The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-21
SAL ship
ALWAYS
EAKE[)
IN GAL
81 TnternatlonaI News Service

by International News Service
NEW YORK Nov. 1.-THE joint
inquiry here into the sinking or the
Vestris off the Virginia Capes !
week ago Monday resolved itself
into ! question Of yeracity between
inspectors OF the United states
steamboat inspection service and
members Of the crew regarding the
seaworthiness Of the Inflated vessel,
United states Attorney Charles III.
futile and nautical experts directins
the Federf Inquiry had before them
on the one hand the testimony of
three members OF the crew OF the
yestris that the liner had leaked on
her four previous voya ges, and that
nothing had been done to repair the
more than so leaks s
Inspectors Positive
On the other hand we're the state
naents of three inspectors, made
under oath III the customs house be-
FORE board representing the United
states Department OF Commerce.
that they had made thorough. four
day inspection OF the Vestris just be-
fore her last voyage and found her
seaworthy.
They also denied charge that they
had been drinking during the inspec.
rion.
lit was admitted, however. by Capt.
Edward w. Keane, assistant inspec-
tor OF hnlls, that his inspection Of
six or the IA coal ports on the Vestris
had been superficial. Coal stored in
the bunkers had blocked his APP
proach to the ports, he said, and he
had merely examined them from a
distance with flashlight.
Probe COntin les
Assertions have been made by
passengers and members of the crew
that the hold OF the Vestris was
flooded by water from two leaky
coal ports.
The investigators, at loss to ac-
count for discrepancies in the testi-
mony, were determined to get at the
bottom OF the matter and discover
the true condition of the Vestris be-
fore she left on the fatal voyage that
eliminated in the loss Of ITO lives
The Department OF Commerce in
quiry was resumed shortly after 10
o'clock today. The first witness
was James Duffy, newspaper
reporter who interviewed Frederick
Sorenson, one of the survivors.
Duffy refuted the denial made by
Sorenson on the stan6 yesterday
to the effect that Duffy and other
newspaper men had misQuoted him.
Duffy insisted that Sorenson had
charged the captain of the Vestris
and the crew with criminal negIi-
gence." The disputed interview
was given by Sorenson aboard the
rescue ship American Shipper.
John McLain, another reporter,
yesterday testified that the inter.
view as printed was correct.
James Scott, saloon mate, on the
Yestris. who was starting on his
fourth round trip to South America
when the ship sank. testified that
door In the side of the ship al
ways leaked when there was stormy
weather.
Scott was the first witness at to.
days session OF the Federal hear
ing into causes of the sinking.
In previous testimony officers Of
the Vestris said that during the
storm just preceding the sinking a
"half door" in the ship leaked as
MUCH water as could be carried
in a four.inch pipe.
Always Leaked in Storm
ut always leaked in a Storm"
Scott said. "There was consider.
able talk about it among the crew."
This door was in four pieces,
opening outward and fastening with
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