New Britain herald., 1930-04-30
.SEAMEN DESCRIBE THAMES DISASTER
Captain and Other Survivors
 Saw No Negligence On Ship

New Haven, April 30 P)-The story of the burning of the freighter Thames in Long Island sound, last week with a loss of 16 lives was told to the United States Steamboat in spection board here today.
 Two minutes after fire was dis covered in the boiler room, Captain Robert Sherman, of Stratford, testi- fled, the crew of o6 men went over board in two life boats, both of which capsized as they struck the water. Ten were rescued, nine by the steamer Lexington.
 The chief engineer, his assistant and the second mate told the board that everything humanely possible was done in these scant minutes. In their opinion there was no negli- gence. The cause of the blaze they did not know but according to Captain Sherman, the cargo con- sisted of highly infammablc ma terial, motor oil and excelsior and 20 tons of sugar.
 Speed Overturned Boats
 Unablc to reach the throttle in the engine room, the freighter was proceeding at slow speed when the life boats hit the water. And this, it was testified, was tho reason they turned over.
 Only one or two of tho men wore life belts, but Louis Hubbell of New Haven, the assistant engineer testi- fed that although he had none he had ample time to get one had he thought of it.
 The fire was discovered when the Thames was abreast of Captains 1s- land at 7:45 D. m. and those who were rescued were picked up after they had been in the water more than an hour.
 Captain Sherman told the board that he was in the dining room when the chief engineer ran on deck and reported the fire. He said he investigated and saw the flames and dense smoke coming from the boiler room.
 Calling to his men to start the pumps, hc ordered the vessel haul cd into the wind. Then he said he took charge of the pilot house and rang the bell for slow speed and later rang the signal for it to be stopped.
 As the smoke increased the cap tain said he sounded tho Thames whistle for help and then he was forced out of the pilot house near ly overcome.
 When l saw no hope. l ordered the crew to the boats. Not two min utes had elapsed" Captain Sherman said.
 The fire was burning at their heels as the crew went over the side, he testified.
 Boat Immediately Overturned
 As the lifeboat he was in touch cd the water, it capsized, due, he said, to the speed of the moving boat.
 When Chief Engineer Clarence Tibbetts of Bridgeport was called, he testified he had heard only the signal to slow the speed of the Thames. But even had he heard the second bell, he said it would have been impossible to enter the engine room again.
 Captain Sherman said that at the time he blew the ships whistle to attract attention, various boats in- cluding the Lexington, were in the vicinity. Engineer Tibbetts told the board that Oiler John MacNamara discovered the fire in the top fire room and warned him. Tibbets> said he then ran on deck and spread the alarm.
 After returning to slow the boat, hc went back on deck and took to a boat.
 In his opinion, everyone got off the Thames. In answer to direct question by Commissioner A. R. Chapman, Tibbetts said he knew of no negligence on the part of any swer was given by his assistant, Hubbell. who gave a graphic ac- count of hanging on the keel of the overturned life boat until he was rescued an hour or so later.
 Hubbell and William De Bore ct New York, second mate, described the loading of their life boat, saying most of the men got in at the main deck.
 Oiler Not Seen Again
 One man, Oiler MacNamara re- mained on the top deck while the boat was being lowered. No one saw him after that.
 De Bore said there were 13 men in their boat none of which were rescued. In the other boat only one of the crew, Tibbetts, was saved.
 He testified that he went to the forecastlc and found that all men off duty had left. He said he be- lieved that every member of the crew escaped. He too. believed there was no one to blame for the tragedy.
 Other survivors were to testify this afternoon.