The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-05-02

WASHINGTON, d. c. Special
What ship lay by within five miles of
where the Titanic was settling into
her ocean grave with more than l.
| 500 souls. calmly watched her frantic
distress signals, ignored the rockets
! that she sent up implOring aid. and
| then sailed away on her course with
out an attempt at rescue or even an
| answer?
This was one of the many mysteries
surrounding the loss of the giant
/ White Star liner that confronted the
\ United States Senate committee PROB
| ing the Grand Banks disaster. when
| it met here again today.
/ The startling news that the vessel
/ stood up while the Titanic was flash
! ing out calls for help and offered no
tee by J. Il. BoXhall, fourth officer of
| the Titanic.
He swore under oath that both he
| and Captain +. J. Smith. of the White
Star ship, and other officers distinct
ly saw the red lights of the ship in
the distance.
The passing vessel. after going
by, steamed off into the darkness,
leaving the Titanic to her fate.
! Fourth Officer BoXhall was told by
the committee to present himself
again before the committee today to
supplement his story.
The story of BoXhall bears out ac-
counts of a number of survivors, who
declared from their lifeboats they
could easily make out the mast lights
of a ship and tried TO row towards
her. but the vessel drew away and
disappeared.
In anticipation of a continuation of
the thrilling testimony of the foun-
dering Of the great liner. bigger
crowds than damned the Senate Of
flee building yesterday were on hand
long before the doors of the marble
caucus room. where the sittings are
held, were thrown open.
A notable feature today was the
great number of women in the throng.
In the crush were many distinguish ed
society peopie-wives and daughters
of congressman. Cabinet members and
members OF the diplomatic corps
BOxhalI Is Ill.
When the committee session began
today Senator Smith. chairman of the
investigating committee. announced
that it had been the intention to re-
sumo with the testimony Of Fourth
officer ]. G.. Boxhall. Of the Titanic.
That officer. however. is i'll and un-
able TO appear. as was indicated by
the certificate of his physician. DR..
Charles c. Marbury.
Herbert ]. Pittman. third officer %
the Titanic. then was called as the
first witness.
Pittman has been a mariner for
seventeen years. five of which were
spent with the White Star liners Del
,
was berthed on the Titanic.
He said he was on the bridge OF
the Inflated ship during her trials in
Belfast lock and on the open sea be-
: fore she was accepted by the White
Star officials.
In answer to questions by Senator
Smith he said the tests consisted OF
evolutions-perform circles. steam
p ing and adjusting compasses. The tests
! lasted about eight hours.
| - 9
, A don't think so. l understand
the White Star Line didn't have any
- speed tests
Witness told further of the tests a
the time and then of the trip Il
70 Southampton. He did not know thu
2 general officers of the White Stal
[ Line and so could not say whether Of
not they were present at the tests. HI
$ described the departure of the Titanic
r from Southampton. including tn
! breaking of the New York from he
- moorings by the backwater of tn,
? Titanic. That was nothing serious
: he said. The weather was perfec
q from the time of leaving Southamp
!. ton, no heavy seas. and the sky wa
= starlit he declared. Only three Off
GERS beside himself survived the Tt
q tanic disaster.
p Test of Boats.
!, What were your duties aboard tn
!. ship" asked Senator Smith.
n A. Working out observations. su
pervising around the decks and look
ing out fore and aft
9. Was il part OF your duties t
drill the men?
A. No. not exactly. I gave then
their work.
Pittman testified there was no spec
flied time for boat drills. but the Brit
ish Board of Trade regulations re
quired boat drills on leaving South
ampton, and that usually a boat dri
was held on leaving Queenstown. II
continued:
THE tests consisted of lowering tw
or three boats and rowing off to sat
isfy the board of trade that the boat
were all right"
Q. How many boats we're lowere
A. Two, from the starboard side.
Q. What was done at the drill?
A. Nothing more than lowerin
boats and rowing around the harbor.
The witness said there were approx
mately eight men in each boat.
Q. Were there any other drills g
any time during the voyage?
A. No, sir. The drill at Queenstow
customary to hold boat drills ever
Sunday, if the weather permits
Witness said there was no test mad
of the collapsibles.
At the Southampton tests the fit
and sixth officers were in charge of tn
boat.
Every man in the crew had his pal
ticular station on the Titanic WitneS
was assigned to No. 8 lifeboat on tn
Titanic when on watch, both for bos
that he enter that boat; he had simpl
supervision over It.
There was no fire drill on the Titan
on the trip.