The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-04-26
RAYN0R ACCUSES
WHITE STAR MEN
PICTURES iSMAY AS ZONE PRl-
MARlLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE DISASTER"
HELD FOR INVESTIGATION
Holds officials Action Of Getting Into
a Life Boat as CowardIy-Be-
lieves Ship Was Risked to
Affect Speedy Passage.

Washington, y. C. - An indict-
ment rarely equalled in it's vigor di-
rected against J. Bruce lsmay, man
aging director, and other officials of
the White Star line, holding them re-
sponsible for the Titanic disaster, was
delivered in the senate by Senator
Rayner of Maryland who pictured Is
may as the officer primarily respon-
sible for the whole disaster-who has
reached his destination in safety and
unharmed."
Senator Rayner pointed out that
while there were no civil nor criminal
remedies available in the American
courts, criminal and civil suits could
be brought in the British courts and
that a congressional committee would
have absolute authority to subpoena
every one connected with the disaster
and that if any one should refuse to
answer questions, he could be indicted
and imprisoned for contempt.
mr.. lsmay claims. according to re.
ports, that he took the last life boat"
cried Senator Rayner. Il do not be-
~ Clllb IL liz IN " was CONdIuif
to take any life boat for the manag-
ing director of the line, with his board,
is criminally responsible for this ap.
palling tragedy.
Officers Would Be Indicted.
"lf this had happened on an Ameri.
can vessel there would be no question
that an indictment would be found
and ii the facts were sustained, the
officers of the company could be con.
victed Of manslaughter if not of muir
der because the evidence is clear that
the vessel was not properly equipped
with efficient life saving apparatus.
Il have not the slightest doubt that
the northern route was taken in ODE
dience to Mr.. 1smay's direct orders
n that with full warning, he risked
the life Of his entire ship to make a
speedy passage.
Il care not what are the rules Of
the English admiralty. Here you have
the spectacle of the head of the line
failing to see that his ship was equip
ped properly with life saving appara.
tus, needless Of the warning that he
was sailing in a dangerous sea, for
saking his vessel and permitting 1900
of her passengers and crew to be swal-
lowed by the sea. The martyrdom
and the agonies of separation that
took place on board the sinking ship
are too fearful for the mind to dwell
upon and contemplate, but Mr.. Ismay,
the officer primarily responsible for
the whole disaster, has reached his
destination in safety and unframed.
Fix Responsibility.
mo legislation can bring back to
earth a single life lost upon that fatal
night. What We can do is to help to
fix the responsibility if possible and
rely upon British justice to bring to
bay the guilty directorate of this COM
pany.
All civilized nations will applaud
the criminal prosecution of the man.
agement OF this line. If they can be
made to suffer no sympathy will go
out for them and if it does, 1t will be
submerged in the overwhelming lamen-
tatiOn that today re-echoes throughout
the civilized world, for the victims Of
their culpable carelessness-a reck.
lessness that sent hundreds of their
fellow beings into eternity, ~desolating
homes and firesides and turned this
land into a house of mourning.
In this hour of our calamity we
appeal to the majesty of the law to
deal out retributory justice to this
guilty company to the last degree"
Two nor bills framed on the les
son drawn from the Titanic disaster
We're introduced In the house. One of
them by Representative O'Shaughnes-
sy of Rhode Island would compel all
cea going steamships to or from
the United States to carry constant
and adequate wireless equipment.
Representative Parran of Maryland
offered a measure to appropriate
800, 900 for naval target practice in
destroying ice bergs by the guns of
the w%arships and by dropping explo.
sives from airships.
New York, N. Y. - When asked
the circumstances under which he
left the boat Mr.. Ismay replied, al
most in a whisper, One OF the boats
was being filled. Officers called out
to know if there were any more wo-
men to go. There were none No
passengers were on the deck. AS
the boat was being lowered l got
into it."
New York, April 20.-Two different
stories of the loss of the magnificent