BEFORE THE END.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10753, 26 November 1928, Page 5

BEFORE THE END.

LAST HOURS IN SINKING LINER

FIREMEN DISOBEY OFFICERS

FRIGHTENED PASSENGERS

RUSH ON DECK

United Press Assn. by El. Tel. Oopyrlphl (Australian Press Association.) . NEW YORK. Nov. 23.

The chief engineer, John Adams, told the Vestris inspection „ inquiry that the firemen left their posts at 10.30 o’clock in the morning-,--the-•-of-ficers being compelled to replace them- for the remaining half hour before further work Became impossible. In the meantime, before Mr Tuttle’s inquiry, the affidavit of an English first-class passenger, E. M. Walcott. was read, stating that intense excitement and fear prevailed among the passengers. Over two hours before an S.O.S. was sent out the passengers appeared oil the decks with lifebelts. while tho stewards assured them there as no danger. Walcott also declared that the captain’s voice was so hoarse that he could not understand what lie was saying and oil the last order it broke altogether. Walcott corroborated the testimony of other witnesses that the captain went down still wearing his heavy overcoat, but without a lifebelt.