Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-25


ed Senator smith.
mo, I didn't. There may be n boat of
that name" said PitmAn.
The Olav locked at New York April
II and is reported to have encountered
an iceberg near where the Titanic sank
1t has been suggested that the Olax may
have been the boat whose lights Fourth
officer Boxhall saw. and which he in
effectually tried to signal with distress
rockets"
| There were five members Of the crew in
the lifeboat commanded by Pitman, who
| testified that he carried 40 OF the passen-
gers. Under characterization he ac-
lights. although the regulations of the
British Board of Trade compelled 1t.
| Pitman said when the ship sank he
| heard four explosions
What were these explosions?" he was
asked.
| II think they were the bulkheads"
! do you believe the boilers exploded %
| II do not. and l was near enough to
! the ship to know
| Ptman said that when the watertight
door lever on the bridge was operated
those on the bridge did not know really
But the doors were of no use anyway"
said the witness.
"Why?" asked the senator.
Because the iceberg had torn out the
| side Of the ship. If the vessel had struck
the berg head-on It would be anoat to-
day"
Pitman said that he saw Mr.. Ismay on
the Titanic when his lifeboat left. He did
| not see Mr.. lsmay again until they both
were leaving the Carpathia at New York.
"Do you think the watertight compart-
ments were locked sccurely?'
Yes. l do---the locks were operated
from the bridge by the officer of the
watch. ! didn't see him lock the
doors but Boxhall did. | saw the
doors operated at Belfast and they
worked perfectly"
COULD HAVE TAKEN MORE.
Pitman said that before his lifeboat
| reached the Carpathia lie transferred
a woman and child from his boat to
boat No. :.
Both these boats could have held
more people. them"
Yes"
Why were not more taken"
There were no more women around
when my boat was lowered. can't
say about No. ."
Were there any men around?"
There may have been"
"Why were not they taken then"
Il thought I had enough when my
boat was lowered" said Pitman Il
can't say about the others think
some of the boats had as many as 60
in them when they reached the Car
pathia."
senator Smith called attention to
Officer Lightholder's testimony that
capsized collapsible boat had 80 per
sons on II.
IF that boat could keep afloat So
men when capslzed. wouldn't you think
The regular life boats would hold
siXty?" he asked.
Eyes. hut there would be no room
to move"
Pitman said that when he saw the light
OF the Carpatha he slipped the rope that
held the two boats together and pulled for
It, This was about four o'clock. he said,
and all the means and cries had ceased.
SAW WHITE LIGHT ON HORIZON.
Did you. while lying on your oars, see
| any lights of any kind aside from those
ut the Carpathia and the other lifeboats?"
Yes. sir. We saw light on the
horizon-a white light"
Was II on the track of the Titanic?"
Yes, sir. but we did not follow f. II
might have been one of our own boats"
me witness said he did not see any
Morse signals on the Titanic but there
were dozen or more rockets fired Sene-
tor smith was seeking to verify Fourth
ofilcer Boxhall's testimony Yesterday re-
Sarding the strange ship that failed 10
lend aid. Pitman said he did not OF his
own knowledge know OF the presence Of
the ship but that he had heard later that
one had passed
Pitman said he looked az his watch &c
the Titanic sank and it was 2:oo A. m.
Did you. when aboard the Titanic hear
anything about your proximity to tho
Frankfurt of the North German LLOYD
or any other ship"
mo, sir"
why did YOU put two passengers from
your lifeboat into No. ~" asked Senator
Fletcher
because No had fewer than and
the passengers wanted to CO."
WAS GOING AT FULL SPEED
The witness said he supposed" the IT.
tanic was soine at top speed when Il
crashed into the iceberg
senator FLETCHER asked II a notice Of Ice
bergs was put on the bulletin board in
the officers quarters
Il think not said Pitman. "All re-
member Is tie indication of iceberes
placed on the chart by officer Boxhall"
The witness said they had the exact
position of the iceberg at the time and
that IT was some distance from the IT,
tanic's course, The information, he said
came In Marconigram from Some
ship
DO you know whether any OF the
ships logbooks were saved"
None. sir
that when the collision occurred the IL
tanic was going at the greatest speed at
tanned during the trip. even though the
ship was entering the Grand Banks and
rad been advised of the presence OF ice
You say YOU were going at 2lh knots
an hour at the time of the accident?" in
quired Senator Fletcher.
Yes sir. We left Southampton under
about 20ia knots which was increased to
81 and later to 2l1a' said Pitman.
Then when the Titanic crashed into
the iceberg 1t was going at top SPEEDY"
inquired the senator.
II suppose SO, sir
w, toll