Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-15
TITANIC INVESTIGATION.


Lord Mersey: .'That was the time
has been heard of the steamer you saw
since that time
Captain Lord replied: That's So
Witness continued:
1T was reported in the morning that
the steamer which had been seen during
the night had fired several rockets, but
saw only one. l thought 1t might have
been a company signal or an acknow!-
edgment of the CalIfornians Morse sig
mails by which we had been trying 20
communicate with the steamer. If they
had been distress signals / should have
heard the reports of the rockets, as the
vessels were only five miles apart. / did
not hear that the Titanic had sunk until
the morning At the time / thought Us
she was reported to be 10 miles away
we might have seen her sinking
Allen Edwards, who is a member of the
House of Commons and barrister, as
representative of the Dockers' Union ex-
amincd Captain Lord in regard to a wire
less message received from til. Titanic
telling the Californian TO shut up and
asked him whether he and his officers
were not offended by that message.
Capt Lord replied that they did not
discuss 1t.
The other officers OF the Californian
we're sent out of court during the ex-
animation of Captain Lord at the re-
quest of Sir Rufus Isaacs. Captain
Lord said that both the apprentice and
Ire second officer who were ON the
bridge during the night. told him III
the morning that the apprentice had
called him during the night and had
reported thai vessel nearby had been
firing rockets and that he had answer
ed their calls. lie himself, however,
could not remember doing SO and in
the morning asked The second officer
why he had not been called The Sec
ond officer said that the lights were
not distress signals
According to the apprentice Captain
Lord, WREN he was called, asked if the
lights were white ones
Sir Rufus asked: why would you
ask that question:
Captain Lord Because tile company.
signals are made with eoiored lights"
Sir Rufus: s,rhen white lights are
distress signaisgr
Captain Lord Some companies use
white lights
Captain Lord Ia reply to his coun-
sci said: while it would be danger
osis TO go through ice, If | had known
the Titanic was sinking / should GER
tainly have done so. although | do not
believe | could have reached her in
time
Lord Mersey requested Captain Lord
10 give the address where he could he
found until the Californian sailed
again.
Gibson, an apprentice on the Cali
fornian. who WAS on the bridge during
the night II the disaster, said that ne
could not see the outlines of the steam
err which was lying nearby. but only
the glare of her lights
Witness said that while watching the
steamer. which was firing rockets. the
second officer remarked that the steam
er was not firing rockets al sea for
nothing ard that she appeared to be
very queer out OF the water and seem
ed to have heavy list TO starboard
He did not think the vessel was exact
~ in distress but was in trouble OF
some sort. He thought she was a tramp
steamer,
Gipsor told or ms reporting the nrlne
Of rockets to Captain Lord.
Witness further testified that at $40
long after the Titanic had sunk, he saw
another rocket.
Herbert Stone, second officer of the
Californian, said that when he took
the watch he could see the masthead
and red lights and a few indistinci
lights Of d steamer about FIVE miles
away. Later the vessel fired eight
white rockets.