The Alaska daily empire., 1920-07-16
WITNESSES SAY RESCUE EASILY
 MADE BY BOATS
Readman and Hamilton Tes- tify Sophia Passengers
 Could Have Been Saved

slight risk to themselves" declared J. C. Readman, who was called as witness before Commissioner Mo- burg, in the Princess Sophia hear ings.
 MT. Readman was called to the stand yesterday afternon following the conclusion of Captain J. H. Da- wis testimony. He stated that he left Juneau and went to the scene of the wreck on the King and Winge on the invitation of Captain Miller, of that boat. The craft ar rived near Vanderbilt reef at or about ' o'clock on the evening of Oct "A, 1918 It was getting dark, he said but the outline of the stranded vessels hull could be made out, and the approximate position of the ship judged from that and it's lights.
 Captain Locke, he said, had spo- ken to no one on the King and Winee, and owing to the darkness 1 and the fact that several other yes sells were standing by no effort was made to approach close to the Prin- cess Sophia on that evening.
 Sea Not Rough
 Asked regarding the condition of the sea on the following day, the witness stated that it was not rough nor was the wind high. He said the dorymen aboard the King and l Winge had stated that it was easily | feasible to launch and operate small boats through the waters of Lynn Canal at any time during the day of Oct 25. It had been the intention of the King and Winge. | he said, to lay by under the reef near the Princess Sophia on the af ternoon of that day, but as those | aboard the former vessel had req son to believe, and as was shortly after ascertained to be a fact, the 1 Cedar had been in communication with Captain Locke, the King and Winge followed the Cedar into the shelter of Benjamin Island and dropped anchor.
 Locke Convinced of Safety After following the Cedar into shelter, Mir. Readman said that Cap tain Miller went aboard it to con- | fer with its captain. On his return 10 the King and Winge, the witness | stated that Captain Miller told him 1 that Captain Locke had informed | the Cedar that the passengers on | board the Princess Sophia were saf- CT than they would be aboard the smaller vessels. This conversation, he said took place about o'clock on the evening of Oct 25. The wind at that time, according to the witness was coming up. On cross examination. MT. Readman said he had been informed that the purpose of sending the King and Winge to the wreck was to help pull the Princess Sophia off the reef at high tide
 c. P. R. Pays Miller
 Do you know anything about Captain Miller being paid anything 10 go to Victoria and give testi- money before the Canadian Royal Commission?" asked Proctor Mar tin. "Only what he told me-" re- piled the witness. Just what did he tell you?" asked MT Martin. That he would get $500 for ex- penses and $20 day for his time, v answered the witness, who also stated that he understood Captain Miller to say that the arrangement was made with a local attorney acting for the Canadian Pacific Rail way Company. On cross examina- l ton, MT. Readman stated that he was not certain as to the exact date of the above conversation with Capt. ! Miller but it was sometime early l in November. Captain Miller, he 1 said, was now owner and operat ed troller out of New York, accord 1 ing to the last information he had of him.
 Davis Concludes
 The examination of Captain Da- wis, of the Estebeth was concluded shortly before o'clock yesterday afternoon. He testified that the Amy did not tie up alongside him at the buoy near the reef, but had desired to do so. He also stated that the stern of the Sophia was apparently afloat at high tide or Oct. "A, but the bow seemed firmly resting on the reef, lacking two and one half to three feet of water necessary to float her
 Deckhand Called
 Lloyd Hamilton, q deckhand or the Estebeth at the time of tho wreck. was called this morning. His testimony, which was not disturbed by cross examination, followed closely along the lines of that giver by Captain Davis. At the time tho Estebeth arrived on the scene, he stated there was a breeze blowing about 12 or Is miles an hour. The sea was not rough, but there was some swell. In his opinion. he stat ed. it would have been feasible tC transfer the passengers from the Sophia by means of lifeboats and rafts from the stranded ship to the smaller boats including the Este beth and Peterson. It was possi' ble for her boats to have beer f,,, ,,l,. eli 11