El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-22

person that we would increase our
speed in order to set out Of the ice
soon, or any words to that effect
AS I have already testified, at no
time did the Titanic, during the voy-
age. attain her full speed It was not
expected that she would reach New
York before Wednesday morning. II
she had been pressed she could prob
ably have arrived Tuesday evening
The statement that the White Star
line would receive an additional sum
by way Of bounty or otherwise for
attaining a certain speed, is absO-
lutely untrue. The White Star line
a fixed compensation of 10000
pounds per annum for carrying the
mails, without regard 10 the speed
Of any of its vessels, and no add
IiCual sum is paid on account OF any
iEcl ease in speed
Did Not Consult With Captain.
I was never consulted by captain
Smith nor did I ever make any sug-
gestiOns whatsoever TO any human
being about the course Of the ship.
ernmOst WestbOund track. of the trans
Atlantic route. The tracks. or lanes
were designated many years ago by
agreement Of all the important steam
ship lines and all captains of the
White Star line are required to nayi-
gate their vessels as closely as pos
slola On these tracks, subject Il tire
following standing instructions
Commanders must distinctly un-
cerstand that the issue Of these regu-
lations does not In any way relieve
them from responsibility for their safe
and efficient navigation OF their re-
speCtive vessels and they are also en-
Joined to remember that they must
lun no risk which might by any pos
slbil1ty result in accident 10 their
ships. It is TO be hoped that they
VIII ever bear in mind that the safety
OF the lives and property entrusted 10
their care is the ruling principle that
eNnf = . r=.--
OF their vessels and that no supposed
gain in expedition OF saving of time
on the voyage is 10 be purchased at
the risk Of accident The company
desires 10 maintain for its vessels a
reputation for safety, and only looks
Tor such speed on the various voyages
as is consistent with safe and prudent
navigation
Commanders are reminded that
me steamers are TO q great extent
uninsured and that their own lveli-
hood as well as the cOmpany's sue
cess depends upon immunity from
accidents, no precautiOn which In
sures SAFE navigation is to be Consid-
cred excessive
The Warning Message.
The only information I ever re-
ceiyed on the ship that other vessels
had sighted ice was by a wireless mes
sage received from the Baltic which
1 nave already testified 10. This was
handed TO me by captain Smith with
me on the passenger deck on the az
TernOOn Of Sunday. April L. I read
the telegram casually and put IT in my
AT about 10 minutes mast seven
while ] was sitting in the smoking
room captain Smith came in and
asked me to give him the message re-
ceiTed from the Baltic in order 10
post IL for the Information OF officers
/ handed IL 10 him and nothing fur
tler was said did not speak TO any
Of the other officers on the subject
The responsibility for the naviga-
ton OF the ship rested solely with
him
1T has been stated that captain
smith and I were having a dinner
party In one Of the saloons from 1880
TO 1870 Sunday night and at the time
Of the collision captain Smith was
sitting with me in the saloon
Both Of these statements are alb
solutely false did not dine with
the captain nor did I see him during
the evening Of April IA. The doctor
dined with me in the restaurant at
go and went directly to my state
room and went TO bed at about 1890
/ was asleep when the collision oc-
Cured / felt e jar, went out into
the passage way without dressing, met
a steward, asked him what was the
matter and he said he did not know.
lAreturned to my room I felt the ship
slow down, put on an OvercOat over
my pajamas and went up on the
II
ask ed captain Smith what was the
matter and he said he had struck ice.
I asked him whether he thought IL
serious and he said he did. On re-
turning 10 my room L met the chef
engineer and asked him whether he
thought the damage serious and he
said he did.
Helped Get People in Boats.
ct then returned 10 my room ana
dressed I had been in my overcoat
and pajamas up TO this time I then
heard captain Smith give the order
to clear the boats I helped in this
work for nearly two hours as far as
CA Judge 7 worked at the starboard /
bows helping women and children into
the boats and lowered them over the
side. did nothing with regard to 4
the boats on the port side BY that
time every wooden iifeboat on the !
starbOard side had been lowered away e
and I found that they were engaged /
boat on the starbOard side. 7 assisted Z
in this work and all the women that /
y ere on this deck were helped into
the boats They were all. think /
third class passengers
AS the boat was going over the /
side Mr- Carter, passenger and my
self got in At that time there wa g
not woman on the boat deck. nor
any passenger Of any class. so far as
we could see or hear. The boat had
between IS and 40 In it. 1 should
think, most Of them women. There
were perhaps four OF five men. and
it was afterward discovered that
there were four Cinnamon concealed
under the thwarts in the bottom of
the-ooat- The distance that the boat