Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-11-15
CREW FAILED


liner Vestris with the loss % more
than 100 lives.
After preliminary questioning Of
witnesses this morning by Assistant
United States Attorneys George
Mintzer and Edward s. Silver, ne
formal inquiry was to open before
United States Commissioner Francis
A. O'Neill this afternoon. Between
so and 60 witnesses had been sub
poenaed for the hearing today.
Although the Nestris was Of Brit
ish registry and the jurisdiction Of
the American authorities was uncer-
tain. il was indicated that the Brit
ish authorities might consent 70 have
the inquiry conducted here. Mr..
Mintzer said he had heard, unotti-
cially, that the British Board ~
Trade had cabled the consul general
here stating that IL the inquiry was
unbiased and exhaustive the board
would abide By IL.
United States Attorney Charles "A.
futile, in ordering the Investigation,
said IL was for the purpose Of re
cording and perpetuating' testimony
Of the rescued passengers n crew
while the facts were still fresh IN
their minds.
Charges Piled Up
The charges piled up soon after the
arrival here yesterday of the steam
ships American Shipper and Berlin
with = total Of las persons rescued
from lifeboats after the British linz
~. bound from New York to South
America, foundered 240 miles off the
Virginia Capes Monday. Early today
the French tanker Myriam docked in
BROOKLYN with 81 survivors, some OF
whom supported the charges while
others denied them or remained ST.
lent. .
The tragedy in figures today stood
At PA rescued, ia missing and pre-
sumably dead. Twenty-Five bodies
had been recovered. The missing
included q women and IL children.
All the children who were aboard per-
ished apparently. Ten women were
saved. Besides those landed in New
York nine survivors were aboard the
battleship Wyoming. which was or
dered to put into Hampton Roads,
Va.
The cause or the sudden disaster
TO the supposedly seaworthy vessel
remained in doubt.
Many Theories
Several theories we're advanced by
survivors. One was that the cargo
matches were not securely fastened,
another that the bow was stove IN
by a mo~untaious wave. and another
that a coal hole was left open due to
rusted hinges.
David Cook. vice-president of San
derson & Sons. Inc, agents for the
owners, the Lamport and Holt Line.
issued a statement expressing the
belief that the cargo Of GRATED auto
mobiles in the hold had shifted.
breaking open a bulkhead and start
ing a leak which permitted the seas
to rush in.
He said this possible shifting Of
the cargo could have been caused by
the heavy seas the ship encountered.
He reported the surviving Officers
as saying that never in their expert
ence had they seen such gigantic
seas.
Deny List at Start
The captain Of the NestriS. William
y. Cary, who might have explained il
all, is dead. Several survivors told
of seeing him at the rail of the ship
as she took her fatal plunge and
then without a lifeboat he either
jumped or was swept into the water.
"Good bye ALL" we're his parting
words as he went overheard.
A charge that the ship was listing
when she left port was made by
Carlos Quiros. chancellor of the Ar
gentine consulate, one Of the rescued
passengers, who said the list became
more and more pronounced as she
continued her voyage south.
This. however. was denied by Mr..
had been inspected three days before
she sailed BY federal inspectors and
pronounced absolutely seaworthy."
Denounce Captain
Most IF the passengers were bitter
in their denunciations Of the ZAP
tain's actions and those Of his crew.
They charged the captain was over
confident. citing his failure to send
out and SOS until Monday morning.
hours after the dangerous condition
had become apparent to those expe-
rienced in sea travel. There were
charges that the crew stampeded for
the lifeboats, that the lifeboats them
slves were u%nseaEorthy and poorly
handled. that partly filled boats
we're rowed cold b~loodedly past per-
sons fighting for their lives in the
water.
Most heart-breaking Of the stories
of the sinking told was that of two
lifeboats loads Of women and child
rem, vhihc were smashed against the
sides Of the ship as they were being