Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-11-16
IN
PROBE REPORT
INCOMPETENCE
Mass of Charges Are
Made In Probe Of
Sinking of Liner in
Stormy Ocean
tBy the Associated PrcssD

tBy the Associated Prcssl
Revised figures issued by Sam
derson and Sons, agents for the
Lamport and Holt line. show:
Aboard at sailing: 326 persons,
12S passengers. 19S crew.
Rescued: so passengers. fss
crew. total III.
Presumably dead; Passengers
6S. crew 43, total Ill.
Bodies recovered: 70.
Missing: 50.
Dead and missing include 3T
women, IL children.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16.-CP)-Frank
Johnson. chief operator of the Yes
iris, and three minor officers. were
served with subpoenas today to ap-
pear before the federal inquiry into
the disaster.
Earlier in the day Federal Attor-
ney Charles III. TuttIe had announc-
ed that Johnson could not be found.
Government agents, however. even
tually reached him at the Hotel Hol-
ley to which he had gone after ar
riving here on a rescue ship.
The private inquiry into the dis
aster which had been started by
Lamport and Holt officials, has been
dropped, said David Cook. managing
director Of Sanderson and Son, the
lines agents. He explained that
the company's investigation was not
regarded as necessary in view of the
board Of federal inquiry.
Six Tell Story
Six survivors Of the Nestris, all
passengers, were questioned In the
first day Of the hearing.
Among their charges were:
That there were general incompe-
tence and lEck Of discipline among
officers and crew.
That two filled boatloads were left
hanging in their davits and carried
down with the ship.
That no orders were issued TO don
lifebelts and that no competent Off
GERS were assigned 10 lifeboats.
That some lifeboats were improp-
erly equipped and leaked like sieves
at every seam.
That in some cases the launching
tackle was out Of commission.
That rescuing steamers passed sew
eral lifeboats. occupants being un-
able to signal because OF defective
flares.
Can Fir Blame
The six witnesses were Fred VIZ.
Puppe, an electrical engineer OF
Brooklyn whose wife and baby were
lost; Jose Santa Anna of BRAID, a
former New York elevator operator
who goes by the name of John San
tone; Wallace NJ. Sinclair, Of Bound
Brook, N. j.; Herman Ruckert, m
German paper manufacturer; Carlos
Quiros. chancellor Of the Argentine
consulate in New York, and Walter
Spitz. of Berne, Switzerland.
In statement at the close OF the
hearing, Mr.. Tuttle said:
From the testimony taken in to-
days hearings it is fully apparent
that we shall ultimately obtain evil
dence to fix blame for the wreck and
the great loss Of life. You can state
that this office will make every ef-
fort TO place the responsibility where
~ belongs and to the extent OF as
certaining whether the United States
inspection service permitted the shin
TO leave New York in an unseawor-
thy condition."
seeks Guiity
he said some Of the officers and
members Of the crew had already
been questioned privately and would
be put on the stand 10 tell their
stories publicly. He said he also was
inquiring into a report that the anti
rolling tanks were out Of repair.
Fastening the blame will not be
light task" he continued. sAs far
as what transpired on the high seas
on board British ship is concerned.
we have no direct jurisdiction, of
course but American lives and prop
erty were lost, and We must deter
mine whether there was criminal
negligence. IL there was, we shall
determine whose negligence it was"
Most of six passengers who tes-
titled were still highly nervous and
Mr.. Tuttle said il was probable that
few more Of them would be called as
ne did not wish TO narass their feel
ings further by making them recount
Continued on page twelve)