Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-24
BINOCULARS OR SPY GLASSES
MIGHT HAVE SAVED TITANIC.
Lookout Fleet and Major Peuchen So Testify
==Niggardly Policy of the Owners Shown
By the Evidence=-Inquiry Going Deeper.

Pittman said that before his lifeboat
reached the Carpathia he transferred
a woman and child from his boat to
boat No. Z.
Then you think No could have
held more people?'' Yes
Both these boats could have held
more people them" Yes"
Why were not more taken" There
were no more women around when my
boat was lowered. | can't say about
No. T."
Were there any men around? ?"
There may have BEEN
why were they not taken then?n
Il thought | had enough when nv
boat was lowered. | can't say about
the others. | think some of the boats
had as many as SO in them when they
reached the Carpathia."
Did you, while lying on your oars.
see any lights of any kind aside from
those of the Carpathia and the other
lifeboats?" Yes, sir We saw light
on the horiZon-a white light"
Was it on the track of the Titanic? p
Yes, sir, but we did not follow il.
II might have been one of our own
boats"
Senator Smith as seeking to verify
Fourth Officer Bexhalrs testimony,
yesterday, regarding a strange ship
that failed to lend aid Pittman said he
did not of his on knowledge know of
the presence of the ship, but that he
had head later that one had passed.
Witness had watch when he entered
the lifebnat and fixed the time when
the Titanic sank as $50 A. M.
did YOU when aboard the Titanic.
hear anything about your proximity
to the Frankfurt, of the North Ger
man Lloyd or any other ship?" No.
Sir
Not Enough Lifeboats.
Senator Perkins asked the witness
about the Hfeboats and if 1t were true.
that not more than 1900 of the more
than 2oo0 passengers and crew could
be taken care of, even under the most
favorable circumstances. The witness
said that was his belief
why did You put two passengers
from your lifeboat into No. -" asked
Senator Fletcher. Because No. Z had
fewer than and the passengers want
ed to co.
The witness said he supposed" the
Titanic as going at top speed when 1t
| crashed into the iceberg.
Senator Fletcher asked If a notice of
icetergs was put on the bulletin board
in the officers quarters. II think not
said Pittman. All | remember is the
indication of icebergs placed on the
chart by Officer Boxnail
do you know whether any of the
ships log hooks were saved?" None.
sir We had something else to think
about besides log books
BY a series of questions Senator Fietch.
er brought out the fact that when ths
collision occurred the Titanic was goinl
at the greatest speed attained durint
the trip, even though the ship was en-
tering the Grand Banks and had beer
advised of the presence of Ice
| do y0u think 1t was proper to TAX,
/ into your lifeboat two firemen and tw,
stewards?" asked Senator Fletcher. "Yes
| l wanted men who knew how to handI
a boat. At least three of these did an,
1 had one sailor"
Was it part of your duty to drill tn
i
men or go through practice with tn
men?'' asked Senator Smith. mo, sir.
merely gave them orders"
| The witness said boat drills alway
were held at Southampton and a
! Queenstown. The Titanic's drill a
! Southampton. he said. consisted or low
ering and lifting two boats and was t
satisfy the British Board of Trade.
% -Di
aboard ship to have boat and fire drill
every Sunday. In the Southampton drill
Pittman said that approximately eigh
men went in each boat, 16 men participat
ing in this drill.
''Was there any fire drill on the I'll
tanic after she left Southampton" mo
sir; nome"
Were you on the bridge during Sat
urday or Sunday preceding the acct
dent?" Senator Smith asked. "Oh. yes
part of the time Saturday Afternoon
from L to A. said Pittman, who said h,
saw no ieebergs.
Did you hear anything about wire
less message about ice?" Eyes, / did
either Saturday night or Sunday morn
ing, when Mr.. Boxhall put it on TIL
chart" Pittman replied.
| Watching for Ice.
| Witness said he did not talk with Box
| hall, Murdoch, Lowe or the captain r,
garding the proximity of the Titanic
ice.
Pittman said he saw no ice on Sunda,
The fact that the temperature was lowe
he said. would not indicate the presene
of ice.
Senator Smith suggested that tn
proximity of ice was indicated In
number of ways. such as the effee
on the sky, the change in tempera
ture, the CLINT of sun or moonligt
upon them. The witness said virtual
the only way to discover the proxim
ity of icebergs was to see them. Sen