The Washington times., 1912-04-24

An Important Witness.
Hichens, who was in command OF the
lifeboat which the witness helped to
man. Two or three women took turns
at the oars, Fleet said. The women
passengers repeatedly urged Hichens TO
pull toward the shrieking victims who
were begging for aid. but he refused to
listen to them. "
lifeboat was about mile from the IL
tanic when the latter sank.
How do you know" questioned
Senator Smith.
II heard others say so.'
But what Is your own Judgment
Senator Smith persisted.
I he witness caused a litter by re-
plying. IT have no judgment"
Back Over Same Ground.
Senator Smith. who had been absent
for the first fifteen minutes of the
hearing, then took the witness over the
same ground that Senator Burton had
covered. Fleet was then excused.
Senator Smith then took occasion TO
vent his dlspleasure at what he in
ferred was the attempt of certain in
terests to dictate how the committee s
work should proceed.
II want again to state the purpose
OF this inquiry" he said.
| 1T Is to get all the facts bearing upon
| this unfortunate catastrophe. 1t is, OF
! course, apparent that the officers are
not shipbuilders or architects and the
| committee has assumed that II they tell
| all they know of the circumstances that
surrounded the progress Of the ship
before the collision and what transpirc'l
| thereafter that would be all we could
| expect.
''It has been our plan from the be.
ginning first to obtain the testimony oi
citizens of Great Britain temporarily
here. and this course will be pursued
until the committee believes they have
obtained all useful and accessible in
formation.
Smith Is Emphatic.
1T is to the credit of the officers and
crew that we have mad no very trouble
some difficulty in securing witnesses
But from the beginning until now ther'
has been voluntary, Gratuitous
meddlesome attempt upon the part o
cetrain persons TO influence the cours'
OF the committee and to stop Its pro
cedure.
"Misrepresentations have been made
have heard. I did not wish to SUI
poena witnesses whose only story wa
, based on bias or prejudice.
The press he's co-operated In ever!
way to tighten the burdens OF the con-
mittee and to assist In obtaining re
suits.
"The committee will not tolerate all!
further attempt on the part of any on
TO shape its course. We shail procee,
on our own way to complete the record
Judgment of our efforts may be apro
priately withheld until the actual ON
c!al report"
Fifth Officer Lowe Called.
Harold ]. Lowe, the fifta officer. wa
. the next witness. He is a sturdy httl
Briton twenty-nine years of age. VIII
has been on the sea ever since he wa
fourteen years OF age. His answer
were given in a firm, clear voice, j
> sharp contrast to that of Fleet. Whe
told to give his experience at sea. h
said:
= Il ran away from home when ! wa
. fourteen years OF age and shlppe
vessels plying along the West Africa
e coast for FIVE years, after which
$ Joined the White Star line: ! served a
third officer on several White Star YES
sells. l was never in the north Atlanti
! until made this trip. ! Joined the T
n tanic on March q in Belfast. wa
[ present at her trial tests. / was
charge of overhauling the starboar
!. lifeboats. seeing that they were supple
with oars, rigging, masts, provision
4 etc. Everything was absolutely correc
u except that one dipper was missing.
. | personally examined every lifeboat an
q collapsible on the startoard side. TheI
. were compasses and light supplied wit
. oil enough to burn for eight hours.
- |
. noting all of the equipment and Its col
y dition."
l. Tells of Trial Tests.
= The Titanic's trial tests were to hay
been made on Monday, April /. Low
e said; but were postponed until the 70
= lowing day, because of squally weathe
y The witness was of the opinion that Il
Titanic could have done easily twent
four or twenty-five knots an hour M
she been put under forced draft. H
o greatest speed during the trial test
" however. was twenty and a half
% twenIy-one knots. None of the office
- or directors of the White Star line we
!, aboard during the trial tests, exec
It builders of the Titanic, who later sai
:. with the vessel Re helped design.
Ie An Important Question.
ID When Senator Smith asked what
iceberg was composed OF, every o
5 laughed, and the chairman lectured t
l. audience against demonstrations OF a.
le kind.
The Senator then questioned Lo'
m about the temperature when the Titar
II sailed.
TT was about 4S degrees" the witne
ct answered.
e DO you mean 4s above or below
I'd the Senator queried.
Above" answered Lowe, evident
ef irritated by the questioning.
TX Lowe worked out the position of I
Titanic at o'clock on the evening
IN the disaster, and then went OF du
10 He could not recall her position at II
d. time, although Senator Smith urg
him to think hard"
Frequent Tits.
'f- Frequent tits between Senator SIN
sc and Lowe enlivened the proceedin
The phlegmatic Briton often misund
Ter stood Smiths involved questions. Lo
"A recounted the trip to Southampton a
he the sailing. He described fire and II
We boat drills before the departure.
~ No drills took place from the Il
he of departure until the time of the d
aster, Lowe testified.
re- Were the officers strangers 10 es
Ter other?" asked Smith.