The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-04-23
LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE Of T|TAN|C'S
VICTIMS PICTURED BY FOURTH OFFICER
SCREAMS WERE
8: :::% .,.I !!ouc !,!!!! M0AN
Officers Stood by in a Boat
But Refused to Try
to Save

Washington, April 23.-The life
and death struggles of the victims of
the Titanic disaster were pictured to
the senate investigating committee
today by Third Officer Herbert John
Pittman of the sunken liner. Chair
man Smith Of the committee pressed
Pittman regarding the scenes after
the sinking Of the ship.
Il heard no cries of distress until
after the ship went down." he said.
How far away were the cries from
your lifeboats?"
Several hundred yards, probably,
some Of them. told my men to pull
toward the wreck that we might be
able to save a few more. The people
in my boat demurred. They said 1t
would be a mad idea."
Did any one in your boat urge or
appeal to you to go back toward the
wreck p
NO"
Did any woman urge you to go
back?"
NO"
who demurred. the men with the
oars?"
mo; they obeyed my orders and
all the passengers said 1t was a mad
idea to go back; that we should add
another forty to the list of drowned.
Then We took in the oars and lay
quiet"
Pittman described the screams as
zone. long, continuous moan" He
said the means continued for an hour
and he made no effort to go to the
rescue.
Senator Smith pressed him further
on this point.
Please. sir, don't" pleaded Pitt
man. II can't bear to recall it. /
wish We might not discuss that
scene."
1--WE must know whether you drift
ed there without offering aid" said
Senator Smith.
II did, SIR"
Boxhall's Story.
Boxhall yesterday testified to the
sobriety and good habits of his su-
perior and brother officers.
you were on watch Sunday night
from o'clock till midnight"
"Yes."
spend all that time at your post? ?"
"Yes"
Were You on the bridge all that
timer"
"No. but most Of it."
do you know whether the officers
were at their customary posts at the
forward end during that watch?"
Eyes, LightolIer was on the bridge
when I came on at 8 o'clock. He was
dock. who remained until the acci-
dent happened"
'Who else was on deck?"
MOODY, the sixth officer"
"Who occupied the crows nest
during your watch?"
"Fledland Leigh"
who else was on the lookout?"
"Was the ordinary complement of
officers at their posts?"
Eyes, sir"
Senator Smith asked If there had
been any one on lookout on the eye
Of the ship.
II don't know said the witness.
Where Is the 'eye'?"
''As far forward as one can get on
the ship without climbing the taft
Did you know Of the proximity Of
mo. sir"
Under questioning however. Box
hall said Captain Smith had told him
of the positions Of certain icebergs
which he marked on the chart.
Tested Sea Temperature.
Senator Smith then asked the wit
do you know whether the tenn
perature Of the water taken from
the sea was tested?"
Eyes. sir. saw the quartermaster
doing 1t. Hc reported to the junior
officer. Mr.. Moody"
ANY other officer 2"
"No. but always q reference for
them to see. The log contained the
temperature"
Were there any additional officers
or members of the crew stationed in
the bow or on the deck after you
went on deck Sunday night?"
'"I don't know that there were
many additional officers or men on
tnsca's the forward deck Just the regular
Did you see the captain frequent
ly Sunday night?" asked Senator
Smith.
"Yes. sir; some times on the upper
denk: some times in the chart room:
some times on the bridge and some
times in the wheel house."
WAS the captain on the bridge or
at any Of the other places when you
mo: first saw the captain about
. O'clock
did you 500 Mr.. Ismay with the
captain on the bridge or In the wheel
mo. SIR; not until after tho aeci-
dent
"Did you know when he dined that
hieut' wnSAe u0 Os10O OV WIN
whom7"
'No. SIR"
Boxhall said he did not believe the
captain had been away from the W.
cinity Of the bridge at any time dur.
ing his watch.
when did you see the captain
ilastf" asked Senator Smith.
When he ordered mo to 90 away
In the boat"
Where were you at the time Of
the collision7'
"yust approaching the bridge"
Did you sec what occurred?"
mo. could not see."
Ibid you hear?"
"Yes, the senior officer said, We
have struck an iceberg"
Was there any ice on the deck ?"
Just little on the lower deck. I
heard the sharp report Of the crash"
did you see the iceberg?"
mo. sir"
Did you strike the bow or shave
"It seemed to mo to have struck
the bluff Of tho starbosrd bow"
Then It was not a square blow on
the bow Of the ship?"
mo: glancing blow"
WAS It q hard compact?"
NO; 1t was % slight that did not
think It was serious"
Boxhsll then wsnt to the bridge