New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-27
Titanic S Rockets Were Seen
on Californian; but of No Avail
Continued from first page.

ahip firing the rCchelS' Jul wac '''' S"N
eessful Captain Lord had testified that
~. chief officer had reported TO him
that the stranger would not answer the
Morse lamp or pay any attention TO
rs" Evans admitted that Gill had told
him he expected 10 receive $500 for his
,torv of the alleged failure Of the Cali
,ornian 10 heed the Titanic's signals OF
distress.
Officer Tried His Pistol.
Chairman Smith called F. o. Evans. Il
seaman Of the Titanic. whom he had eX-
smined "in chambers" yesterday. TO inc
stand 10 relate TO the full sub-coninll-
TOO certain facts 10 which he had testi-
nad chief of those being that Evans mao
been in the boat commanded by fHli'
Officer Lowe; that after distributing MS
first load of passengers among the other
lfeboats Lowe had selected crew ana
returned to the point where the IltahiS
went down; that after picking up 1ouf
passengers, as was testified to by Lowe
that of1cer had approached the sinking
collapsible and had fired four shots from
his pistol before going up to her; tnaS
be bad then gone In close and taken
twenty-five persons from the collapsible,
which was sinking. her gunwales being
Utmost awash.
In the estimation Of Senator Smith
a.owe's firing of his pistol. first to pre-
vent panic stricken steerage passengers
from jumping into her as, fully loaded
Ahe was being lowered away. and. second
10 prevent, as Evans explained. the pas
,Sengers In the collapsible from rush
ans loves boat" was heinous offence
and display of inexcusable brutality
an the estimation Of men with nautical
experience both acts were wise ano
proper, and loves entire course was
highly commendable.
"The better thought" Of the Senate !:
determined that this investigation, which
II describes as an inquest being helc
over the death Of fifteen hundred peo
ole, shall not be so prolonged as to be-
come ludcrous, but apparently no seem
~ method OF bringing 1t to a close ha
set been devised. Yesterday ever.
member Of the subcommittee was pre-
pared to adopt a motion discharglng al
the witnesses and reluctantly consented
70 abandon their purpose when Senator
Smith agreed to tho method Of examin
ing members Of the crew in chambers, 81
10 speak, and promised to conduct the
. INQUIRY with the utmost expedition
] thereafter.
Some Features Mortifyine.
Of course, dealing with subject Of such
gravity, there is every desire not to pre-
cipitate any contest or struggle which
could be regarded as unseemly, and yet
II Is felt that many features OF the in
curry as now conducted are extremely
mortifying II is impossible 10 foretel
the outcome, but certain it is that al
possible pressure is being brought 4
bear on the chairman TO end the affair
which not the Senate alone but all Other
members Of the subcommittee feel has
served every useful purpose and should
now be terminated promptly. There are
still a number of survivors In Washing
Ton, among them Colonel Oracle, await
ins examination. The latter is under or
ders Of his physician to return TO New
York as promptly as possible. and is
consequently anxious to give his testi'
mony ana nc excused.
1t is appreciated that Senator Smith
is working hard. that ne is seeking con
scientiously TO bring out the facts anc
that he fails 10 appreciate the hight OF
time when he becomes interested in tht
examination of a witness. But 1t Is
realized that he attaches TO various de
velopments of the affair far more i'm
portsnce than is warranted from th'
standpoint Of those who have had nauti
cal experience.
Smith Argues with Witness.
During the examination of Vice-Pres-
ident Franklin Senator Smith read int
the record the Associated Press dispatch
from a Montana newspaper of April IL
arguing with the witness that il the
news Of the sinking of the Titanic coult
have reached a point as far West a,
Montana by Monday morning there va:
no excuse for the White star Line not
having authentic information by thai
time and giving ii TO the public. The
report was the first one telegrap hec
from Cape Race.
Becoming confused by the difference
Of time between London and New York
The chairman then sought first to show
that TIE news had been given TO the
British public before It was given L
the American press, and, having dis
covered that il reached London at q
later hour. seemed to intimate that il
had been suppressed so as not TO affec
the London markets. The chairman i'm
piled severe criticism because cable com
psnies. according to Mr.. Franklin. die
rot deliver message received during
the night 10 the White Star offices un'
III a. m. unless by special order
You mean to say that IT is the Gus
tom OF the cable companies not to de
liver important messages until it suit:
the convenience Of both men TO oper
their Offices" inquired the Senator, in 2
tone OF amazement
He then sought 20 show the existenc:
cable companies and the international
Mercantile .Iarine Company. but sue
ceedsd only in eliciting the information
that Mr.. rankin believed John /
Waterbury, a director In the latter. wa
also director Of one of the cable com
panies, which one he could not say.
The chairman tried TO induce Mr.