Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-28
MIGHT HAVE SAVED
ALL SOULS ON SHIP
CONTINUED from First Page.)


ing No discussion took place among
the officers no conference was called to
consider these warnings, no heed was
given to them. The speed was not re-
Taxed, the lookout was not increased"
The committee comes to the conclusion
that the Titanic's lights were visible to
the Californian before she struck the ice
berg and that the Californian must have
seen the distress rockets fired from the
bridge of the Titanic. The report says:
THE committee is forced to the inevi-
table conclusion that the Californian, con-
trolled by the same company, was nearer
the Titanic than the nineteen miles re-
ported by her captain, and that her ON
GERS and crew saw the distress signals
of the Titanic and failed to respond to
them in accordance with the dictates of
humanity, international usage and the
requirements of law. The only reply to
the distress signals was counter sig
nal from a large white light which was
flashed for nearly two hours from the
mast Of the Californian. ~s
Conduct "Most Reprehensible."
I'm our opinion. such conduct. whether
arising from Indifference or gross care
lessness, is most reprehensible and places
upon the commander Of the Californian
a grave responsibility"
The wireless operator of the Californian
was not aroused until $50 am, New
York time. on the morning of the 18th.
after considerable conversation had taken
place aboard that ship regarding these
distress signals or rockets. and was d.
rected by the chief officer to see II there
was anything the matter, as a ship had
been firing rockets during the night. The
inquiry thus set on foot Immediately dis
closed the fact that the Titanic had sunk.
Had assistance been promptly pronered,
or had the wireless operator Of the Cali
at his post on Sunday evening. that ship
might have had the proud distinction OF
rescuing the lives Of the passengers and
crew of the Titanic"
The committee believes many more lives
could have been saved had the survivors
been concentrated in a few lifeboats. and
had the boats thus released returned to
the wreck for others.
The only mention of j. Bruce Ismay oc-
ours in a review of the messages to the
White star offices in New York reporting
the disaster. The first official informa-
ton, the committee declares, was the mes
sage from Capt. Haddock of the Olympic,
received from the White Star line at 6:16
ed to the fact that in the face of this
information message reporting the IT,
tanic being lowed to Halifax was sent to
Representative j. A. Hughes at Hunting
ton, w. Va, at 7:51 pm. that day. The
message was delivered to the Western
Union Office in the same building as the
White Star line offices.
Whoever sent this message" says
the report, under the circumstances is
guilty of the most reprehensible con-
duct"
Holds Wireless Man at Fault.
The committee does not believe that the
wireless operator on the Carpathia was
duly vigilant in handling his messages
after the accident. and declared the prac-
tice allowing wireless operators to sell
their stories should be stopped
1t is recommended that all ships carry
ing more than 1000 passengers have
two searchights; that a revision be made
Of steamship inspection laws of foreign
countries to the standard proposed in the
United States that every ship be required
to carry sufficient life boats for all pas
sengers and crew; that the use of wire
less be regulated to prevent interference
by amateurs. and that all ships have q
wireless operator on constant duty.
Detailed recommendations are made as
to water-tight bulkhead construction on
ocean-going ships Bulkheads should be
so spaced that any two adjacent COM
partments of ship might be flooded
without sinking. Transverse bulkheads
forward and abaft the machinery should
be continued water tight to the upper
most continuous structural deck. and this
deck should be fitted watertight, the re-
port says.
The committee deems the course fol-
lowed by Capt. Rostron of the Car
pathia as deserving Of the highest praise
and worthy of especial recognition. His
detailed instructions issued in anticipa-
ton of the rescue of the Titanic's passen-
gers were "a marvel of systematic prep
aration and completeness. evincing such
solicitude as calls for the highest COM
mendation."
The Senate passed a joint resolution
extending the thanks of Congress. to-
gether with an appropriation Of 1000 for
a medal, to Capt Rostron Of the steamer
Carpathia, and a vote of thanks to the
Carpathias crew.
The resolution was introduced by Sena-
tor Smith at the conclusion Of his speech.
1t was adopted Immediately without ref
erence to a committee.
Safety Laws introduced.
There were two measures introduced by
Senator Smith. In one he proposed a
thorough regulation of navigation by
steam vessels following out the lessons
of the disaster. 1t proposed enacting into
law q variety Of rules and regulations.