Evening star., 1928-12-01
vESTR|S INQUIRY
IS CLOSED BY u. S.
Reports of Presiding Officer
and Two Nautical Ad.
viSerS Awaited.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December 1.-THE Fed
eral investigation of the sinking of the
British liner Vestris off the Virginia
capes November IL with the loss of ITO
lives is closed. All that remained today
was report of their findings by the
two nautical advisers at the inquiry
and that of the presiding commissioner.
The advisers. Capt. E. P. JeSsup.
Capt Henry McConkev The British gov
ings Wednesday. Commissioner O'Neill
will make his report later.
In an address at the conclusion of
his introduction OF testimony, United
States Attorney Tuttle reiterated his
statement made at the opening of the
inquiry that it was a fact finding
investigation and had not been con-
Quoted with the object of finding q
scapegoat.
Owners Cleared of Blame.
He said 1t had been made clear that
the shifting of the cargo was not re-
sponsible for the disaster and that the
owners had been cleared of the charge
that they knew of the desperate condi-
ton OF the vessel before the S o S was
sent. He outlined constructive sugges-
tions that had been made in regard to
the adoption of better life preservers
and that all underwater outlets to the
sea be placed in vessels so that they be
accessible at all times One theory of
the sinking of the Vestris is that sani-
tary pipes In the coal bunkers. which
were inaccessible, burst and flooded the
vessel
Mr.. Tuttle criticized Steamboat In
spector Edward Keane for not having
lowered the lifeboats of the Vestris when
he inspected the vessel just prior to the
sailing. The inspector had previously
testified that 1t was impossible to lower
the boats because of the presence of
lighters alongside the vessel and also
read rule Of the Department of Gem
merce which exempted foreign vessels
from this provision of inspection. The
Federal attorney said the failure to iow-
er the boats was inexcusable unless
the convenience of a few lighters Is TO
take precedence over the protection of
human life In an emergency"
Another Phase Discussed.
Mr.. Tuttle also put forward the ques-
tion of whether tramp steamers should
be required to carry radio equipment
after Chief Mate George Harrison of
oIlC CpCu1IiCI bCobIllCQ bLihl Ills
ship was within miles of the Vestris
on November IL and only As miles away
when she sank, yet knew nothing of the
difficulties she was in.
Capt. William H. Coombs, a repre-
sentative of the officers Federation, an
organization of 5000 officers of the
British Merchant Marine, defended be-
fore the investigators the memory of
Capt. Carey and the actions of other
officers of the Vestris He said he had
heard it said in England that public
opinion here would demand Scape-
goat and that he was glad to say Mr..
Tuttle had assured him that was not
the purpose of the Federal investiga-
ton.
Il submit no man will ever know
the cause of her laundering" he con-
tinued. That is the position after 10
days of concentrated investigation. The
captain and officers had perhaps IL
f1ours-not IL hours in the quiet at
mosphere of court in which to solve
the mystery-but tense hours at sea in
raging sea and bowling gale.
These gallant officers, tired and sea-
worn. did their best. a best which I
submit will satisfy their brother sea-
men. who are the most severe of critics
and infallible in sensing incompetence
or cowardice.
Their only offense, if offense it can
be called, was to have lost their battle
with the invincible sea-"