THE TITANIC TRAGEDY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 113, 27 April 1912, Page 5

THE TITANIC TRAGEDY.

THE AMERICAN INQUIRY.

SENATOR SMITH WASTES TIME.

[press association-

—COPYRIGHT. 1

Washington, Apl. 26.

It is rumoured that internal dissensions have arisen in the committee owing to Senator Smith’s monopolising time.

Hitchen was allowed to return to England after a vote overruling Senator Smith’s refusal. Several members of the committee resented Senator Smith’s plan of holding forty witnesses in. Washington until the examination of all was completed. Senator Smith has announced that the rest of the witnesses will be apportioned among various members of the committee who will decide whether they, are important enough to be examined by the full committee, thus saving time. Mr. Marconi was sharply examined concerning the wireless message to the operator advising him to withhold the narrative. He said he did not know of any telegrams sent, though he authorised the operators to sell their stories. Bride received £lOO from a newspaper. The Marconi Company was not responsible, for delay in publishing details. He left the conduct of the wireless to the Carpathia’s captain. Mr. Marconi advocated each Government controlling certain wave lengths and issuing licenses to use these. When the available wave lengths were, exhausted they should refuse to license more stations.

UNDER WHICH FLAG

THE SENATE’S RIGHT QUESTIONED.

London, Apl. 26.

In the House of Lords, Lord Stanhope drew attention to the fact that the Titanic was flying the British flag. The Senate’s inquiry struck at the root of the position in war time, rendering the nationality of the vessel doubtful. American feeling would be forcibly expressed if the position were reversed. Lord Morley deprecated discussion of the matter. Any State might institute an inquiry into a foreign wreck by which the lives of its subjects had been lost. Powers to detain witnesses existed in most countries. It was obvious they chould be exercised with consideration to the necessities of other countries.

THE UNDERWRITERS’ SYMPATHY.

(Received 27, 8.5 a.m.) London, Apl. 26.

The underwriters, who lost £300,000 by the loss of the Titanic, have sent Mr. Bruce Ismay a message of sympathy.

SYMPATHY AND HELP. «

(Received 27, 8.5 a.m.) London, Apl. 26

Subscription lists have been opened in Paris and Vienna and many other cities for the Titanic victims.

Ottawa, Apl. 26

The Dominion Government- .has voted £2OOO to the Titanic reliei fund.

Auckland. Apl. 26.

The principal moving picture proprietors of Auckland were desirous of increasing the Titanic Relief Fund by donating the proceeds of suitable entertainments proposed to be held on Sunday evening after church. The chairman of the Auckland Ministers’ Association waited on the Mayor and entered a protest against the entertainments. The matter was referred to the Works Committee of the City Council and permission was given to hold the entertainment on Sunday afternoon. The applicants do not see their way to do this, and the matter has dropped.

IN MEMORY .OF MR. HAYS. I— Ottawa, Apl. 26.

In memory' of Mr. Hays, the entire Canadian Grand Trunk system was suspended for five minutes, and all stations draped in mourning.

CONTROLLED BY AMERICAN CORPORATION.

(Received 27, 8.5 a.m.) London, Apl. 26

Lord Saint David, in the debate, remarked that the Titanic was technically a British ship, but the owners were absolutely controlled by an American corporation.

NO PRECEDENT.

Sir Edward Grey informed Mr. Munro Ferguson that when rhi* Paris was stranded at Cornwall no investigation was held. The captain declined to give evidence 'which might prejudice himself. At the owners’ investigation afterwards in America the captain’s certificate was suspended.

THE CHANNEL STEAMERS.

Mr. Buxton informed Mr. Ashley that the Dover-Calais steamers were certificated to carry 1318 passengers and a crew' of 56. Each steamer was compulsorily provided with boat accommodation for 256 souls, and with accommodation for the remainder on 21 buoyant rafts.

AUSTRALIAN PRECAUTIONS

Melbourne, April 27

The Marine Board has decided to appoint a committee to inquire into the boat accommodation of vessels trading to Victoria.

THE OLYMPIC STRIKE.

SAILORS ARRESTED FOR DESERTING.

THE VOYAGE ABANDONED

(Received 27, 8.5 a.m.) London, Apl. 26

Officials of the Seamen’s Union witnessed the trials of the Olympic’s boats, and agreed they w-ere all seaworthy except one collapsible. This iho White Star Co. immediately ■iffored to replace.

The company is now recruiting firemen in the provinces.

Fifty of the Olympic’s sailors have been arrested for deserting and refusing to sail with non-union firemen. The Olympic has abandoned the voyage.

The remnant of firemen hitherto loval have also declined to sail.

Ths deserters jumped into a tug which brought the non-union firemen aboard, whereupon the Olympic sigpalled the cruiser Cochrane and Captain Goodenough proceeded in a pinnace and remonstrated with the deserters in the tug, declaring their action was tantamount to mutiny. The deserters were obdurate. Meanwhile the steamer’s tender was sent to take off the saloon passengers.

The White Star Company has appealed to the Postmaster-General to support their efforts to secure the punishment of the guilty firemen, as unless firmness is shown the officers will be unable to restore discipline or the company to maintain the running.

THE KARAMEA’S EXPERIENCE.

Auckland, April 26.

The steamer Karamca, which arrived from Cardiff, Wales, via St. John and Australian ports, reported heavy gales and bitterly cold days almost throughout the voyage. When off Cape Race, Newfoundland, the of the Titanic disaster, the Karamea ran into a field of ice, and was over ten hours in getting clear., Although the speed of the vessel was reduced to two knots an hour the impact as she bumped her way through small bergs was sufficient to shake her from stem to stern, to dent her blows and loosen rivets. The ice appeared to thicken ns the vessel! proceeded, and in order to avoid serious damage Captain CFftoh made a detour 100 miles southward. The weather was very cold, the temperature falling to 15 degrees belog zero. On the following dhy, February Bth. the ship’s quartermaster (J. W. Scott) died from pneumonia. and was buried at-sea. Oh the evening of the same day the Ka-. ramea steamed into St. John with ice and snow two feet thick over her decks, rigging and sides.' The spray thrown on to the decks by the big sea running froze as it fell. Three hours were spent in 'clearing with the aid of crowbars and the steam winch and anchor, the latter had been frozen to the ship’s’side. Reports were received at St John of several schooners being sunk by the weight of ice and snow on their decks and rigging, while others were lost through al! hands being frostbitten. During the voyage Captain Clifton suffered from a severe attack of, rheumatic fever, and a call had to be made at Capetown for medical advice.