The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-04-24
B|NOCULAR MIGHT.
HAVE SAVED
TITANIC
Lookout on Steamship Not
Supplied With Glasses
TESTIMONY AT INQUIRY
Two Witnesses Believe Iceberg Might
Have Been Seen With Aid
Of spyeass

Of Spyeass
New York. April 24.-Like the MISS
ing horseshoe nail that cost mon
arch his kingdom, the failure 10 pro
vide binoculars or spyglasses TOT lle
lookouts on the Titanic was one con-
tributing cause in the destruction Oh
the ship and the loss OF more IMAM
1900 lives. Two witnesses before tne
Senate investigating committee al
Washington yesterday agreed on this.
they we're Frederick Fleet, lookout
on the liner, and Maj. Arthur Godfrey
Peuchen. Canadian manufactures ana
yachtsman. who was among the res
cued passengers.
Fleet acknowledged that if he had
been aided in his observations ny
good glass he probably could nave
snied the berg into which the snip
crashed in time to have warned the
bridge TO avoid it. Maj. Peuchen al
90 testified to the much greater sweep
of vision afforded by binoculars anu
as a yachtsman, said he believed the
nresence OF the iceberg might nave
been detected in time to escape the
collision. had the lookout men oeen
so equipped. 1t was made 10 appear
that the blame for being without
glasses did not rest with the lookout
men Fleet said they had asked LOT
them at Southampton and were toiu
there were none for them. One glass;
in a pinch, would have served IN the
crows nest.
Mai Peuchen criticized in strong
terms the lack of experienced sailors
nm hoard the Titanic He said that
when the call to quarters was sound
ed not enough OF the crew Responded
10 undertake the work required IN
lowering and filling the boats. FUR
thermore. he said no drills had peen
held from the time the ship left SOUTH
ampton. although 1t was customary
10 hold such drills every Sunday
Herbert J. Pitman. third officer OF
the Titanic, told OF his failure TO turn
hack the lifeboat in which he ana his
messengers were idly drifting. 10 at-
tempt the rescue OF others when the
Titanic went down. Shudderins AT
the recollection, he said the cries LOT
helm made zone long continuous
moan" The passengers insisted mat
10 go back to aid would mean their
destruction he said, so that after start
ing in the direction Of the cries, he
rescinded his orders and waited LOT
the dawn. Twice he begged to De
spared a recital OF the facts, but SEN
ator Smith pressed him.
The opportunities and activities OF
SQUAD OF photographers yesterday
so aroused Senator Smith that he IN
dignantly ordered them all excluded
from the chamber. This inquiry 10
official and solemn" he said in eN-
planation. "and there will be no hip
podroming or commerclalizing OF IL
/ will not permit IT," An amateur
photographer managed to slip past the
guard later. but was summarily eject.
ed when he sought to get snap Oh
the scene.
]. Bruce Ismay, managing director
Of the International Mercantile Mar
inc company. and Vice President +.
S. A. Franklin OF the White Star line
urgently requested the committee 10
permit them to return to New York.
In executive session at the close OF
the hearing the committee declined
TO allow either to leave Washington
until he is no longer needed. MT
Ismay was TO have been recalled to
the witness chair yesterday, but may
be recalled today, though that has not
been determined. IL was decided also
to call no more passenger witnesses
until all the British witnesses had
been heard. The committee also de-
cided to delay other important busi'
ness before II until the Titanic in
quiry had proceeded farther.
Owing to the confusion caused by
the rush OF the crowds to the hearing,
the Senate committee determined yes
terday to exclude the general public,
To accomplish this the hearing was
transferred to a smaller room In the
Senate office building. Only witness
es. those particularly interested In
the inquiry and members OF the press
were admitted to the room. The
change caused disappointment "a
thousands. most OF them women, who
made loud protests Hundreds 70
manned about the building clamoring
for admittance. Mai. Arthur Peuchen
OF Canada, the survivor who was or
dered into one OF the llfeboats u
handle an oar by Second Officer Light
olor, was in the committee room. ]
Bruce lsmay and the White Star line
officials arrived early. Senator Smith
announced that Boxhall suddenly had
been taken IN.
Third officer Pitman took the stand
and told in detail his experiences o
n years on the seas. Were YOU
present during the trial tests OF tn,
Titanic? asked Senator Smith. "YeI
sir. | was on the bridge most OF IN,
time" The witness said the testI
consisted Of steaming In circles ant
In performing other evolutlons ant
In adjusting compasses. There wer,
no trials. for speed.
He said that there were no fire
drills on the TitanE after she LEFT
Southampton. Were you on the
bridge during Saturday or Sunday
preceding the accident7" Senator
Smith asked "Oh. yes, part OF The
time. Saturday afternoon from ~ Z
4" said pltman. who said he saw n,
icebergs. ibid you hear anythinI