THE TITANIC'S BOATS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 20 April 1912, Page 5

THE TITANIC'S BOATS.

A FORMER OFFICER'S STATEMENT

Considerable discussion ha s been occasioned as to the number of lifeboats the Titanic carried, as well as their holding capacity, and also as to the methods adopted in White Star and Other liners in launching these boats when an accident such a s this occurs at sea. Witb the object of gathering some facts, a "Dominion" representative approached Mr. H. Cater, second officer of the White Star liner Corinthic, who was previously an officer on th e Olympic (the sister ship to the Titanic.)

"The Olympic has 28 lifeboats and four collapsible" boats, and the Titanic had the same number," said Mr. Cater. "Thc» lifeboats were capable of holding 10q per sons at a- pinch in fair weather, and the collapsible boats would hold about 70 or 80 souls. Of course this would depend on the state of the: weather, but if, as stated in the message we have received, the water was smooth, there would 'be no trouble in stowing away ICO people in the big boats. You know that these boats have airtight compartments and cannot sink. Then, again, there are lifelines extending in a series of loops, right round them.- Any persons in the water, if they can manage to get hold, of these lifelines, can get their heads and shoulders through the loops and keep afloat in that manner. That is if'the boats are filled already."

"But" it is stated that the lifeboats ort one side of the Titanic only were able to be launched. How do you account for that?" was the question asked. SPECIAL DAVITS. "That I cannot say," said Mr. Cater in reply. "The davits which hol-d the lifeboats and which swing them out over the ship's side had on the Titanic and Olympic a tremendous reach over the water. They were specially constructed so. No matter what list tne vessel had the boats should have swung clear. Maybe the falling ice smashed some of them in. and made' them useless, but under ordinary circumstances all those boats should have been easily launched.

"It is said." continued Mr. Cater, "that the Titanic floated for two hours after the collision. f I reckon there was aonpl« time to man the boats, get them clear of the ship, and save the passengers. It is my opinion that something has happened which has prevented this being done. In the White Star line very particular attention is paid to boat drill, and every man knows nis station. Boat drill was> carried out regularly on board the Olympic when I ■ was on her, and everything worked smoothly. Captain Smith was most particular about this when I was with nim, and there is no reason to rioubt that the same conditions prevailed on board th e Titanic." THE BOiAT CHEWS. How many men did it take to man each boat?

"Well, once the boats were swung out an officer and two men could do the rest. All they would have to da would be to keep them clear of the sinking vessel and pick up anyone floating in th© water. With the number of pep pie on board the litanic there was bound tobe some sort of a panic. In that case as many of the crew as can be spared' from launching the boats are detailed off to go among the passengers with the of putting down any sighs of panic. No doubt this accounts for the great loss of life among the crew." Do you believe that the Titanic was doing 18 knots in that- fog? "No, I do not," replied Mr. Cater. "Captain Smith was tdo careful a navigator to run any risks. Then again the chairman of directors was on board, and he would see that every precaution' for the safety of. the vessel was taken. It is said that the Titanic was warned >by wireless the day before the mishap that she was nearing an icefield. This in itself would make her commander more careful still. It is my opinion that she was going slow, that is, seven to nine knots an hour." A CAREFUL COMMANDER,

"Do you know," continued Mr. Cater, "I was on board the Olympic with Cap tain Smith on one occasoin when we had every chance of breaking the .record be tween Southampton and New York easily. We were well ahead of it ?t a distance of a few hundred miles from the American coast when we ran into a fog. At once the order was given for the engines to go slow, and, although it was most disapointing, the safety of the passengers and ship was the first consideration. No, I don't think for one moment that the Titanic was out to break records on this trip. There was too much at stake," he said, in conclusion.