New Britain herald., 1928-11-22

NEW BRITAIN U4 testified carly in tho hearing.
 He said that on the night of the day the Vestris sank he went to the Lamport & Holt line to ask about 8 friend on the Vestris.
 He was told, he said. that the of flee was exhausted because they had been working on the case for 74 hours.
 He quoted m assistant manager as saying two airplanes had bsen sent to the rescue of the Vestris pas sengers.
 Told All Were Safe
 Mn. Tilford then testified to be- ing at the Lamport & Holt office at : o'clock Monday night and being told all tho passengers were safe.
 She also quoted officials as saying the force had been working all Sum- day night and Monday.
 Previous testimony has indicated that the line knew nothing of the Vestris distress until after the sos. was sent out Monday morning.
 Chas. Gery., assistant passenger traffic manager of the Lamport < Holt line next said he had some rec ,ollectlon of speaking to Tilford.
 T really don't recall the conver- sation at all." he said.
 T don't remember saying any thing of working Sunday night and I know I said nothing of any air. planes being sent out"
 He said he was not at the office from Saturday noon until g .. m. Monday morning and heard nothing about the Vestris until about 10:15 a. m. Monday.
 Were you the first in your office to learn of the sOs.?" Futile asked.
 Apparently l was. l heard from some newspapers that called up"
 A Lamport < Holt clerk waz called and remembered seeing the Tilfords. but said he told them none of the things they said they were told.
 Captain Bandre Called
 Captain William Bandra. who pre- ceded Cptain William Carey as mas ter Of the Vestris, was the next witt ness.
 He commanded the Vestris from Sept. 21 to November of this year. The ship sailed on its last voyage on November 10.
 She was a seaworthy ship" he said.
 Had you been in severe storms with herr" Futile asked.
 "On ono trip"
 Were any reports made to you of leaks?"
 Never"
 Did you ever inspect the life boats personality"
 We had a drill on each trip. swinging the boats out empty but not lowering them into the sea
 Captain Bandra said he was still in command of the Vestris when it underwent its inspection before sail ing on its last voyage.
 He said the ship was undamaged by | slight contact with freight CT in the harbor.
 Knew Carey We'll
 How long had you known Cap tain Carey?" Futile asked.
 "Oh. 20 years.'
 What was his reputation as | captain?"
 An excellent seaman"
 If reports about needed repairi were made by members of the crew of . ship you commanded. who would they 70 to-"
 To the head of this department and If they were important to me ., to the superintendent ashore"
 Were any reports given to the superintendent after your last trip?'
 T believe so-by the chief officer who is now in England"
 When did he sail for EnSland?' ?'
 November 10. the same day the Vestris sailed"
 What was hts reputation?"
 Good"
 Cause still Unknown
 As the federal inquiry entered its seventh day today. officials said they still were in the dark as to what caused the ship to sink.
 How a thousand tons or more of sea water got into the ship beyond what was pumped out still is a mys- tery to us despite all this testimony Captain J. A. Jessup. American naut- ical adviser at the inquiry said. "The complete saturation of the coal bunkers is the explanation of the loss of the ship, but the court has been unable to learn how such a great quantity of water got in there. The various leaks described by the chief engineer and others do not give us the key'
 United States Attorney Charles H. Futile, eoncurred in this view. say ing:
 "It still remains unexplainable. We shall have to go further. am con- vinced. into the leaks through the rows of portholes on tho starboard side. We had testimony that water tountained in through them. We had evidence also, only yesterday (Tues- day) that tho need for the repair of these ports had been reported in writing, We do not learn that the repairs ever were made by the line"
 As the inquiry before United States Commissioner O'Neill, Captain Jes- sup and Captain McConkey, the nautical adviser appointed by the British government, proceeded through its sixth day, The investigat- ors of tho United States Steamboat Inspection also questioned passen- gers. inspectors and members of the crew.
 John J. Short. surveyor for Lloyd's Of London. the Maritime Insurance | rency that handled the VeStris ac-