Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-04-20
takes SERIOUS ASPECT
OFFICERS AND PART or CREW
ARE HELD FOR WITNESSES
BEFORE COMMITTEE.
ISMAY TOLD HIS STORY
The Man Whom Some Charge with
Being Responsible for the Dis
nster Had Tears in Eyes.

NEW YORK, APRIL i9.--The ser.
iousness Of the inquiry by the senate
investigating committee into the Ii
tanic disaster was disclosed tonight
when Senator Smith of Michigan, the
chairman, at first flatly refused TO let
any Of the officers or the 200 odd
members Of the crew of the sunken
steamship get beyond the jurisdiction
of the United States government. The
men were all TO have sailed tomorrow
on the steamer Lapland. Later It
was settled that the greater part of
the crew would be permitted to sail
on this steamer, but that the twelve
men and four officers among the sur
vlvors now under subpoena. together
with Mr. Ismay, would not be allow
ed to depart.
The intention of the committee was
made clear wlreD with Alfred craw-
ford, steward, on the stand Sena-
tor Smith pleaded weariness.
I'VE have been at this all this day
and into the night he said, and |
believe we had better cease until to-
morrow. | am not through with Mr..
Crawford yet and would like to quest
ton him further tomorrow, together
with other members of the crew and
the officers"
C. c. Birmingham, counsel for tho
White Star liner, interposed.
Would Not Care for Crew.
sail tomorrow" he said. Surely tho
committee does not intend to hold
them? We are perfectly willing to
pledge the presence Of the four off
GERS and the twelve men desired by
the committee, but these men are en-
titled to return to their homes"
Il am not prepared to permit that"
said the senator. I'VE cannot say
whom we want and they cannot go
"We cannot care for them then"
retorted Mr. Birmingham. when tho
Lapland sails we shall cease to be
responsible for them. If the commit
tee desires to herd them up, very well,
but it cannot expect that the steam
ship company to care for them ex-
cept to the extent of transporting
them back to their homes"
Senator Smith declined to rccede
from his position at that time, The
committee then adjourned until 10
o'clock tomorrow morning. At a CON
ference later the decision to let all
the men go, except those under sub
poenas was reached.
Believed II Was Unslnkable.
The first days testimony brought
to the front the apparent conclusion
that the biggest ship which was ever
built, "a life boat in itself, accord
ing TO modern shipbulders, sank in
mid-occan with more than 1909 hui
man beings because she was being
rushed across the ocean at almost top
speed and crashed into a field of ice
bergs after warning had been given
to look out.
That 50. few were saved from wat
cry graves was because there were.not
enough life boats on board TO accom-
modate the passengers. There were
only twenty life boats. because the
Titanic was believed to be unsink-
able.
This state Of affairs appeared after
the committee had examined today
J. Bruce lsmay, managing director
Of the White Star line Arthur Henry
Rostron. captain of the rescue ship
Carpathia and Second officer Light
holder Of the Titanic. who went down
with the ship. but later was rescued;
VIM. Marconi, inventor Of the wire
less telegraph; Thos. Cottam, the
wireless operator of the Carpathia
and other survivors from the sunken
ship.
1t was explained to the committee
at tonights conference over the qucs-
ton of holding the crew that Mr. Is
may was very anxious to leave at
once for Europe as he had been worn
out by his experiences and felt the
need OF returning quickly to his En-
glish home for a rest. His pleas,
however. were unavailing.
The story of how the Titanic met
It's fate was told today TO the United
States senate investigating committee