Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-06-05
on OFFICERS OF i: ].
| L! A /: |: IS BLAME BIZ mi !.
Committee Chairman Severe on
Report of Titanic Disaster.
PASSENGERS LEFT TO FATE

PASSENGERS LEFT TO FATE
No Systematic Attempt to Warn Them
55 Of Imminent Observation-Disclosures u
Of English Board Of Trade Sub.
Ject Of Severe Criticism.
/ Warrington, May 2s.-With the ad-
mission that Captain Smith Of the Tt
tanic, lost with, the great majority Of
his passengers and crew when his ship
went down, was not under the infu-
ence of intoxicants at the time Of the
disaster, the report OF the senate was
made. n.
i The committee declares that infor-
nation that there was ice ahead OF the
destroyed steamship was transmitted
to its captain. In it's report it says
that no conference of officers was held
on the subject OF possible ice danger
ahead, that speed was not reduced,
and thatLthe only thing done was to
tell the lookoutato report If the wealth
er should become hhzy and that, IN
this contingency a only, speed was to
be reduced. si.5s Il fjS Il M III. sEgiE2,
II The committee finds that when the
steamship struck no general alarm
was sounded and that there was no
systematic attempt to warn passen-
gers Of their danger. ts
The committee is convinced that
there was an insufficient drilling OF
the crew prior to the departure OF the
Titanic from its home port, that the
ship was taken out for a trial, but not
at full speed, that a few circles only
were made and that it's crew was
taken on virtually only at the last
hour. There is more than an implied
criticism OF the English board Of trade
for granting sailing papers under such
conditions. II Nj 5,,t ltSs
In the opinion Of the members OF
the committee there was a lack OF
preparation for the proper loading OF
the lifeboats with passengers and an:
tother failure ito utilize the boats t.
. their full capacity. It is the, commit.
tees further belief that II the wealth
er had been in the least heavy and the
water had been, rough that under the
conditions existing on the Titanic
many Of the lifeboats would have been
smashed or overturned before their
lowering had been completed.
Many Lives Sacrificed. /,
The committee seems to have had
I no doubt that many more lives could
have been saved II the duty Of the
men in charge of the lifeboats had
been well done, and they had returned
to pick up passengers who had man.
aged to keep afloat after the ship went
/ down. In the cpmmittee's report there
y Is no criticism Of the conduct of ".
Bruce; Ismay, the managing director Of
the steamship company, but Senator
Smith in his speech gave q fairly d.
rect criticism OF Mr.. 1smay. when he
said IN connection with speeding:
1.-THE very presence of the owner
and builder unconsciously stimulates
endeayor, and the restraint Of organ.
Tied society Is absolutely necessary to
safety. ,'' III q. s.s 81
In It's findings the committee pays q
high tribute to Captain Rostron of the
fCarpathia, and this tribute was &C
3centuated and enlarged upon in the
speech of the committees chairman,
Senator Smith. who in contrasting the
conduct fof the Carpathia's captain
with that Of the captain of the Cali
lfornian said this Of the former:
by his utter seize Placement and his
own indifference to, peril. by his
spromptness and his knightly sympa:
thy, he rendered q great service tofhu-
manity He should be made to realize
the debt OF gratitude this nation owes
to him, while the book Of good deeds.
which had so often been familiar with
his unaffected valor, should henceforth
carry the name of Captaini Rostron to
the remotest period Of time. With
most touchings detail he ordered the
ships officers to their stations. dis
tributed the doctors into positions Of
greatest usefulness: prepared com
forts for man and mother and babe;
with foresight and tenderness he lift
ed them from their watery imprison.
ment and, when the rescue had been
completed, summoned all Of the res
cued together and ordered the ships
bell tolled for the lost, and asked that
prayers OF thankfulness be offered by
those who had been spared. 1t falls
to the lot OF few men to perform a
service SO unself1sh, and the American
congress can honor itself no more
nv Snv einrlo act than nv writing into
its laws the gratitude we feel toward
this modest and kindly man"
The committee believes that the
steamship Californian was nearer to
the Titanic at the time Of the disas-
ter, than was admitted and the con-
duct Of the officers Of that ship is con
demned. II Il Il ,S;@ y! 6
In these words Senator Smith
voiced his and his colleagues
opinion in this matter. #. rs,
j y. 7 I.