THE SENATE'S INQUIRY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 26 April 1912, Page 5

THE SENATE'S INQUIRY.

NAUTiCAL IGNGMGE OF THE 1 CHAIRMAN MAKING HiftUHFIuUGHING STOCK THE FIFTH OFFICER'S EVIDENCE. (I'IIESS AsSOCIAXtON. COPYRIGHT.J WASHINGTON, April 25. Mr Lowe, the fifth officer, gave vvi■rtence that the collision did not awaken li i in. Senator Smith, the chairman, asked if witness was intemperate. Tin's Mr Lowe indignant f-y fieinVii. Mr passed up states that it is reported that you were drinking on the night of the disaster.

Mr Lowe: That is impossible. lam a total abstainer.

Witness continued that when. Ith awoke he found the boats being pi;eparW.h The vessel was tipping fifteen degrees only; The eonfh.-ivn wfts due, tb passengers, 'interfering with the lowering gear ot the lifeboats. Otherwise the discipline was excellent. He told one passenger who was excitedly saying, "Lower away," that "If we went to hell we would get the boats away." The passenger stepped 'back, and afterwards he learnt it was Mr Ismay. Mr Ismay's fault was that he was over anxions in helping all he could.

I When no more women came forward male passengers were put into the boats* There was no discrimination between the classes of agailist stewardesses. One lifeboat Was launched with only 4© pas= sengers, because they were-unable to find aliyoile waitinir to go. The passengers seemed not to care to get into the boats, and there was no time to drag women from their husbands. One Italian, with a shawl over his head, sneaked into a boat full of women and children. After the Titanic sank he waited about the edge of the scene until the cries* censed. Then he transferred his passengers to other boats and called for volunteers to row back to the \yreck. He had 45 people in hie boat when, the Carpathia picked, them up, including 2l persons from a sinking collapsible. It Would have been stiicida-l to take thr boat into the struggling mass in the Water.