Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-05-03
TELLS OF VICTIMS
STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
Facts Brought Out by the United States Senatorial
Inquiry May Result in International Con-
ference on Maritime Laws.

81 About half an hour"
e what was the weather.
Perfect" :
WAS 1t good all the way to tine plae,
OF the collision? 2
, "All the way and no heavy sea-"
"Was there a starlit sky?"
Every night and morning"
Duties on Watch.
Asked to tell his duties when on watch
Pitman said he worked out observations
found deviations Of the compass, genera,
supervision around the decks and reiiev,
ing the bridge If necessary.
"Was it part of your duty to drill the
men or 60 through practice with the
menf' asked Senator Smith.
81 merely gave them orders"
The witness said boat drills always
were held at Southampton and Queens
town. The Titanic's drill at Southamp.
ton, he said, consisted of lowering and
lifting two boats.
Anything else donef"
No, OH, thc dIli was W sdJlS1y the
British Board of Trade. We lowered the
boats, sailed around the harbor and then
returned to the ship"
The witness said it was customary
aboard ship to have boat and fire drills
every Sunday. In the Southampton drill
Pitman said approximately eight men
went in each boat.
"Then only sixteen men participated
in this drillf" suggested Senator Smith.
Eyes, SIR
WAS there any fire drill on the Titanic
after she left Southampton"
mo, sir; none"
"Were you on the bridge during Sat
urday or Sunday preceding the acct
dent?"
Saturday afternoon from 10 to T."
said Pitman.
"See amy icebergs or freed icei"
"None at all, SIR"
"Did you hear anything about a wire.
less message about ice7"
eyes, I did; either Saturday night or
morning, when Mr.. Boxhall put
it on the chart" Pitman replied.
'Did you talk with Boxllall or Muir
dock or Lowe regarding the proximity
Of the TitGnic to ice?"
"No."
Asked if he saw any ice on Sunday,
saia no. The fact that the tenn
was lower, he said, would not
Indicate the presence of ice.
Pitman declared in all his navigation
of the sea he had seen only one iceberg.
lie said virtually the only way to dis
the proximity of icebergs was to
see them. Senator Smith sought to
him admit there were other indica.
lions.
Then you are convinced there is no
way of telling?" asked the senator.
There is no other way. Science may
lold there are many ways, but they have
lever been demonstrated"
The witness described a 1O0-fOot ice.
berg in the Southern ocean. Neither
he temperature of the sea nor the tenn
)%erature OF the air was affected by the
great mountain OF ice.
Senator Smith asked Pitman if he
NEW that temperature tests of the water
made every two hours on the IL
yanic's voyage from Southampton.
Yes, sir; it wa the custom"
1T was more than a custom, wasn't
t? Wasn't it to discover the nearness
If iceY'
Not that l know of, sir" ,
Tested Water. ,
Did you see the quartermaster on
he Titanic test the water"
mo, but | saw him preparing to do it
evcral times" ,
You say the fourth officer reported
&c Saturday morning and marked it on
chart with a CROSSE" continued the ,
enator. ,
WAS this mark on the chart on or l.,
ear the ships course?" :
AS near as l can ecollect it was :,
orth of our course" :
Pl.man reiterated statements OF Others '
the Titanic was on her proper .
curse. :
Did You see any ice Monday"
YES. When | was in the hfebnat 90
~ to the Oarrathia | saw several ice .
ergs. There may have been a half :
Oxen of them" d
Were these bergs high above the wa. :
,r?'
About $50 feet from the water" A
a,,'w many OF these large icebergsf" =,
Really, | couldn't say" \
FIFTEEN MORE IDENTIFIED. I