Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-02
INQUIRY ON
Lord Mersey Conducting Sift
of Titanic Disaster.
FEW SPECTATORS ATTEND
Model of Giant Liner Is Displayed
Before Investigators.
TO PARALLEL SENATE QUIZ
Proceedings Promise to Overshadow
in Result Upon Laws ALI Pre-
vious Tribunals.
FEW SPECTATORS ATTEND
TO PARALLEL SENATE QUIZ

LONDON. May 2.-Lord Mersey, in his
capacity as wreck commissioner, and five
assessors who will advise him in his ques-
tloning on the technicalities of nautical
ara1rs held this morning the first ses-
sion OF the board of trade inquiry into
the loss of the White Star steamer II
tanic.
In point Of interest to the public and
the Importance Of it's results upon the
laws governing the mercantile marine
the investigation promises to overshadow
all previous tribunals of similar char
acter. The scene was the armory of the
Scottish Rifles, whose broad drill floor
with two rows of galleries affords ac-
commodation for several hundred per-
sons
The spacious hall was chosen with a
view tO seating an expected crush OF
aud tors, but when the inquiry opened not
more than 100 spectators were present
and the majority of these were women.
The acoustics of the building proved to be
so poor that the early proceedings were
inaudible to the spectators. AS conse-
quence, Lord Mersey recommended that
To Parallel Senate Quiz.
From the series of twenty-six questions
would be taken up. it became evident that
the inquiry would cover practically the
same ground as the Investigation by the
committee of the American Senate, but
would be conducted more in accordance
with the procedure of a court of law and
deal definitely with stated cases.
Eight questions, Sir Rufus Daniel
1saacs said, would relate to happenings
before the casualty; six to warnings
10 q
cautions taken; ten to the casualty itself
and consequent events; one to the equip
ment and construction of the vessel, and
the last to the rules of the merchant
shipping act.
A twenty-foot model of the Titanic car
rying sixteen miniature lifeboats and
big chart of the North Atlantic were
prominently displayed before the investi-
gators In front of the platform which
they occupied were seated 100 members
of the bar representing various interests
involved and 100 representatives Of the
press.
Witnesses Delayed in United States.
The only reference to the American in
vestigation was Sir Rufus announcement
that, owing to the detention of many wit
nesses for the senatorial inquiry in the
United States, the testimony would not
be presented in a logical order. The sea-
men VINO arrived from New Ork on the
steamer Lapland were called first as wit
nesses to the construction and equipment
of the Titanic. Several lawyers repre-
senting Interested parties requested per-
mission to participate in the proceedings.
Lord Mersey recognized Thomas Scan
Ian, member Of parliament for the north
division of Sligo, who appeared for the
-Seamans and Firemens Union, and an
attorney for the Merchants Service
Guild, and took under consideration the
application for representation of the Sea-
farers Union, the Ship Constructors AS
sociatiOn and the Mercantile Officers
Union. An adjournment was then taken.