The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-04-23
MAN OF The SEA
TELLS HIS TALE
Second Officer Of Titanic Before
Senate PTOberS.
IS GUARDED IN HIS REPLIES

FROM DcCk anu EHSu'Su W. ""''
pool, but Came to Surface and
HeIped Man CoIIapsble Boat That
Had capsized-ismay Testifies.
New York, April 20.-Charles w.
Lightoller, a man of the sea, second
officer of the Titanic, and senior Of
Ger OF the ship, was witness before
the senate committee investigating
the wreck. He told a narrative OF
what preceded the sinking OF the
Titanic, what happened while women
were taken away in boats as brave
men stood by, and what happened
when the Titanic took her last dip.
1t was a story of hercism told quietly
and calmly.
Lightoller said that he did not
know what the maximum speed or
the Titanic was. He had heard talk
ing with other officers and others
that her speed was between 22h and
23 knots; but he did not know that
the Titanic had been put to her max
lmum speed. The builders, he said.
had expected to get 21 knots out OF
her. As to the lifesaving apparatus
on board, Lightoller said that the
Titanic was perfectly complete
Hurled Into Water.
1t was Captain Clark of the British
board of trade. Lightoller said, who
made the examination of the Titanic
before she had been approved by the
British authorities. Senator Smith
Of Michigan, who conducted the ex-
animation of Lightoller, asked him
how Captain Clark was regarded by
officers of ships. lie said he was a
very strict man. Senator Smith
then asked Lightoller If he had ever
been iE the sea with a lifebelt on.
Lightoller said he had.
"When?" asked the senator. After
the Titanic sunk" said the witness.
How long?" From a half to an
hour"
Did you leave the ship" "No,
SIR"
Did it leave you?" yes, sir"
did you stay until the ship sunk?"
"Yes, SIR"
He was asked il the suction Of the
sinking Titanic was a great deter
rent in making progress In the water
in getting away from her. Hardly
noticeable said Lightoller who sup
plemented this answer later as he
made 1t point only to answer at
the time the exact questions asked,
Were the lifeboats gone when you
found yourself without footing on
the ship?" "All but one, which was
In tackle
At this point Lightoller explained
that 1t was the third boat on the port
side which was lowered and had
caught II was impossible, he said to
was managing the tackle.
AT that time, did you see Mr.. Is.
may" Senator Smith asked. mo
sir"
"At any time did you see him.?
81 saw him on the boat deck" Ligh-
toller said, when we started to un.
cover the boats after the impact II
was about 20 minutes after the col.
lision,"
Lightoller explained that at that
time there was no other passenger
on the deck, hut later there were
plenty of them
II appeared that the lifeboat which
| gfnaE IN TX fnat fpnr tho
deck and Iightoller said there was
no opportunity to get to II. The boat
never was lowered. 1t went with
the ship.
Did you believe that the Titanic
was In danger?" questioned Senator
Smith. mo, sir" said the witness,
Did you believe that there had
Been n serious accident" mo, sir,
was the answer with slight emphasis
on each word.
What was tho force OF the impact
when the Titanic struck the berg?'
There was slight grinding, then
shock"
ANY nolse?" Very little"
What time elapsed after the i'm
| yhCl anu your appearance on ueCk
1.-TWO minutes" said the witness.
What did YOU think you haC
Atruck?" Ice"
Jumped At Conclusion.
well, why?" asked Senator Smith
Naturally jumped nj the conclu
sion" said LightolleI. "There wa,
Ice around the banks"
did YOU know that the Amerlk,
had reported to the Titanic the loca
tion OF icebergs in that neighbor
hood?" 81 heard of the message, bu
didn't know that II was the Amer
ika. The message gave the longltud,
but moi the latitude. The iceberg
were reported between 40 and 81"
Did you get from Captain Smitl
that night any information about tn
iceberes" mot that night" sat
Lightoller. 81 think II was in tn
afternoon about o'clock. was o.
the bridge, having relieved First Ol
fcer Murdoch, who had gone /
lunch
Lightoller testified that the vesss
- vnluu ~ h0tUaas snA .