Evening star., 1928-11-16
Chief, Next in Line to Cap
tain, Located in Hotel.
Members of Crew Sum-
moned in Federal Inquiry.
EXPECTS TO FIX BLAME
FOR HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE
Witnesses So Far Charge Incompe-
tence and Lack of Discipline.
Wireless Messages Subpoened, as
Well as Lifeboat No. Is Brought
to New York From Wreck.
e. the Associated Press.


NEW YORK, November 16.-
Frank johnson, chief officer of the
Vestris, and three minor officers
were served with Subpoenas today
to appear before the Federal in
quiry into the disaster.
Earlier in the day Federal At
torney Charles H. Tuttle had an
nounced that johnson could rot
be found. Government agents,
however, eventually reached hila
at the Hotel Holley, to which he
had gone after arriving here on 8
rescue ship.
The other officers Subpoenaed
were J. o. Bulger, second officer;
H. L. Welland, third officer, and
Charles verchere, third wireless
officer. The four were expected to
testify this afternoon.
Wants Wireless Messages.
Tuttle said he had subpoenaed
whatever wireless messages, II
any, were sent by Capt. William
J. Carey, master of the Vestris, to
the local Offices of Lamport &
Holt, or from the Office to the cap
tain. and also the files of the
Radio Corporation of America to
determine whether they had sent
any messages to Sanderson 81 Som,
the local agents of the line.
A representative Of David Cook, vice
president of Sanderson s. Son, said that
all such messages could be put on one
piece of paper, and that none had been
received on Monday.
Wants Naval Information.
MFR. Tuttle has also wired the DEPART
ment of Justice at Washington asking
that the statement of the executive
officer of the u. S. S. Wyoming. based
on testimony of survivors plcKeo up Dy
the hattlesf1ip. be sent to him as soon
as ,,ossible. together with the survivors
TuttIe conferred this morning with
five of his assistants of the criminal
division whom he has assigned 10 the
investigation.
TWO investigations of the sinking are
now under way in Federal buildings
here Eight survivors of the disaster,
ali passengers of the Vestris, repeated
under oath at the opening sessions OF
the inquiries charges OF incompetence
and faulty equipment first voiced at the
time of their rescue.
one investigation is that being con-
Quoted in the old post Office before
TTnited States Commissioner O'Ne1l by
AR Tuttle. The other is being held
in fine customShouse by Capt G. T.
charlton and William H Powers, chiefs
of the second district steamship In
snection service of the Department OF
Commerce.
Those Who Testified.
The survivors who testified yesterday
before Commissioner O'Nein are Fred
erick w. Puppe of New York, whose
wife snd baby were lost on the Vestris;
carlos Ouiros. chancellor of the Argen-
tine consulate general in New I0Ik'
.Tore santa Anna of New York and Bra
vii Wallace M. Sinclair of Bound BrooK,
N J.: Herman Ruckert and WalCeI
Suitz. German business men. -.
Those who first appeared at tas
CustomhouSe were 7. 4. MACK "a
Tecla, Wyo., and o. I. Maxey OF Elcn. da.
mono. Va, who were among tne n,oos @
bitter in their denunciations Wnem VlieS
landed from the rescue snip beltnr.
Among their charges made yesterday
were: o+o,,ce
and lack of discipline among ofncerS ano
That two filled boatloads were left
hanging in their davits ana carrlec
down with the ship.
THAT no orders were issued TO DOR
1ifebeltS and that no competent orncerS
were assigned to lneboats.
That some lifeboats were nmpropetiS
equipped and leaked ike sieVes every
seam.
tackle was out of commission.
THAT rescuing steamers passed sew
eral lifeboats, occupants being unable
to signal because of defective flares.
Expects TO Fix Blame.
In a statement at the close of thu
hearing yesterday. Mr.. Tuttle said:
From the testimony taken in today
bearings = it is fully apparent tina
We shall ultimately obtain evidence u
AK blame for the wreck and the grea
loss of life. You can state that this OF
Ace will make every effort to place tn
responsibility where it belongs and u
the extent of ascertainirlg whether tn
United States inspection service permit
ted the ship to leave New York In 81
ltnseaworthy condition.
He said r. was inquiring into re
mort that tfie anti-rolling tanks wer
out of repair.
FASTENING the blame will not be
light task" he continued: "As FAR a
what transpired on the high seas o.
hoard a British ship is concerned, W
have no direct jurisdiction, OF course
hut American lives and properly Wer
lost. and we must determine whethe
there was criminal negligence. II ther
was. we shall determine whose negil
SeI,Ie Most t. of Gt the passengen ho testitie
we're still highly nervous 90 Mr.. Iuttl
said II was probable that few more :
them would be called as ne olo nc
(nf1 4