The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-14
CAPTAIN CAREY
AND OPERATOR
SINK WITH SHIP
Commander Praised as Brave
Sailor But Blamed as Poor
Seaman
HOPE ALMOST GIVEN UP
SOS Sent "a Hours After
Trouble Developed, Survi-
vOrs State


steamer Vestris sank when only
abort so Of its 1928 passengers and
crew had been launched in lifeboats,
after two boatloads of women and
children had been hurled into the
sea. most of them to die, and while
the rest were leaping from the ships
sides and swimming for their lives
lest they be dragged down with the
foundering hulk.
Survivors told today that the ira
ditions Of the sea had been scrupu-
lously observed as to giving first
thought to women and children, but
fate had turned gallantry into disas-
ter, and they told an appalling story
of inadequate preparation for dis
aster.
The first two boats were filled
with women and children-there
were 81 women and 13 children on
board-and the crew started to
lower away. Then the sinking ship
lurched, the boats crashed against
its side, and women and children
poured into the surging waves. Re-
ports available today Indicate that
all the children perished and but
10 of the women were saved.
Blame Captain
On the whole, the 125 survivors
arriving today on the American
Shipper and the % on the Berlin
agreed that in intention the officers
and crew of the Vestris had been
above criticism, but many of them
blamed the captain, who was lost
with his ship, for indecision, which
they saw as one principal reason
for the large loss of life. believed to
total 1Os.
The ship began to list on Satur-
day night, they said, and its con-
dltion grew more serious steadily
throughout Sunday, and yet no dis
tress call was sent until the middle
of Monday morning. and as re-.
suit no rescue ships were on the
scene until many hours after the
ship sank at l:3O that afternoon.
Many passengers declared that
when the captain did decide to
abandon ship, shortly after the first
SOS call, the tackle of the life
boats was found to be faulty. It
took hours to lower them, the ones
with the women and children
crashed, and another was stove in
and put away with gaping hole
in its side.
Two Boats Launched
Only two boats were successfully
launched, although others broke
loose as the ship sank and were
caught by swimming survivors. The
greater number Of passengers and
crew had to fling themselves into
the water. One man told of seeing
the ship sink two minutes after he
jumped from the deck, and there was
a general feeling that others may
not have jumped in time and were
carried down with the captain.
OF those who did get into the
water and survive the actual sink
ing of the ship the majority Of those
eventually saved were members of
the crew, the greatest loss Of life
being among the passengers. This
was thought to have some explana-
tion in the theory that the crew
were men accustomed to hard labor.
more able to withstand the general
hardship Of those freezing hours in
the waves, and not to any effort on
the part of the crew to take posi-
tions Of comparative safety in the
boats rightfully belonging, by the
law of the sea, to the passengers. J.
New York, Nov. ii (AP) -
Through the joy over the 220 pas
sengers and sailors saved and sor-
row for the 108 lost when the Ves-
iris went down at sea Monday,
strong note of criticism predominant
ed as the survivors reached New
York today.
Stories Of the weary passengers,
some of them slowly recovering
from hours in the water, blamed
Captain William j. Carey, late mas
ter Of the Lamport and Holt liner,
for the extent Of the disaster. Pas
Continued on page sevenC