The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-21
tcontlnued from Flrst Pagea

watArIine and was about seven feet
krorn top to bottom and three feet
HMcross.
Scott said the water that came In
Pie half door ran down into the coal
bunkers.
I He testified that to his knowledge
nothing was ever done to stop the
door from leaking.
Contrary Evidence Given
At another hearing the inspector
| of the United States steamship in.
epection service testified in the Gus.
toms house that he had inspected
1 this half door before the Vestris
sailed on Its last voyage and that
/ he found 1t in perfect condition.
Scott said he woke up at ESQ
b.. M. Sunday. The ships list had
increased then, he said, until it
was very bad. United States Attor-
ney Charles futile, conducting the
Federal inquiry, gave him chart
Eby which Scott Indicated the list at
/ $50 a. M Monday was between
20 and 80 degrees.
Did you feel it was dangerous
iist2p
Yes
What did you do?
II went to the saloon. / tried to
get some coffee, but couldn' THE
steam was off in the pantry I lay
/ down in the saloon until 400, when
! the pantry steward ordered me TO
20 down below and help BAN. This
was down by the half door. The
water was then up to the port
In the half door,
On the chart Scott then indicated
that the list had by $50 a. m. Mon.
day. increased to 80 degrees.
Thirty or Forty Bailing
What officer was in charge OF
bafling.''
..The storekeeper.''
How many were there OF your"
Thirty or forty"
How did you bail?"
Eve had chain of men. up the
stairs to the deck. We passed the
buckets from man to man."
How long did you bail?''
Until eight
HAD the list OF the ship in.
creased"
mo, it was about the same. !"
Throwing Cargo Overheard
Scott said that after he finished
bailing he went to the saloon and
got banana He said he noticed
the crew were throwing cargo
overheard. Some of the passengers
and crew were putting on life belts,
so he got one himself, put it on
and stood by the barber shop. This
was about 10 o'clock. He stayed
there until he saw the crew begin
to get down the lifeboats. He said
. this was between 1915 and 1890.
He then got into lifeboat No. on
the port side. He described the
lowering of the boat.
TT stuck on the plates on the
ships side he said. When we
finally got 1t down to about five
feet from the water, we helped the
passengers in"
How many passengers got in?"
Thirty or forty--she was fun of
passengers"
when the passengers got in, she
was five feet from water?'
YES"
How long did the boat stay there
that way?"
Last I saw was when she turned
over. I was forced to jump out Of
the lifeboat into the sea myself.
what time did you begin to put
passengers into that lifeboat?'
66LWGEH
Third Mate Was In Charge
do you know why that lifeboat
was not lowered all way 10 water?'
mo"
'sWho was officer in charger"
Third mate, ! think
us he q survivor"
IT think So"
ANY of the crew in that boat?"
Several of the native crew. two
stewardesses. a fruit man, the chief
/ stewards man, laundry man and his
wife and the engineer in charge and
myself
Gould the people have gone back
up to the ships deck?"
Yes. There was rope ladder"
anybody 90 up?"
when did you last see the car.
tain"
THE last time I saw the captain
he was standing on the side of the
boat hanging on to a rail just be-
fore she went over"
Couldn't Understand Him
Hear him say anything?"
He was shouting, but / couldn't
make out what he was saying"
Scott told of being picked up in a
motor Hfeboat after he had leaned
in the sea. There were only half a
dozen people in the boat and the
engine was not running. No one.
he said. even tried to start the en-
CINE. The boat had a capacity OF
Is people.
The motor lifeboat was completely
equipped, he said, with water, flares.
oars and lanterns.
F1I
the Vestris?" futile asked.
Yes, on previous voyages regular
drill of lowering and handling boats
in the water"
But there had been no drill on
the last voyage?"
mo"
Were members of the crew az.
signed to particular positions at the
1ifeboats?"
No
And there had been changes in
the personnel of the crew since
these last drills; there were new
mem"
YES, some"
Henry McConkey, marine, super.
intendent Of the Cunard Line. who
is British nautical adviser to United
States Commissioner O'Neil. con
Quoting the inquiry, then asked a
few questions to clear up some de.
tails OF SCOTS testimony
futile produced a large printed
diagram OF the Vestris. supplied ~
the Lamport & Holt Line, and asked
Scott TO mark on it the position oi
the half door.
Matches TO the coal bankers
near the half door, Scott COZ nued