The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-01
REFORM NEEDED
\ IN SAFETY FOR
PASSENGERS
Senate Committee Brought
Out Things Needed By
Ocean Transportation
ENGINES Of TITANIC WERE
PUSHED TO FULL CAPACITY
Manufacturer Aboard Stafo Was
10 Much Impressed With tin 81,
ON Sunday Evening Before the
Crash that He Commented on II.

Crash that He Commented on 1t.
Washington, May 1.-More life
boats on transatlantic liners. an
equipment of RATS that automatically
would float clear Of a sinking vessel,
and the construction of great passen..
ger steamers with double hulls and
extended water-tight compartments
all these reforms. it was indicated to-
day before the senate committee IN
vestisating the Titanic disaster would
follow in the immediate future.
]. Bruce Ismay. president and man.
aging director of the international
Mercantile Marine company. told the
committee that in his opinion this
should be done. He promised to take
up the question with the constructors
Of the big liners as soon as he re-
turned to England.
When the hearing was resumed in
the afternoon c. f. Henry Stengel OF
a survivor of the Titanic testified that
he had watched the speed of the ship
particularly.
when i went to bed Sunday night
about 10 O'clock / told my wife that
the engines were going at an awful
rate" he said. Being manufac-
turer I have a general knowledge OF
engines and it seemed to me that u the {,
Titanic's engines were being strained:
Where were you when the acci-
dent happened?"
"I was moaning in my sleep,
dreaming. My wife awakened me
and just then the crash came.
grabbed what clothes could and my
wife put on a kimono and we went
on deck. The captain said he thought
It was serious and my wife and put
on life belts.
when the first lifeboats were sent
away an officer said it was merely
done as matter of precaution.
put m ywife aboard and went for
ward. found them lowering an
emergency boat and asked the officer
II I might get 1t. There were only
about ten persons in the boat. among
passengers. rolled into the boat
and the officer laughed heartily.
"'That's the funniest sight I've seen
tonight he said.
"Tfis hilarity served to convince us
that the entire affair was not seri-
Gus"
The witness said they rowed to-
ward green light. They saw flash,
lights. he said. and rowed toward
them. His bate was the second one
to be taken aboard the Carpathia.
Wireless Suppression.
stengel told of bulletins posted on
the Carpathia regarding messages
that had gone from the ship. He said
the message from Mr.. Mareoni urging
that news Of the disaster be sent via
Siasconset was posted.
1.-The captain of the Carpathia.' u
said Stengel. assured us only twenty
words had been sent to the press
There had been rumors on board that
the press was using the wireless. This
was found out to be untrue"
The witness said he believed the
light toward which his boat was row.
ing was nothing but northern ligh'
he said. he learned afterward was
from one Of the other boats.
Senator Fletcher asked stengel
how far his boat was away when the
ship went down.
I'VE were not very far off," said
the witness. II saw the bow lights
go out. one by one. and then I looked
away. I could not bear to look any
longer. Then the cries began: Those
help"
What were the cries nke?"
They constituted one long wall"
Gould you see the people?''
mo, but ! could hear them. 1t
was a terrible wall"
Did you see any evidence of drink
ing among officers of the Titanic that
II did not" Stengel replied. 81
rem ember hearing Mrs. Thorne.
who was at the dinner party Sunday
night which was attended by Captain
Smith. renarking that the captain
did not drink Drop"
Stengel was then excused.
Mr.. Ismay then was recalled to the
examination by inquiring into the his
tory. extent and real status of the
White Star line and the owners of the
Titanic.
MIR. 1smay discussed the oficial
latitude given to captains and said
they were virtually unhampered
They were not compelled to keep to
the established lanes. he said. when
they felt that safety demanded their
deviation; they were not instructed as
to the speed to be maintained, and
no specified time was fixed for their
\arrival In port. Everything was left
To their discretion. he added.
What impression has been made
Sn you as result Of the disaster ?"
asked Senator Bourne. "as to the re-
forms In livesaving apparatus?"
L ootO SuC WAtuC6C WIFI Q6.
liberation. II believe there should be
higher bulkheads. double hulls. or an
!, extension Of the double bottom, and
life RATS that will be easy to launch
br which might float free of the shin
when II went down."
Senator Bourne inquired about Mr..
tmay's order that no ships Of his
company should leave port without
}uficient ltfeboat capacity for passen-
eers and crew. Mr.. Ismay said the
BRIDE. would he adhered to even II
passenger lists on all ships had to be
decreased.
The witness said that inspection of
the merchant ships by the British or
American naval authorities would not
be OF any assistance or safeguard in
their construction.
II would dislike very much to op-
crate ships designed by naval con-
structors." he said. 'They 60 about
II In q way different from ours
Mr.. Ismay then was excused, after
Senator Smith had thanked him for
Mis- testimony. He pledged himself
TO return to testify further whenever
the committee might want him. He
left TOR New York at p. m.
II plan to sail for England Thurs
day on the Adriatic." said Mr.. Is
may. Asked about subpoenaes in
damage suits, Mr.. Ismay said he
would ~ IN this country again in .
eew weSies ana that his attorneys