New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-01
New York Witness Declares Wireless Dispatch
Told White Star Official Early Mon
day of the Titanic Sinking.
REFUSES TO NAME HIS INFORMANT
Mr. smay Points Out Reforms Ocean Liners He Be-
Eeves Necessary as Outcome Of the Disaster, and
Survivors Tell Of Pathetic Scenes When
the Great Ship Struck

ing; that he had anything whatever 70
do with the navigation Of the ship; that
he had said the Titanic would run the
faster because they were in the vicinity
Of ice, and that he had sent from the
Carpathia any messages other than
those which he read to the committee.
Mr. Ismay was examined at consider
able length by the chairman, and later
by Senator Bourne. regarding the imam
cial affairs Of the company Of which he
is the manager. He said he was by no
means technical authority hut he had
ordered that no ship owned by his CON-
pany should sail without sufficient boat
age to accommodate its entire human
complement, which he assumed would
necessitats a considerable reduction Of
the number Of passengers carried.
When he returned to England, MI
Ismay said, the problems Of higher bulk
heads, extending the double bottom OF
ships UP the sides and double hulls
would be considered, and ne believed the
most important lesson Of this disaster
was the necessity OF designing z safer
ship.
Shocked by Pool on Days Run.
Senator Smith seemed 10 DO much
shocked by the statement OF Colonel
Oracle that q pool had been made on tbs
ships run, for the day ending at noon
on Sunday. and asked many questions
as TO whether Mr.. Ismay or the ship :
officers had been participants In this
pool, or had been in q position in any
way 10 profit thereby. Colonel Oracle
replied that he did not know anything
about II. but presumed they had not.
Colonel Oracle told Of the appearance,
Just before the ship sank, Of a swarm
Of persons, whom he took 10 be steer
age passengers, on the after part Of tho
boat deck. the last lfeboat having then
been launched. His story took on an
especial interest when he told Of having
seen at a. m, an hour and twenty min
utes before the ship sank. a party, which
included MAJOR Butt, Mr.. Moore and Mr..
Mllet, the artist, sitting intent upon
what they were doing in the smoking
room. Colonel Oracle did not say what
they were Going, but it is known from
bridge
Colonel G-acie's account ~ his own
going down with the ship and subse-
quent rescue was thrilling. He sug.
geSted 10 the chairman several times
that he would prefer not to give "all
give a considerable number.
II is the opinion OF the nautical author
tiles that the bukheads Of the Titanic
were not sufficiently high, even if they
were closed, to prevent water flowing
over them when the ship tipped a. the
result OF the flooding of her forward
compartments and Mr.. Ismay an
nounced that this question would receive
the most serious consideration when he
was able to consult the technical ed
visers OF his company.
Senator Smith made the announce
ment in order that it might appear in
the record, that the committee was sat-
isfled there was no truth i'm the report
that Fifth Officer Lowe, who is total
abstainer, had been drinking on the
night Of the disaster, and explained that
he thought this report had grown out Of
| the remark that Mr.. Lowe was Some
what Incorporate" that remark having
been made Of his language and not Of
his habits.
With the departure of the foreign Wit
nesses, including Mr. Ismay, interest In
the Titanic investigation has dsap-
peared and If the judgment Of the ma
Jority Of the committee prevails there
Will be no further hearings.
The owners Of the Titanic have filed
with the committee her plans and q
mass OF information which will be
digested by the members behind closed
doors with the aid of the naval author
tiles. preparatory TO the formulation Of
their report.