The Alaska daily empire., 1919-01-16
Declares That Every Et- fort Is Being Made to
 Get at Truth of
 Sophia Wreck.
WITNESSES ARE HEARD
The Real Investigation Will Begin Feb. 10th; Rel atiVeS of Dead Are
 Represented.

of the Estebeth, who went to vic toria to attend the hearing that it Vas reported would begin January eth. There was only a preliminary hearing on that date to determine W hat evidence was available and to make arrangements for funds with which to pay the expenses Of wit nesses. The testimony of Capt. Mil Ter of the King and Winge was ta- ken solely because he reported that it would be very costly and incon- yenient for him to go to Victoria at future date. If the officers of the Cedar testify before February 10th, it will be at special hearing held for that purpose.
 "The date for the beginning of the hearing was selected at the prelim- mary hearing January 6th.," said Capt Davis, land the date mentioned, February 10th, was selected.
 "It was decided to ask Ottawa to make an appropriation to pay the xpenses of witnesses attending the 1cdI tllS, anu lO IhOhl AOi lost time The purpose of the Gov ernment is to have Capt A. L. Bell If the Canadian Mounted Police to round up the witnesses in the North md take them to Victoria.
 Hearing Will Be Full and Fair
 q believe the hearing will be full and fair. The Government attorney
 eems determined to probe the mat er to the bottom, and get at the zeal facts surrounding the sinking of he Princess Sophia and the great JOSS of life I did not find the slight est evidence that there was any at tempt or purpose anywhere. to sup press or buy up evidence. Every body seems anxious that the facts should be brought out just as they were
 "The feeling at Vancouver is just as strongly in favor of a vigorous investigation as it is in Alaska.
 'At the request of the Crown At torney Luxton, I gave him the names of those who were at the scene of the disaster Thursday, October 24th, on the morning of which day the Princess Sophia struck the reef. That was the first day, before the King and Winge, which did not reach the scene until ' o'clock Thursday even ,ng, was there That was the only lay when weather conditions were fox h thA of fIa passengers without risk. On that lay the Estebeth reached the scene 1t 40 o'clock in the morning, and he U. s. Army dispatch boat Peter son, was already there and the Amy arrived two hours afterward. Those on these boats will, of course be the principal witnesses for the Govern ment.
 While there is no apparant fear anywhere that there will not be a full investigation at the hearings, nor criticism of any kind of any one in connection with the investigation, here is a feeling at Vancouver that he Princess Sophia should be searched for bodies. The survey that resulted in the report that the Prin- cess Sophia was broken in two and hat the after portion of the vessel had disappeared into deep water was unquestionably not complete, for the vessel is not broken, as l have seen he stump of the mainmast, which is 1 broken off just above the rigging, l and it is in place. The vessel could De searched, and it is likely that | more bodies could be recovered" Capt. MilIer's Testimony Capt. Davis thinks the published l extracts from the testimony of Capt. l Miller probably have caused mis- .aken idea of the facts he presented. of course" said Capt. Davis, Capt Miller was testifying as to condi lions on Friday, October 18th, and not those of Thursday. when the weather was calm. It was very rough Friday Capt. Miller has said that it would not have been possible 70 operate dories between the King and Winge and the Princess Sophia m that date, and that the only way
 he passengers could have been saved would have been for the dories to have been launched from windward If the Princess Sophia, and to have rescued the passengers as they
 jumped from the Princess Sophia Of course this proceeding would have been accompanied by great risk to
 he lives of the passengers.
 Following Proceedings Closely | Attorneys, representing the rela tives of the victims of the Princess Sophia, are following the investiga ton carefully. Attorney Mckay oi Vancouver, formerly of Dawson. is representing Dawson people who are interested, and several Seattle attor neys were at Victoria in attendance at the preliminary hearing. Capt Davis discussed the situation with Attorney Mckay.
 Grown Prosecutor Luxton promised