The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-05-10
MORE LlFEBoATs FOR LINERS

MORE LlFEBOATs FOR LINERS
Double Bottoms and Automatic Rats
Also Arc Proposed.
Washington, D. C.-More lifeboats
on trans Atlantic liners, an equipment
of RATS that automatically will float
clear of sinking vessel and the con-
struction Of great passenger steamers
with double bulls and extended water
tight compartments-all these reforms
as indicated before the senate commit
tee investigating the Titanic disaster,
will exist 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
would be done. He promised to take
the question up with the constructors
of the big liners as soon as he re-
turned to England.
The head of the most powerful ship
ping combination in the world shared
interest in the hearing with E. J..
Dunn, a New York importer. Mr..
Dunn proved recalcitrant witness.
After telling of information he had
received that the White Star Line Off
Gals has received positive information
of the Titanic disaster IL hours before
they gave it out, he refused to give
the name of his informant.
Senator Smith insisted on knowing
the name Of the persons responsible
flor the statement. Dunn said he re-
ceived it in confidence and had pledged
himself not to divulge the name.
Summarily dismissed from the stand
in the charge of an assistant SER
geant- arms, the witness spent most
of the morning on the long-distance
telephone endeavoring to be absolved
from his pledge.
AS result of Dunn's testimony,
Senator Smith dispatched two officers
to New York to interrogate the Off
cials of the Western Union Telegraph
company, by whom was employed the
man who was said to have made the
statement. Late in the day he
learned that the officers were having
trouble in getting at the facts. AS a
result Smith announced that possibly
he would go to New York and con-
Quoted the investigation himself.
Dunn, the recalcitrant witness, said
that day or so ago friend told OF
the receipt by the Western Union Tel
egraph company of a wireless message
which was transmitted to isle
frank" between 7:3O and 8 o'clock
Monday morning of. the disaster. The
code address is that of P. A. S.IFrank-
lin, vice president of the international
Mercantile Marine. The message, the
witness said he was informed, told OF
the Titanic disaster, news of which
was not made public by the White
Star line until IL hours later.
"What was your informant
name?" asked Senator Smith.
81 can't tell you," replied Dunn.
81 am under pledge not to reveal his
name. He promised to come over here
to testify, but l received the follow.
ing telegram later:
Regret present circumstances dc
not permit departure. - No sigma.
ture."
Ibid your informant tell you why
you should not give his name?"
"Simply matter of protecting his
father. He said his father was en-
ployed by the Western Union and that
if this matter came out and it was
known that he gave it, his father
would lose his position.
J. Bruce Ismay Indignantly denied
he or any representative of his COM
pany had attempted to reinsure the
Titanic between the time she went
down and the hour of the real news Of
the diaster became public. He assert
ed that wireless message which he
directed to Vice President Franklin
from the Carpathia on Monday morn
ing, April Is, did not reach that off
cial until Wednesday, April II.
Colonel Oracle, another witness
said that when he retreated towart
the stern because of the advancing
water, he was met by "mass of hu
manity" swarming up from the lower
decks.
"Among them were many women,
the witness said, although we be
lieved all women were taken off.
4 Plague Precaution Taken.
| Washington, d. C.-To prevent th'
l. q -