REFUSED ORDERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10751, 23 November 1928, Page 5

REFUSED ORDERS.

TROUBLE OX VESTRIS PRIOR TO DISASTER. ONE OFFICER AND SOME MEN IGNORE COMMANDS. WATER HEARD RUNNING INTO COAL BUNKERS. United Press Aeen. by El. Tel. Oopyripn* (Australian Press Association.* NEW YORK. Nov. 21. When Mr Tuttle’s inquiry into the Vestris disaster was resumed a definite course of action was decided upon at the suggestion of the British naval expert, Captain Joseph McConkev, namely, first, that the former captain of the Vestris be called ■ second, that Commissioner O’Neill and two naval experts inspect the steamship Vauban, which is a sister ship of the Vestris; and third, that three main points be answered: (1) to determine the actual cause of the sinking, (2) to determine the actual cause of the loss of life, and (3) to determine the cause, for the delay in sending the S.O.S, The hearing then proceeded along these lines. The first officer, Mr Johnston, recalled, said thaj. members of the crew refused some of his orders just prior "to the disaster, and that some were not at their posts of duty when the lifeboat order was given, blit he added: “I was still able to control mv men, however.”

Johnston stated that he gave one officer a command to enter a lifeboat. but the officer walked away, ignoring the command. He also stated that he heard water running into the coal bunkers, but was unabie io get there because of the coal. He added: 1 T reported to the captain, and he came down on Sunday morning and inspected it.” They were unable, however, to find where tho water was coming from. “I got away lifeboats 1,3, 5 and 7 , but they were not properly filled, because we had not sufficient "time.”

Tlie reporter who interviewed Captain Sorenson upon his arrival in New York took the stand, and denied that the latter had been misquoted in his evidence; after which a passenger. J. B, Duvalle, testified that the port window of his first cabin was cracked and the packing missing, allowing water to enter every time a wave slapped the Vestris. PASS ENG KRS' STORIES.

LIFEBOATS LEAKING. United Pre3« Assn. by El. Tel. OopyTtelr 'Australian Presß Assn.) NEW YORK. Nov. 21. Continuing his evidence, J. B. Duvalle, a passenger, said he entered tho last lifeboat safely launched. “'Micro was no officer or member of the crew in our boat,” he added, “which carried 25 persons. Four of us had to hail water all the time. 1 do not believe the boat had been greatly damaged by the pounding against the side of the Vestris.”

A first-class passenger, Edward Margin, said: “I was standing near boat 8, and saw a large hole near the water line. A sailor tacked a piece of tin over it, but I was not going in that boat. I got into number 10 boat, which leaked all the time. The lantern was defective, and nine of the 12 flares failed. Finally we had to transfer 20 of the 51 people in the boat, liecause we feared it might founder. I wish to take this opportunity to state that at no time did I see evidence of cowardice on the part of the ship’s officers.”

Officers of the American Shipper, which went to the rescue, namely, the chief officer, Air Eric Nelson, and the third officer, Air Conrad Oswald, both said they believed the lifeboats were in good condition, after which Captain Gumming, of the American Shipper, testified that none of the five lifeboats his ship rescued was overcrowded. “All could have taken on other passengers.” Edward Walcott, agent for the third-class passengers, said boat 9, in which he was rescued, leaked bad-

Edward Ulinian, second officer of the American Shipper, stated that the lifeboats of the Vestris were in good shape. “Only lifeboat No. b contained any water, and there were only a lew inches in it,” he said. James Short, surveyor, of hulls for Lloyds, said he examined the Vestris’ cargo holds and ballast tanks on August 31, and found the vessel to be in very good condition. He said the Vestris’ second officer told him that half the door which figured so prominently in the investigation was often left open to provide fresh air for the stewards and other seamen. Asked if he gained the impression that the door was occasionally loft open without the officers’ permission, lie replied: “I did.” ’ Short testified that the lifeboats were in splendid shape when he made his last inspection. He stated that lie believed tho lioats were built with the Vestris, which would make them 16 years old.

NEW ATMOSPHERE IN INQUIRY

MARINE EXPERTS QUESTION

WITNESSES

UNJUSTIFIABLE COMMENT BY NEWSPAPERS

united Pros* Assn, br El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association.' (Received Nov. 22. 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK. Nov, 21.

The appointment of marine experts in the Vestris enquiry apparently has changed the entire atmosphere. of investigation. Over-emphat-ic questioning and lack of complete familiarity with nauticial terminology on the part of the questioners has previously tended to distort the perspective of the hearings. Mr Jessup MeConke.y’s milder manner and his familiarity with nautical terminology has elicited readier replies. Newspapers have a tendency to daily interpret witness’ testimony, and* draw conclusions for headlines purposes and long articles by socalled marine experts, charging that the shipowners are m greater part responsible for marine disasters, and expressions of opinion from all sorts of sources, ae notably a resolution introduced at the American Federation of Labor convention asking the Department of Justice for an inquiry into rumors that salvage consideration left the Vestris to hel doom, have seemingly emphasised an inclination to condemn British steamship and attribute negligence to men who are unable to defend themselves.

“ONE OF THE FINEST SHIPS I HAD IN MX LIFE

Captain William Branba. who was master of the Vestris while Captaip Carey was on a recent vacation testified: “It is a mystery to me. I wish l could unravel it. That was one of the finest ships I ever had in my life ”

JOURNALIST SURVIVOR TO G-IVE EVIDENCE Mr Davies, the well-known journalist. who was a passenger on the wrecked brier, has been subpoeaned to appear before Mr Tuttle probably on Monday since he has been asked to stay in bed until that day by the doctor.