LOSS OF THE VESTRIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 13

LOSS OF THE VESTRIS.

EVIDENCE OF NEGROES.

STATEMENTS NOT SUPPORTED.

LITTLE HEADWAY AT INQUIRY.

Australian and N.Z. Fre3s Association. NEW YORK, Nov 22.

Tho main inquiry into tlio loss of the British liner Vestris, off tho coast of Virginia, was continued to-day before Mr. Frank O'Neill, United States Commissioner. With him as advisers were tho British and American nautical experts, Captains Henry McConkey and E. l\ Jessup. Mr. Charles 11. Tuttlo, Attorney for New York South, again conducted tho proceedings. Joseph Boxill, a negro stoker, said m evidence that the lifeboat No. 4 was tilled mostly with women and children. It was lowered to within five feet of tho water, but was never released from tho ship. Ho saw tho sinking vessel drag a loaded boat down with it.

Apart from Boxill's evidonco both this inquiry, and also tho inquiry by tho Inspection Servico under Mr. D. N.' Hoover, seem to have reached a stago of anticlimax in tho early sessions, which apparently has prompted Mr. Tuttlo to expedito his investigation as much as possible by calling numerous witnesses in rapid succession. Tho former master of tlio Vestris, Caotam W. Bambra, repeated tho ovidcnco he gave yesterday before Mr. Hoover's inquiry. He said that while he commanded tho vessel boat drills were h<?ld regularly. Botb hearings otherwiso were occupied with unsupported statements from negro members of the crew and other persons, who niado statements such as "they thought tho cause of sinking might havo been a leak in tho bottom of tho ship."