The Washington times., 1928-11-22
Il BUCKETS WERE USED
To BAIL VESTR|S
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tContinued from First Page.)
couldn't trim. We couldn't use
wheelbarrows. We had to carry
the coal in bags and buckets the
list was so heavy.
Boilers Go Out
AT a a. hi. Monday the steam
was falling off. Later two boilers
went out of commission. At $50
4. m. firemen in the stokehold were
chained TO stancEions so they could
stand to fire the last boiler"
Ra-4'il testified he went on deck
about noon, when the situation was
grave. and got in lifeboat No. 4.
containing mostly women and chill
dfen It was lowered to above
five feet from the water and STAYED
there for over half an hour. Then
the Nestris lurched, went over on
its starboard side and the Iifeboat
was hurled into the sea.
1t was believed today that the
participation In the inquiry OF Capt.
y. p. Jessop and Capt. Henry Nc
Conkey. nautical advisers represent.
ing the United States and British
Governments. respectively, would
aid in producing more tangible re-
suits.
Showed Chaos Reigned
Firing questions made pertinent
by experience obtained. in long years
at sea, Captain Jessop yesterday
drew admissions from Frank john
son, chief officer Of the Vestris. that
the officers were inefficient in the
emergency, that chaos reigned on
the ship after the S. o. S. was
flashed. that the lifeboats were
manned and loaded improperly and
that Johnson was unable to enfcSce
discipline.
Witnesses who testified at the
Tuttle inquiry yesterday were to be
called to the stand at the resump-
ton OF the Department OF Commerce
investigation today.
James Adams. the chief engineer.
questioned by Captain Jessop con-
tradicted testimony from Ford, the
Of the ash hopper could not be
fastened down tightly.
"The screws were a little tight,
that was all'' he said.
What did you think caused the
Vestris to list?" Captain Jessop
asked Adams
THE wind"
Stiil Blamed the Wind
'But after you found there was
water in the coal bunkers?"
II though ii was the wind"
But water in the bunkers could
cause . list?"
Yes
And the list steadily increased
Sunday night?"
Yes.
''Your chief fireman has testified
the list was so great Monday morn
ing that it took four men to get .
shoveIfuI of coal into the boilers"
Adams laughed
The chief engineer then explained
in detail the water and pumping
systems on the ship.
Did the list OF the ship increase
gradually all day Sunday"
No. It was the same all day."
But see you testified the last
time you were on the stand that il
was much greater at night than in
the morning"
"Well, think my first testimony
IL correct
That it increased all day?"
"Yes."
Did you have any conversations
with the captain on Sunday?
About p. m. told him the hop.
per was leaking and there was water
running out Of the bunkers. He told
me to start the pumps. y
II see from your earlier testimony
thet as late as IL o'clock Monday
morning dhe Vestris sank at p. m J
you told the captain you thought
you could keep her afloat. Did you
speak with him before that on Mon
day."
Was Uncertain
About in the morning told him
how the water was and said it was
pretty bad. He gave instructions
about pumping"
Captain McConkey. the British ad.
visor. then asked how the water in
the bi1ge got there.
Adams showed he was very un.
certain about this,
when the ship was listing about
80 degrees" Captain McConkey said
'.ti1e half door about which there has
been testimony must have been con
tinuousiy under water?"
TIES"
'tYou did not investigate" Captain
Jessup interrogatsd, ito find IL ths
water was coming in that way?'.