The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-04-24

- Wv NMNNLl 04M ILT mUTW
sonsn and sons vcald not leave their
h~n<b.ndk-
Major Peuchen sid that In the NE
eost Tie cuarternasfer IN charge made
n vonsn r0~ while he held the uller.
steering for = light which the major
declared did Nd sxist 80 far n he
could sea Ths quzrtermaster refused
10 turn about and attempt TO pick up
survivors. said the witness
When ne began TO hear signs Of
the breaking up Of the Titanic NE
heard q sort OF a call for help after
the whistle; then n rumbling sound
think the THAMES lights we're still
on Then there was an explosion.
then another. Then the lights went
out. and then those dreadful cries. IL
frightfuiiy affected all the women IN
our boats. At first IL was horrible TO
listen TO. but the sounds grew fainter
and fainter. I think we were about
fve-eighths of a mile away"
He did not see the vessel sink. but
his theory was that the explosions
were above water. caused by the
heavy pressure when the boat start
ed TO dive down by the head.
Did the women row In the boats?".
Yes, and they were very plucky
about II. too. They worked with a
will. One helped me until she be
came i'll from the hard work and
was forced TO cease"
Saw Mrs. Smith In a Boat.
DO o know who those women
were?"
Major Peuchen said. Miss Norton.
of Acton Lane. London; Mrs. Walter
Clark. OF Los Angeles; Mrs. Lucien
b. Smith. OF Huntington. w. Va:
Mrs. Cavendish. OF New York; Mrs.
Walter Douglas. of Minneapolis. and
Mr.. and Mrs. G.. b. Burnham. OF Dem
yer. were among others in the boat.
many OF whom handled oars.
Major Peuchen said the impact was
so slight that some OF the passengers
were o awakened. He said no alarm
was sounded. Two young women, he
said, whose stateroom was close to
that OF Colonel John Jacob Astor.
were awakened by Mrs. Astor, who
led them on deck.
did you see Mr.. Ismay that night?r
asked Senator Smith.
Il think l did. He was standing on
the port side on the boat deck. about
an hour after we struck. did not
see him again until he came aboard
the Capathia."
h major said there was still room
In some boats which left from the port
side and he could not understand why
more men were not taken of.
Major Peuchen told the committee
he thought that II the lookouts on
the Titanic had had glasses the ship
might have been saved from the col
lision.
From what you observed. was there
proper discipline on the part OF the
crew In loading the life boats"
Those Of the crew that saw
working in lowering n filling the
boats couldn't have been better. but
they were few. I vas surprised not
10 see more sailors at their stations,
and also surprised that more people
were not IA in the boats"
The men mad no practice the wit
ness said, the men OF the crew had
told him
Major Peuchen read a statement in
order 70 make clear his position as
follows:
I do not cri iciss Captain Smith.
hut I do criticise the policy and
methods pursued by the for
! feel sure that I'm this case caution
would have averted a terrible calsmi-
". | have been given credit for say
Ing many things absolutely untrue and
wish 10 state that I have not said
any personal or unkind things about
Captain Smith.
j. Bruce lsmay. managing director
OF the International Mercantile Mar
Inc. and Vtce-Presldent p. A. S. Frank.
lin. OF the White Star line. urgently
requested the committee 10 pern,;
them 10 return 10 New York.
In executive sessiAn at the clors OF
the hearing. the committee declined 10
let them leave Washington until they
are TO longer needed. Mr.. Ismay was
10 have been recalled 10 the witness
chair today. but ma be recalled TO
morrow. though that has not been de-
termined.
II was decided also 10 call no more
passengers as witnesses until ali the
British Witnesses had been heard. The
committee also decided 10 delay other
important business before Il until the
Titanic inquiry had proceeded father.