The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-05-09
SAYS TITANIC WA%x
PROPERLY FITTED

OF inquiry into the Titanic disaster
opened here Friday the Attorney Gen
eIai stated that the owners Of the
Titanic had complied with every re-
quirement for safety.
She carried fourteen lifeboats, two
cutters and four collapsibles, with a
seating capacity for 1,167 persons.
She carried life belts for $500 per-
sons.
The ship was fitted with fifteen
Nwatertight compartments" he said.
and during the voyage from Queens
town experienced fair weather.
The sea was calm, particularly on
April 14th, the day of the disaster.
The vessel steamed at the rate of
twenty-one knots an hour from the
commencement of her journey. So far
as can be aScertained this speed was
never reduced, and she was travelling
at that speed when she struck the
iceberg that sent her to the bottom"
As to ice warnings, Sir Rufus went
on as follows: The Caronia notified
the Titanic of ice at o'clock in the
morning of April 14th and the I'll
tanic acknowledged the warning. A
little later a second warning came
from the Baltic. This vessel signaled
that ice floes were menacing the
southern route"
Lord Mersey here interrupted to
ask: Am 1 right in supposing that
the Titanic ran into a locality where
ice was. after being warned that the
Ice was tnere.
YES responded the Attorney Cen
eral.
TT seems to me-" said Lord Mer-
sey. that the spot Indicated as the
scene of the collision is very close to
the point where ice was indicated by
the Baltic"
Turning to a representative OF the
White Star line, Lord Mersey asked
if that was right, but the steamship
companys representative could not
say.
Lord Mersey continued: "It isn't
the question of the exact spot, but
according to the indications made for
me on the chart by my colleagues 1t
looks to me as though. after being
warned of the location OF the ice,
the Titanic made direct for the dan
ger zone"
After those Interruptions Sir Rufus
went on where he had broken off
when interrupted by the presiding
Il wish to emphasize to the court
the Importance of the fact that, after
being warned of the ice dangers. the
Titanic did not reduce her speed.
More than wireless warning had
been given. Just a little while be-
ships crows nest had sounded three
bells, indicating that the ship was
approaching something.
1T will be shown that the lookout
men on the Titanic had special in
structions to watch for ice, but so far
as 1 know nothing further than this
was done"
Again the presiding officer inter-
rupted to ask if the man who was in
the crows nest when the Titanic
struck and who had rung the three
bells as a danger signal is alive. He
was informed by Sir Rufus that the
seaman still lives.
The Attorney General proceeded:
THE starboard side of the vessel,
below the water line. was struck and
possibly part Of the bottom was rip
ped out"
Sir Rufus averred that, while there
was not much material to open the
investigation on. the best would be
made of what was on hand.
He didn't feel justified. he said. to
refer to statements in press dispatches
until he could call witnesses to whom
the press reports related.
That the speed of the Titanic had
not been reduced after she received
warnings Of ice was held up by the
Attorney General as a point to be en-
phasized. He said that the at
mosphere must have grown colder to
those on the vessel on Sunday as she
grew nearer to the ice packs. AS to
the relative number of passengers
saved among the first, second and
third cabin classes Sir Rufus said IL
would be necessary to analyze the fig
ures of the survivors more closely
before going into this phase of the
situation.
Lord Mersey announced TO the
commissioners and counsel that there
would be no sessions tomorrow. nor
Monday. but that the inquiry would
be resumed Tuesday.
Jewel testified that some of the life
boats were not filled to their compile
ment and that they were not equipped
with compasses. lights nor provisions
when they put off from the sinking
snip.
Joseph Scarrott, an able seaman on
the Titanic, followed Jewel on the
stand. Scarrotts watch was from
to u on the night of the disaster.
Il was on duty" testified Scarrott,
when the three bells, warning us
struck. Soon afterward l felt vi
brasion of the ship as though the
engines had been reversed"
Did you see the berg?" asked the
solicitor general.
Yes, sir"
How high was it?"
That part out of the water was
about as high as the boat deck"
What did 1t look like?"
1T resembled the rock of Gibral-
tar. only. of course. it was smaller"
Scarrott then proceeded to describe
the work of taking off the passengers.
ScarrOtt was put in charge OF one Of
| the lifeboats.
Men Rushed for Boats.
about twenty men made rush
and tried to get into the boat" said
the witness. They were foreigners
and did not seem to understand what
was said to them. / knocked down
three Of them with the boats tiller.
Chief Officer Murdoch came along
and I told him the trouble 1 was hav-
ing. He drew his revolver and fired
| several shots between the lifeboat,
which was swinging from the davit
guys and the ships side, as warn
/ ing.
Asked to describe the sinking of the
/ Titanic, he said: She went down
gradually without pitching or rolling.
/ 1 saw the decks submerged and finally
/ the bridge was covered.
She was settling steadily when the
/ boat, of which 1 was in command.
pulled away. That was about an hour
and a half before the ship disappeared.
We could see people running around on
| the decks as the ship took her final
] plunge. Just as she was disappearing
! there were a number of explosions in
the hull which we heard distinctly.