ATLANTIC ICE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 239, 12 September 1912, Page 5

ATLANTIC ICE.

WHAT THE TITANIC GOT AMONGST. At the time of the Titanic disaster a representative of the "Tribune” had an interesting chat with Mr. J. J. Niven, of Napier, reagrding the. Atlantic passage. As a marine engineer, Mr. Niven has crossed the Atlantic ninety times, and says lie saw enough ice to last him all his life. In those days the instructions issued for the boats were that when. among ice at night they were to steam tyvo knots an hour and then stop for five minutes to get way off the ship, so that if they did strike the impact would not be serious. He considered it exceedingly reckless to drive the Titanic at the speed she yvas travelling on' the night of the disaster. The. point, however, which we wished to arrive at was with regard

to icebergs. Shortly following the disaster a statement was publshied saying that Captain Amundsen, the great Antarctic explorer, held the reports of the size of the bergs seen were greatly exaggerated. Mr. Niven remarked that he could not understand Captain Amundsen making such a statement, as he (Air. Niven) had sailed past a berg 30 miles long and over 60ft high. A copy of the London “Daily Mail” to hand contains the evidence of Captain Rostron, of the Carpatilia, which confirms Air. Niven's statement. We quote the section referring to the ice :—

A FIELD OF ICE. Tlie Attorney-General: In the morning did you see many icebergs ? The witness said that they counted 25 large ones from 150 ft to 200 ft high. They stopped counting the smaller ones. There were dozens and dozens all over the place, and from two to three miles from the position of the wreck there was a huge icefield extending as far as they could see from north-west. ’ to south-west.

The Attorney-General : These icebergs must have been close to you without being seen I—Yes. Leaving out the one only a quarter of a mile away, how far off was the nearest of the large icebergs ?—- Probably about three or four miles. Was there any thing, so far as you know, peculiar in the atmospheric conditions that night f —No. I never saw a clearer night ; it was a beautiful night. The witness said he had navigated for a good many years on the North Atlantic track, but had never

seen icebergs on this track during April. The Attorney-General: .Suppose, you had had a wireless message giving you the position of icebergs and an icefield which you would reach in the ordinary course of things within a few hours, what precautions ■ would you take when approaching | that region at night. ?—lt is very hard to say vs licit I should de. It is no use trying to avoid an iceberg that has been reported by altering your course, because it may drift for miles. Li the case of an icefield I tliinK I should try to get away out of it. The President : You mean you would alter your course The Witness: For field ice. yes: for an iceberg, no. i The Attorney-Genera] : Supposing you had had a report cf icebergs ami icefields in the region you are bound to cross, would you take any precaution in tc-gard to speed ?—A great deal would depend on the weather. : Tiie President : Suppose it is per-i fectly clear ; The Witness : If it was a perfectly clear night, unless I knew there was a lot cf ice about I would feel perfectly justified in going at full speed. The At turnev -General : If you thought there was a lot you would, not .' — Iwould not. In reply to Sir R. Finlay, the wit- 1 ness said he knew Captain Smith. He was an experienced officer cf very high standing. >■