The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-14
CAPT. TURNER SAYS
TITANIC WENT TOO
FAST THROUGH ICE
Affidavit From Lusitania's
Commander Presented in
Suit for Damages.
GIVES DETAILS ABOUT
DESTROYED CUNARDER

A deposition made by Capt. Turner
two days before he took tho Lusitania
out on her fatal trip from this port
was introduced as evidence before Judge
Julius NJ Mayer In the United states
District Court yesterday in the proceed
ing started by the White Star Line to
limit It's liability for the sinking of the
Titanic to approximately $4,000.
The deposition was taken in the once
OF Hunt. Hll & Belts. attorneys for
some Of the Titanic claimants. who are
trying 10 prove that the Titanic was
sunk through negligence both in the
construction and navigation OF the giant
ship on her maiden voyage and that
in consequence the White star Line Is
not entitled TO a limitation OF liability
but should be forced to pay the full
amount OF tho claimants demands.
which total about sls.0oo.ooo.
In support Of their theory that those
in command OF tho Titanic should have
changed the ships course after hearing
OF tho presence OF icebergs the attor-
neys for the claimants point especially
10 one part of the deposition Of Capt
Turner, who at the time was in COM
mand Of the Mauritania and left Llv-
erpool two days behind the Titanic.
The witness said he received the same
wireless messages concerning the pres
cncs of Iceberg, that the Titanic must
have received, and Immediately changed
his course, 30 he passed seventy miles
south of the point where the Titanic
struck.
His Replies Humorous.
The attorneys for the claimants then
endeavored to show through Capt.
Turner that the speed the Titanic made
through tho ice fields was much too
fast. The witness was asked II II
were prudent for big ship TO proceed
at the rate Of twenty knots an hour
whom icebergs were reported in the
vicinity, even on a calm, starlight night.
Certainly not" he replied, mot II
the ice IL close. II II is 200 or l.ooo
miles of why. then you can go ahead.
Under other conditions IL would be fool
ish to do So"
Again in reply to q hypothetical Ques-
tlon as to whether 1t would be rea-
sonably safe for a ship under the con-
ditions prevailing In the Titanic acct
Aent to 20 twenty knots an hour, the
captain replied:
Twenty knots through the ice! My
conscience, no."
Cant. Turner's examination by Charles
c. Birmingham, attorney for the White
star Line, produced the following ques-
tons and answers:
@. Ia there not a watch kept when a
ship is in an ice field-two men on the
forecast and two In the crows mes
A. Yes. but the men In the crows nest
1 call board Of trade ornaments Al
they think about is home and counting
their money.
O. Do you give the men in the crows
nest binoculars? a. Certainly not: yot
might as well give them soda bottles.
Q. Have you learned anything more
about icebergs since the Titanic disaster
A. Not the slightest. II may harper
again.
@. Does the presence OF cold wate'
give warning as 10 icebergs? A. 1t hal
no more effect than blister on a woodei
leg
Capt. Turner testified that he had NJ
SeArCnllgntS on MS new snip. tHf
tania that he favored them himself, bu
that some nav!gators wouldn't foo
around with them
Structural Details.
In their attempt to get structural de
tails Of other big ships In comparison
with the Titanic the attorneys pre-
vailed upon Capt. Turner TO explain tina
the Lusitania had transverse bulkhead
from seventeen to thirty-four feet abov
the wateriine. also longitudinal bulk
heads, double skin and watertight decks
II 10 the rule Of the Cunard Line
Capt. Turner. said, to slow down to te
knots an hour In ice fields. dig ships, h
said. were required to 60 slower thai
small ones.
Edward Wilding. one OF the managing
directors of Harland & Wolf. Limited
shipbuilders OF Belfast who construct0
the Titanic. was the first witness in tn
morning. He said he had assisted In de
signing the ship and had visited II
number Of times during its construc
ton. Mr.. Wilding testified that II tn
Titanic had had higher bulkheads tn
flooding OF six of her watertight com
partments would have sunk her any
how. Later on, however. he admitte
that the olympic, which was built wit
the high bulkheads. could keep afioa
with any six of her watertight compar,
ments flooded.
Although Judge Mayer ruled agans
the admission OF evidence concerning tn
Lustan!a as irrelevant. Mr.. Wildin
managed TO slip in his theory that tn
listing Of the Lusitania after il wa
struck by the torpedo was probably du
TO the fact that the double skin OF tn
ship had filled with water. There wa
width OF three feet between the skim
Mr.. Wildng will resume his tes;lmon
at 10 80 O'Clock this morning. Whe