Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-27
Wireless Man Says Distress
Rockets From Titanic
Were Plainly Visible
From Bridge Of Boat.
LIFE BOATS THREE
FEET FROM SHIP
Women Compelled to Jump
Chasm From Deck of the
Sinking Ship and Children
Were Thrown In.

Were Thrown In.
Washington, D. c., April ga
sworn statement that the captain OF
the liner Californian refused to go to
the aid Of the Titanic, although only
few miles away, today was filed by
Ernest GILL wireless operator on the
Californian, with the senate commits
tee investigating the Titanic disaster.
Gill said that the distress rockets were
plainly visible from the deck OF the
Californian and must have been vis-
tble to both the bridge and the look
out.
Captain Stanley Lord Of the liner
Californian, prepared to enter
sweeping denial of the statements OF
Ernest Gill, next took the witness
stand.
Jumped Three Feet to Life Boats.
1t was necessary for women and
children on the sinking Titanic ia
Jump three foot chasm from the
deck to the lifeboats and babies were
tossed into the boats, according to
testimony given to Senator William
Alden Smith. chairman OF the senate
committee by F.aO. Evans. one az the
Titanic,s crew Evans credited THIS
method Of loading the boats with the
heavy loss of life among the women
and children. Evans was examined by
Senator Smith last night and the pur.
port OF his testimony was made pub
lie today.
Evans told Senator Smith that when
the boats were swung out they were
at least three feet out from the steam.
er's deck, which was seventy feet
from the sea. The height was SO ter.
rifying that women refused to attempt
to jump. Several were thrown bodily
across the gap, Evans said, and one
was saved from plunging into the sea
only by her shoe which caught in an
oar lock.
Babies and children said Evans,
were tossed into the boats like sacks
OF grain. There was no other way"
No Lamps In Life Boats.
Senator Smith further announced
that lamp trimmer on the Titanic
whom he examined last night declared
that there were no lights in the life
boats. He said that after four boats
had cleared the ship he went to the
store room and discovered the lamps.
flares and oil there. BY orders from
the captain, he said, he hurriedly
equipped as many OF the remaining
boats as he could.
The other senator's Of the commit
tee put in strenuous night. with their
quotas of witnesses, but none finished
with his share Of the work Of elimina-
ton.
P. A. 8. Franklin, vice president OF
the White Star line, was the first wit.
ness today.
Says TItanIc's Call Was Ignored.
Strathcona, Canada, April 26.- p.
w. Zurich, who crossed from Antwerp
to st. John. N. b., on the Canadian
Pacific railway steamer Mount
Temple, has made a statement here
concerning what was observed from
the Mount Temple at sea the Sunday
night the Titanic went down.
According to Mr.. Zurich, passengers
on board the Mount Temple heard Of
the Titanics distress at 1918 o'clock
Monday morning, when a wireless call
for help was caught. Captain Moore
changed his vessels course at once
and headed for the Titanic. Lifeboats
were swung from davits meanwhile
and other preparations were made for
lending assistance.
The northern course was not held
long, however, says Mr.. Zurich, be-
cause great field of ice loomed up
ahead.
1t was reported among crew and
passengers. according to Mr. Zurich,
that Captain Moore made no further
efforts to penetrate the floes, saying
he could not afford to endanger the
1000 souls aboard his ship.
Lights Of Titanic Seen?
The statement of DR.. Quitzrau that
passengers and crew believed they
could see the lights Of the unfortun.
ate Titanic Is borne out by Mr.. Eur
ich. With two companion passengers
he disobeyed the captains orders.
which forbade passengers entrance to
the upper deck at any time.
He Is fairly positive that they saw
the masts of the Titanic. and he says
he is not ready to accept the assertion
that their ship was at least forty miles
from the wrecked liner at the time.
He thinks the Mount Temple might
have reached the spot before the
Titanic sank, and this supposition, he
says, seems to have been entertained
by others on board.