New-York tribune., 1912-04-20
jSNAY CALLED COWARD
BY RAYNER IN SENATE
MARYLAND Member ArraignS
Managing Director of White
Star Line and Board.
noUBTS "LAST BOAT" STORY
Asserts All Civilization Will APP
Maud Criminal Prosecution
for the Titanic
Disaster.

washington. April 19-An indictment
,.reIv eoualed in it's vigor Of ]. Bruce
rsr,av. managing director, and Of other
o4,c,als of the White Star Line, holding
,hsrn RESPONSIBLE for the Titanic dis
ester. was delivered in the Senate to-
dav by Senator Isidor Rayner, Of Mary
land who pictured Ismay as "the officer,
rriroarily responsible for the whole dis
sster. who has reached his destination
in safety and unharmed,"
Senator Rayner pointed out that while
there were no civil nor criminal rem
edies available in the American courts,
criminal and civil suits could be brought
IN the British courts, that a Con-
gress committee would have absolute
authority 10 subpoena every one con-
nected with the disaster, and that if any
one should refuse TO answer questions
he could be indicted and imprisoned for
contempt.
'Alr. Ismay claims, according to re-
ports, that he took the last lifeboat!"
cried Senator Rayner. Il do not believe
It; and if he did it was cowardly TO take
any lifeboat, for the managing director
of the line. with his board, is criminally
responsible for this appalling tragedy"
Senator Rayner added:
If this had happened on an American
vessel there would be no question that
an indictment would o. found. and if the
facts were sustained the officers Of the
company could be convicted Of man
slaughter, if not of murder. because the
evidence is clear that the vessel was not
properly equipped with efficient lifesav-
ing apparatus.
have not the slightest doubt that the
northern route was taken IN obedience
TO Mr.. Ismay's direct orders. and that
with full warning he risked the life of
the entire ship to make speedy pas
sage.
/ care not what the rules of the Eng
nsh Admiralty are. Here you have the
spectacle Of the head Of the line failing
10 see that his ship was properly
equipped with lfesaving apparatus,
needless of the warnings that he was
sailing i'm a dangerous sea. forsaking his
vessel and permitting 1900 of her pas
sengers and crew to be swallowed by
the sea. The martyrdom and the agonies
Of separation that took place on board
the sinking ship are too fearful for the
u
Mr. Ismay, the officer primarily respon-
sible for the whole disaster. has reached
his destination in safety and unharmed.
No legislation can bring back to earth
@ single life lost upon that fatal night.
What we can do is 10 help to fix the re-
sponsibility, If possible, and rely upon
British justice TO bring to bay the guilty
directorate Of this company.
All civilized nations will applaud the
criminal prosecution Of the management
OF this line If they can be made to
suffer no sympathy will go out for them.
and II It does IL will be submerged in
the overwhelming lamentation that to-
day re-echoes throughout the civilized
world for the victims Of their culpable
carelessness, a recklessness that sent
hundreds OF their fellow beings into
eternity, desolating ZONES and flresides,
and turned this land into a house of
mourning.
In this hour of our calamity. we ap-
peal to the majesty Of the law to deal
out retrbutory Justice to this guilty
company to the last degree.
Two more bills framed on the lesson
drawn from the Titanic disaster were
introduced in the House to-day. One Of
them. by Representative O'Shaugnessy,
Of Rhode Island, would compel all ocean
going steamships to or from the United
States to carry constant and adequate
wireless. Representative Parran, Of
Maryland, offered a measure to appro-
pirate 100000 for naval target practice
in destroying icebergs by the guns Of
the warships and by dropping explosives
from airshins