Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-04-24
lookout on Titanic TestifieS
That If Spy Glasses Had Been
Provided Iceberg Might Have
Been Avoided.
Nh FIRE DRILLS ON
BOAT, SAYS PEUCHEN
Third officer of Liner Tells
Why He Refused to Turn Back
10 Save People PeriShing in
Water.

u,y Morning journal Special Leased Wire
WASHINGTON, April 23. - Like the
missing horseshoe nail that cost a
monarch his kingdom, the failure to
nroyide binoculars or spy glasses for
the lookouts on the Titanic was one
contributing cause of that ships loss
and with it the loss of more than
1900 lives.
Two witnesses before the senate
Investigating committee today agreed
on this. They were Frederick Fleet,
n lookout on the liner and Maj. Ar
thur Godfrey Peuchen, Canadian
manufacturer and yachtsnian, VINO
was among the rescued passengers.
Fleet acknowledged that If he mad
been aided in his observations by a
good glass probably he could nave
spied the berg into which the ship
crashed in time to have warned the
bridge to avoid 1t. Major Peuchen
also testified to the much greater
sweep of vision afforded by binocu-
lars. and MS a yachtsman said he be-
lieved the presence of the iceberg
might have been detected in time to
escape the Collision had the look
out men been SO equipped.
It was made to appear that the
blame for Lsir% without glasses did
not rest with the lookout men. Fleet
said they had asked for the glasses
at southampton and were told there
were none for them. One glass, in
pinch, would have served in the
crows nest.
.MajJr Peuchen criticized in strong
terms the lack of experienced sailors
on board the Titanic. He said that
when the call to quarters was sounded
not enough of the crew responded to
undertake the work required in low
ering and filling the boats. Further
more, he said, no drills had been held
from the time the ship left Southamp-
ton. although it was customary to
hold such drills every Sunday.
Herbert j. Pittman, third officer
of the Titanic, told of his failures TO
turn back the life boat in which ne
and his passengers We're idly drifting,
the Titanic went down.
Shuddering at the recollection, ne
said the cries for help made "one
long continuous moan" The pas
sengers insisted that to go back TO
aid would mean their destruction, ne
said, so that after starting in the d.
rection of the cries he rescinded MS
orders and waited for the dawn.
Twice he begged to be spared re-
cital of the facts, but Senator smith
pressed him.
The opportunities and activities of
a squad of photographers today so
aroused Senator smith that he indig-
nantly ordered them all excluded from
the chamber.
This inquiry is official and
solemn" he said in explanation
and there will be no hippodroming
Or commercializing of II. ! Will not
permit it,"
j. Bruce Ismay, managing director
Df the International Mercantile Mar
me and vice president u. A. ). Frank
In Of the White Star line, urgently |
requested the committee to permit |
hem to return to New York.
In the executive session the COM
nittee declined to allow either TO |
cave Washington until he is no /
onger needed. Mr.. Ismay was TO
have been recalled to the witness ;
tand today. but may be recalled to-
morrow. though this has not been de-
ermined.
Ii was decided to call no more
passenger witnesses until all the
British witnesses are heard.
Major Arthur Peuehen. a passenger
n the Titanic. said before the senate
nvestigating committee today that in
be life boat in which he was the
uartermaster in charge. woman had
, row while he had the tiller steerins
or a light which the major decla:Hi
ID not exist so far as he could see.
he quartermaster refused To turn
bout and attempt to pick up surVi-
ors. said the witness.
When we began TO hear signs of
he breaking up OF the Titanic We
card a sort of call for help aftes the
'histle: then a rambling sound. l
link the Titanic's lights were still on.
hen there was an explosion. then ai-
ther The lights then went out. aut
lese dreadful cries. u frfghtfuAF
ffected all the women in our boats.
Did you see the captain after he
I'd you to 20 below and get through
le window into the life boat7"
No. never saw him after that
DO you think he was atteI.tiVe TO
Is duties before the accident -
Yes. / do"
Major Peuchen said the 'ife beass
was I'm was equipped with every
ing Required. some OF the boats he