full speed. II was NJ
- expected that she would reach Ne
s. York before Wednesday morning.
o she had been pressed she could pr,
Il badly have arrived Tuesday evening
" "The statement that the Whit
70 Star line would receive an additions
lie sum by way OF bounty or otherwiS
for attaining a certain speed Is a
solutely untrue. The White Star lii
receives from the British governmel
n fixed compensation of 1000
=. ponds per annum for carrying u
~ mails without regard to the spec
of any of its vessels, and no additio
e. al sum is paid on account Of al
I'd increase In speed.
a Human Safety Paramount Rule
10 81 was never consulted by CAPITA
No Smith nor by any other person. N
nj did ever make any suggestion
ar whatsoever to any human being abo
otl the course OF the ship. The Titan
,v as am informed, was on the sout
Nc ernmost west-bound track OF trai
"a atlantic steamships. The tracks.
Ms, lanes, were designated many yea
~ ago by agreement Of all the imp
~" tant steamship lines, and all ca
l,h tains of the White Star line are
~ quired to navigate their vessels
80 closely as possible on these trac
no subject to the following standing
~ structions:
Commanders must distinctly und
~ stand that the issue of these regu
lions does not In any way reli,
them from responsibility for the s.
and efficient navigation OF their I
,,,, pective vessels, and they are also
VIII joined TO remember that they m
run no risk which might by any I
rhe sibillty result In accident TO N
10 ships. II Is 10 be hoped that Il
ext will ever bear in mind that the SAT
and Of the lives and property lntrusted
on their care is the ruling principle {
should govern them In the nayigat