Evening star., 1928-11-16
Tales of Horror.

As in the case of other disasters, at
sea and on the land, the stories OF sur
vivors relating to the circumstances
prscedtng and attending the Vestrls
catastrophe vary in minor details ana
somewhat III important particulars.
This is due to the excitement of the
hour of calamity and to the emotions
incident to rescue. These poor people,
saved from the sea after long exposure,
tell their tales with perfect honesty u
purpose. but with some range OF incl
dent and with much feeling, naturally
aroused by their sense of hardship and
Ill treatment
It should not, however, be dlfhcult 10
niece out the true story Of what oc-
Cured on the Vestris before the final
plunge into the sea. Those who arc
conducting the investigation in New
York, which is being held as means
of establishing the testimony while it IS
most fully available, should be capable
of discounting hysteria and imagination
and determine whether the crew broke
discipline and maltreated the pas
sengers, whether the life-saving equip
ment was competent and dependable,
and whether the ship was in peril for
any considerable length of time before
the call for help was sounded.
Thus far there has been but little
variation in the testimony of the sur
yivors, members of the crew and pas
sensers, from a tale of negligence, in
competence, n1ismanagement and tail-
ure on the part of those charged with
the safety of the ships company These
witnesses are testifying under oath be-
fore a Federal court in New York. AS
witness after witness takes the stand
and tells what was seen personally the
tale becomes more gruescme, more hor-
rifying. The worst aspects OF inhuman-
ity are presented.
There are two points to the inquiry
was the ship properly conditioned, and
was she properly manned and ofhcered?
On both points there is now testimony
In the negative. 1t is, OF course. not yet
concluded, but the prospect is that little
will be advanced to show the contrary
of the demonstration Of cranky ship,
badiy slowed, with undependable life
saving equipment, with carelesSly han
died coal ports through which the
waters poured, with an utter collapse
OF discipline in the hour of danger and'
most mysterious of all, the complete
failure of the commanders judgment
and power of control in the crisis.
While this ship was of foreign regis
try, owned by company organized and
chartered in Great Britain, the Ameri-
can Government has jurisdiction over
this disaster in that the ship was oper-
ated on a regular route from and to an
American port. 1t was subject to Amerl-
can rules of seaworthiness. 1t was IN
spected by representatives OF this Gov
ernment. They, 1t would appear, gave
Il a certificate of fitness for sea. Upon
them rests some Of the responsibility
II it should turn out that the ship was
not sound in any particular when she
left port. American official share OF
accountability is inescapable. But Tor
the management of the vessel at sea-
for the failure Of judgment on the part
Of the master, for the failure OF dis
cipline on the part of officers and crew.
there is but one burden Of blame and
that rests upon the corporation served
bv these men who so lamentably failed
In their trust.