The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-01
Purpose Is to Get at All the
Facts Bearing on the
Disaster.
.nE purpose of the INQUIRY into
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the Titanic disaster now being
conducted by committee of
the United States senate, of
which Senator William Allen Smith of
Michigan is chairman, is to get at all
the tacts bearing upon the catastrophe.
The efrlier witnesses called were Off
cials of the White Star line, which
owned the Titanic; officers of the ship,
members ON the crew and surviving
passengers. Tromsthem the committee
sought to learn tacts and circumstances
that surrounded the progress of the
ship before the collision and what
transpired thereafter, such informa-
tiOn to form the groundwork of subse-
quent sessions, when shipbuilders and
naval architects will be witnesses.
]. Bruce Ismay, managing director
of the White Star line, and Philip y.
S. Franklin, vice president, We're
among the first witnesses, but their ex-
animation was not completed, and both
are under subpoena to attend every
session of the committee.
Some of the testimony has been sen
sational. Herbert G.. Lowe, fifth Off
Ger of the Titanic, told how he had to
use violent language to Mr.. Ismay
when the latter was interfering with
the loading of the lifebOats. Lowe said
that he did not row back to do rescue
work till the dying had thinned out,
fearing the drowning would swamp the
boat
]. B. Boxhall. fourth officer of the
Titanic, declared that within fifteen
minutes of the sinking of the ship he,
with other officers, including Captain
Smith and also several passengers,
noticed the masthead lights and red
side light Of large steamer whose po-
sition seemed to be not more than five
miles away.
Startling Declarations.
Boxhall said that he sent up rockets,
used the Morse electric signal code and
did everything possible to attract the
attention of this steamer. He did not
see her reply or acknowledge any Of
the signals, but he was assured by 9th
ers that she did reply. Nevertheless
the mysterious vessel drew away, TAX
ing an oblique course that soon sent
her below the horizon of those on the
sinking Titanic.
H. J. Pitman, the third officer of the
Titanic, heard, he said, after he took
to sea in a lifeboat, long, low, con-
tinual moan from the drowning people
1t caused him to make an effort to re-
turn to try to rescue some, as his boat
could hold more, but he gave up the
attempt on the protest of the passep-
gers in his boat who said the crowd
would swamp the boat and add forty
to the list of dead. He heard these
heartrending cries for an hour, gra6u-
ally dying away as victim after victim
perished.
Frederick Fleet, lookout on the III
tanic, testified that no spyglasses were
furnished the loOkouts. If he had been
furnished with glasses, Fleet believes,
he would have been able to see the ia
tai iceberg In time for the vessel to
have steered a safe course. He sent
the customary three bells warning to
the bridge and also telephoned that ice
was ahead just before the vessel crash
ed. AS soon as he had telephoned an
acknowledgment was sent back from
the bridge, but it was not until the III
tanic had cOllided with the iceberg that
any change was made in the vessels
direction.