Norwich bulletin., 1912-04-20

ness of the inquiry by the SenaLe's in vestigating committee into the Titanic disaster was disclosed tonight when Senator Smith of Michigan, chairman of the committee, at first flatly re- fused to let any of the officers or the 200-odd members of the crew of the sunken steamship get beyond the ju- risdiction of the United States govern ment. The men were all to have sailed tomorrow on the Lapland
 Decided to Hold 16.
 Later it was settled that the greater part of the crew would be permitted to sail on the steamer, but that twelve men and four officers among he sur YivoTs HOW under subpoena, together with MT. Ismay, would not be permit ted to depart
 Tho intention of the committee was made clear at adjournment, when, with Alfred Crawford, a bedroom stew ard. or the stand. Senator Smith pleaded weariness.
 'We have been at this all day and into tho night" he said, and [ be- Heve he had better cease until to- mobrrow. l am not through with MT. 1 Crawford yet and would like to Ques- ton him further tomorrow, together with ether members of the crew and officers"
 White Star Line Counsel Protests.
 c. c. Birmingham, counsel for the White Star line, interposed: There are zoo men who are to sail tOmor- row." he said. surely the committee does not intend to hold them? We are perfectly willing to pledge the presence Of the four officers and the twelve men desired by the committee, but these men are entitled to return to their homes.i
 T am not prepared to permit-that,7 said the senator. We cannot say who we may want and they cannot g0"
 Won't Be Responsible for Them.
 "We cannot care for them, then" retorted Mir. Birmingham When the Lapland sails we shall cease to be re- | sponsible for them If the committee l desires to herd them up, very well, but It cannot expect the steamship com pany to care for them except to the extent of transportation of them hack | to their homes."
 1 SeEator Smith declined to recede from his position at that time The | committee then adjourned until fAnaor- 1 row morning. At a conference later l the decision to let the men go ex- cept, those under subpoena, was reached
 Being Rushed at Top Speed.
 The first days testimony brought to | the front the apparent conclusion that l the greatest ship which was ever built "a lifeboat in itself," according l 10 the views of modern shipbuilders, sank In midocean with more than 1,500 l human beings because she was being I 1 top speed and crashed Into & field of tcebergs after warnings had been giv- i en to lookout.
 Thought Lifeboats Unnecessary, 1 That so few were saved from watery 1 graves was seemingly because there was not enough lifeboats on board to 1 accommodate the passengers. There were only twenty Hfeboats because the | 1lIdnlc was believed to be unsinkaaJole. 1 This state of affairs appeared after l the committee had examined today J. | Bruce lsmay, managing director of the White Star lines: Arthur Henry Ros- tron, captain of the rescue ship Car | paul1a; Second Officer Ldghthollderg l of the Titanic, who went down with tho ship, but afterwards was rescued. 1 William Marconi, inventor of the wire less es4egraph; Thomas Cottam inc ! wireless operator of the Carpathia and other survivors from the sunxen ! steamship.
 lsn1ay Anxious to Leave. 1 It was explained to the committee at 1 ton1ght's conference over the question | of holding the crew here that Mir Is may was very anxious to leave at once for Europe because he was worn out l by his experiences and felt the need of i returning quickly to his English home for 8 rest. His pleas, however. were unavailing.