SINKING OF VESTRIS.

Grey River Argus, 22 November 1928, Page 5

SINKING OF VESTRIS.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. Made by Survivors. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn). NEW YORK, November Jo. Dickerson Hoover, Inspector General of the United States Steamboat Inspection Service, open'd an inquiry into the inspection of the Vestris, at which, Edward Keane, onf. of the Inspectors who cl)Jared ihe ve:>sc.. admitted that six coal ports were not thoroughly inspected befoie the V. htris sailed. Keane explained that he was able to examine 'only four ports on each >ide, bl cause the other six were filled with coad, but he expressed a certainty that they were shut tight and all weie projperly casketted. Kean/4 teistificd that Hie inspection was thorough, lasting four days, and of the 601 life preservers, sixty-eight were found rotten, were replaced. 11/ declared that the boats wferc in excellent condition and fully equipped with food, water, flares, compass etc. He said that L. tested, the lifeboat by placing sixtyfive persons in it, which was above the eapac'*y, and lowering the craft, although not ( fully to the water, b - cause bargee were adjacent. A survivor named Isaac Seott, waiter testified before Mr Tuttle, that the Vestris leakl d in the last four voyages from a starboard door six feet above the water. He stated that none oT tlm crew was assigned to lifeboats on the lafct visage, and' there wen? no drills for passengers Thomas Connor, head waiter said: “In my opinion, the Veltris had a list on all th.* five voyages on which 1 sailed. The list increased last voyage, five hours from New York. Gilbert Ford, negro chief fireman said it was not unusual to find water in the engine room. He said he was unable to make the screws work ph the leaking ash hopper. The last lifeboat drill h/j could |remember was On the Vestris’ last northern trijp. William Renham, ship surveyor, E A. Swanjand, and Fred Dennis, boiler inspectors, all testified that the ship was in good condition. Dennis denied

any drinking by the inspectors, befor< or after leaving the ship.

“THEY ARE MURDERERS.’’ SORENSON REFUTES STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO HIM. (Received November 21 at 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 21. Sorenson denied that he ever referred to Captain Carey as negligent or said, “They are murderers,” as quoted in the newspapers. Tie declared he was misquoted. The newspapermen who interviewed Sorenson offered to testify, and will probably be called to-morrow. Sorenson concluded by stating that the Vestris’s lifeboats and ship were apparently* in good condition. A previous message stated that Frederick Sorenson, a passenger, and himself a majter mariner, had declared that the loss of life was due to criminal neglect. “The engine room was flooded, and also the boiler room, and many cabins, and this continued from early on Sunday morning until Monday, when the captain sent out the first distress signals.”