LOSS OF THE TITANIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 3033, 1 May 1912, Page 28

LOSS OF THE TITANIC.

PROGRESS OF THE INQUIRY CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE STATEMENT BY MR ISMAY. LONDON, April 22. Mr Ismay says : The only reason I had for wishing the crew to return home was for their own benefit. When wirelessly ordering them to return I was not aware that an inquiry was contemplated. When I entered the boat with Mr Carter there was not a woman or another passenger on deck. The disaster has proved the futility of unsinkable vessels, and that the present legal requirements are inadequate, and must be changed. The owners have placed too much reliance on watertight compartments and on wireless telegraphy. .We must have lifeboats'and rafts for every soul we carry, with men who are able to handle them. Mr William Carter, interviewed at Philadelphia, emphasised the injustice done to Mr Ismay. Their boat contained two seamen and 40 steerage women and children. Mr Ismay and several officers walked up and down the deck for several minutes, shouting and inquiring if there were any more women, and there was no response. The officers then told Mr Ismay that he could enter the boat if he rowed. This he did until the Carpathia was sighted. Mr Ismay declares- emphatically that he was simply a passenger, and was not consulted regarding the speed or navigation. He made no suggestions, and exercised no privileges. He saw the captain only occasionally, but never in his room nor on the bridge until after the accident. It was unqualifiedly false to say he wished the Titanic to make a record. The only information that ice had been sighted was the Baltic’s message on Sunday, the captain informing him that evening, and posting it up for the officers’ information. MATTERS FOR INQUIRY. LONDON, April 23. The Daily News’ New York correspondent advises that the United States Senate intends inquiring whether the Titanic’s officers disregarded repeated warnings as to the presence of icebergs, whether it was unavoidable that 100 women perished, why. the White Star Company was ignorant of the disaster until the evening though the Baltic and the Olympic knew the details at noon, and why the Marconi official sent a wireless message to the Carpathia on Thursday advising the operator as follows; “ Say nothing, but hold your story for dollars in four figures.” The same correspondent adds that there is some talk of a club boycott of the men who left the ship while there were women aboard, but it is difficult to criticise the men when boat after boat , was being lowered partly filled. ! For an hour and a-half nine out of, every ten passengers believed the Titanic to be unsinkable, and deliberatey refused to enter the earlier boats. Nicholls (one of the stewards) states that one-half of the men went back to | their beds. Three-quarters of an hour after the collision he saw a passenger playing punch ball in the gymnasium. The women had to be coaxed to enter the boats. \ Mr Peter Daly, a first saloon passenger. states that Captain Smith ran to the railing calling out to bring the boats back, as they were only half-filled. The two Hoffmann children are said to

be the sons of a tailor at Nice. The presumed mother asserts that her husband kidnapped the children a month ago and then disappeared. PROGRESS OF THE INQUIRY. SIGNALS DISREGARDED. NEW YORK, April 2b. Mr Franklin, vice-president of the International Mercantile Marine Company, in his evidence before the Senate inquiry, said that the collision probably opened five or six of the water-tight compartments. Mr Boxhall (the Titanic’s fourth officer) said that the berg was dark in colour, grey, and some 30ft high. After the collision he fired -Morse lights to attract a ship which was five miles away, but she did not answer, though the Titanic signalled to her to come at once, as she was sinking. He did not know the name of the ship. WASHINGTON, April 24. At the Senate’s inquiry Frederick Fleet gave evidence that he was in the crow’s nest at the time of the collision. He had been instructed to look out sharply for ice. He saw a large berg and two small tables.. He sounded “Three Bells” and telephoned to the bridge, and the vessel immediately went to port. The ice got larger as they went along, and when the Titanic struck it was about 50ft high. He was not alarmed when the collision took place, but he thought they had had a narrow shave. Fleet stated that the look-out men asked Mr Lightoller, the second officer, for glasses for the Atlantic voyage. Glasses had been provided at Belfast and Southampton. Mr Lightoller said there was none. Fleet expressed the opinion that if the look-out men had had glasses they would have been able to give sufficient warning. The witness said he took charge of a lifeboat containing three men and 25 women. He had orders to pull towards a light off the Titanic’s bow, but he failed to find the vessel. At one time they were abreast a boat, but it slipped, by. Major Peuchen, of Toronto, gave evidence that he had inspected the iceberg, and thought it was not serious. Later on while he ..was showing Mr Hays the iceberg he noticed that the ship had a list. Mr Hays replied: “ The Titanic can’t sink ; whatever we have struck, she’s good for eight or ten hours.” Major Peuchen said he then went to the lifeboats, and was surprised to find that the sailors were not at their posts. There was a shortage of competent seamen. Thirty-six women got into the first lifeboat. A crowd of stokers came on deck, but an officer pluckily drove them off the deck! like sheep, and called for women to fill the second boat. Some women refused to leave their husbands. He thought that the failure to sound a general alarm accounted for many women not coming on deck in time to go in the boats. When a boat was lowered Mr Lightoller said they could not manage the boat, and one seaman asked Major Peuchen, who is a yachtsman, to slip down a rope and take an oar. The lifeboat rowed as fast as possible to escape the suction. Shortly afterwards they heard the Titanic signal to return, but those in the lifeboat did not wish to do so. The quartermaster said: “It is our lives against those on the ship.” The married women’s protests were ignored. Two explosions followed. Mr Pitman, the third officer, gave evidence that a special look-out was kept for ice on the Sunday. At first they did not think that the collision was serious. He met Mr Ismay, who was in a dressing gown, and who said: “ Hurry up; there’s no time' for fooling.” Mr Ismay told him to get the women and children into the boats.

Mr Ismay helped to launch one, and remained on the Titanic when witness’s boat left. Mr Pitman expected to be able to bring the passengers aboard again in a few hours. The boat was not filled because there were no more women about when it was lowered. The Titanic settled by the head, and then suddenly stood on end and dived straight down. Four explosions like the firing of big guns followed. He believed that they were caused by the bulkheads. There were many cries of distress. He ordered the men to get out the oars and’ pull towards the wreck so as to save a few more, as there were only 40 aboard the boat, which would hold 60. The passengers demurred, however, say? ing it was a mad idea. Even the women did not urge him to return, and he yielded to the passengers’ importunities. On being pressed by Senator Smith, Mr Pitman gave harrowing details. He heard screams, and one long continuous moan as if a death agony. The cries continued for an hour. He had no personal knowledge of the ship mentioned by Mr Boxhall. Senator Smith suggested that it might have been the Helligolav, which was docked in New York on the 17th inst., and which reported encountering an iceberg near where the Titanic sank. The public have been excluded from the inquiry in consequence of interruptions. Major Peuchen said he did not criticise Captain Smith, but he blamed the company’s policy and methods. He was con-

vinced that reasonable caution "would have averted the terrible calamity. The captain of the Californian disclaims that his was the steamer seen at a distance of five miles. On Sunday evening he was 20 miles distant from the Titanic. At 10.330 he entered an immense icefield, so he stopped his engines and waited for daylight. His wireless apparatus was not working, or he might have saved all aboard the Titanic. He did not learn of the disaster until the morning. April 25. Mr Lowe, the fifth officer on the Titanic, gave evidence that the collision did not waken him. Senator Smith asked the witness if he was intemperate, and Mr Lowe indignantly denied the suggestion. Senator Smith then said: I ask because a note has just been passed up. It states that it is reported that you were drinking on the night of the disaster. Mr Lowe: It is impossible. I am a total abstainer. Mr Lowe said that when he was awakened he found the boats being prepared. The vessel was tipping to an angle of 15 degrees. The only confusion aboard was due to the passengers interfering with the lowering gear of the lifeboats ; otherwise the discipline was excellent. He told one passenger, who was excitedly saying “ Lower away,” that if he went to hell they would get the boats away. The passenger then stepped back. Witness afterwards learnt that it was Mr Ismay. Mr Ismay’s fault was that he was over anxious; but he was helping all he could.

Mr Lowe further stated that when no more women came forward the male passengers were put into the boats. No discrimination was made between the classes or against the stewardesses. One lifeboat was launched with 40 passengers, because they were unable to find anyone who was waiting to go. The passengers seemed not to care to get into the boats. There was no time to drag women from their husbands. One Italian with a shawl over his head sneaked into a boat which was full of women and children. After the Titanic sank witness waited near the scene until the cries ceased, and then he transferred his passengers to other boats, and called for volunteers to row back to the wreckage. He had 45 people in the boat when the Carpathia picked it up, including 21 who had been rescued from a sinking collapsible. It Would have been suicidal to take a boat into the struggling mass. Mr Lightoller, who was recalled, stated that when he saw Mr Ismay on the Carpathia the latter seemed to be obsessed with the idea that he should have gone down with the ship, as women had been drowned. He had received medical attention. The chief officer actually put Mr Ismay in a boat, telling him that there were no more women to go. FARCICAL PROCEEDINGS. WASHINGTON, April 25. Many comments are made concerning the committee’s haphazard methods and Senator Smith’s ignorance of nautical matters. Senator Smith asked one witness if the Titanic sank by the bows or by the head, the question being received with loud laughter. Apparently in consequence of these criticisms Senator Smith stated that the committee intended to question all British subjects who were in America. He said : “ We shall hold them here until we have learned all. The committee will not tolerate any further attempts by anyone to shape its course.” Senator Smith punctuated his remarks by pounding his fist on the table. He asked Mr Lowe whence the icebergs came? Mr Lowe: From the Arctic regions. Senator Smith: Of what were they composed ? Mr Lowe; Of ice. Mr Lowe further gave evidence that be was afraid of the crowd in his boat lest they should break in the davits. He saw in the steerage during the lowering of the boats some Italians, who were lowering and glaring over the railings like wild beasts ready to spring. He fired his revolvei thrice and frightened them. Mr Hitcliius, the Titanic’s quartermaster, was served with a subpeena aboard the Celtic in New York, and arrived in Washington in custody. Mr Hitcliius denied the allegation that when the passengers asked that his boat should return and rescue the drowning he said they weren’t going back after “ those stiffs.” Nevertheless it was impossible to return. April 26. It is rumoured that there are internal dissensions on the committee owing to Senator Smith monopolising the time. Mr Hitchin was allowed to return to England after a vote was carried overruling Senator Smith’s refusal to grant permission. Several members of the committee resented Senator Smith’s plan of holding 40 witnesses in Washington until the examination of all was completed. Senator Smith announced that the rest of the witnesses would be apportioned amongst various members of the committee, who would decide whether they were important enough to be examined bv the full committee, thus saving time. 'Mr Marconi was sharply examined concerning a wireless message to the operator on the Carpathia advising him to with hold the narrative. He said ha did not

know that telegrams had been sent through asking the authorised operators to sell their stories. Mr Bride received £IOO from a newspaper. The Marconi Company -was not responsible for the delay in publishing the details, and it left the conduct of the wireless to the Carpathian captain. Mr Marconi advocated each Government controlling certain wave lengths and issuing licenses for the use of these. When the available wave lengths were exhausted the Governments should refuse licenses for more stations. IMPORTANT EVIDENCE. WASHINGTON, April 27. A sensation was caused by Mr Gill, donkey-engineman on the Californian, who gave evidence that he saw the Titanic s white rockets 10 miles away at midnight. He did not notify the bridge, because the men on the bridge could see the rockets themselves. An apprentice officer, however, informed the captain, who disregarded the signals of distress. Mr Gill added that he tried to organise a deputation amongst the crew to go to the captain and protest, but the men were afraid of losing their job. Captain Lord, the master of the Californian, denied Gill’s allegations. He stated that when he came to the icefields he sent a wireless message to the Titanic, which was 19£ miles away. The Titanic replied: “Shut up, and get out.” He saw none of the Titanic’s signals. If he had received CCD signals on the Sunday he could have reached the Titanic in two hours. Another ship lay within four or five miles of the Californian all night. She sent up several white rockets, which were not distress signals, and the Californian replied with Mors© signals. Captain Lord said he instructed the wireless operator to ascertain the vessel’s name, but she would not reply, so he went to bed. He was told that she steamed away about 4 o’clock next morning. He was sme she was not the Titanic. Mr Evans, the wireless operator on the Californian, stated that he went to bed at 11.25 p.m. Previously acting on the captain’s orders, he had warned the Titanic of the icebergs. The Titanic’s operator replied : “Shut up; you jammed me working with Cape Race.” The chief officer awoke him at 5.40 the next morning, saying he had seen rockets and wanted information. Witness then called the Frankfurt, and learned that the Titanic was sinking. It was generally believed on the Californian that the rockets were from the Titanic. Mr Buley, a seamen on the Titanic, gave evidence that a steamer with two lights visible at her masthead passed right by when the Titanic struck. He added: “We thought she was coming to our help, and we told the passengers so as to keep them quiet. Her officers must have seen the rockets, as we saw the ship itself.” April 28. Mr Hemming, a seamen on the Titanic, in his evidence, said he was asleep when the steamer collided. I r ' got up, but returned to bod. Later c.i the boatswain called: “Turn out, you fellows! You haven’t half an hour to live. That’s from Mr Andrews, but keep it to yourselves.” Mr Andrews represented the builders. Captain Lord said that the icefield was 25 miles long and several miles wide. He doubled the watch owing to the presence of ice. When he stated that he stopped the Californian, Senator Smith asked whether he “ cast anchor,” apparently being ignorant of the fact that the sea was two miles deep. Mr Evans stated that Mr Gill had said that he expected the newspapers to give him 500dol (£100) for the rocket story. Mr Crowe (steward) said the Titanic stood almost perpendicular, and presently broke clean in two. The aft section Heated for a time, then there was an explosion, and the section turned and sank. Mr Osman (seaman) said that after the Titanic got to a certain angle she broke in halves. The aft section sank. For a certain distance passengers climbed on the top deck and the top poop, which was black with people. Captain Moore, of the s.s. Mount Temple, said he received the Titanic’s signal 49 miles off. He hastened to the scene, but was compelled to slow down and eventually to stop owing to the ice. When 14 miles distant he counted 50 icebergs in the vicinity of the Titanic. He believed the mysterious lights belonged to a tramp steamer which the Mount Temple had passed, and which did not respond to a wireless message. Mr Cunningham, a steward on the Titanic, said that no order to call all the passengers was given until 50 minutes after the collision. Senator Smith, in an interview, said he thought that a good case had been established to legislate regarding the use of wireless telegraphy, particularly for an obligatory continuous service. NEW YORK, April 28. The American Merchant Marine Association has issued a manifesto protesting against what it describes as a farcical inquiry. Captain Moore stated that when he arrived at the Titanic’s position at 4.30 a.m. he saw nothing but ice, and the captain of the tramp steamer Carpathia informed him that he had picked up the 1 boats. The Titanic’s speed was not wise | in view of the warnings. Undoubtedly I the captain of the Titanic had not fixed her position properly. Captain Moore

estimated that she was eight miles further east than was reported.. Mr Etches, a steward on the Titanic, said that after Mr Ismay had twice called for more women to enter the boats a woman advanced saying she was only a stewardess. “ Never mind.” exclaimed Mr Ismay, “ you are a woman; get in.” She obeyed. Admiral Mason, after expressing the opinion tliat censure or approval should await the official investigation of the attack on Mr Ismay, whose company is responsible individually and collectively and Mr Ismay personally for the loss of life, says Mr Ismay’s belief that the Titanic was unshakable relieved him of all guilt, but not of responsibility. He adds that Mr Ismay was justified in taking his place in the boat, because it was the last boat and was only half-filled ; but as long as there was a soul to be picked up the obligation lay on Mr Ismay that that person and not he should have occupied the boat.

Mr Franklin, on being recalled, denied that any attempt had been made to reinsure the Titanic prior to the news of her sinking being sent out. SURROUNDED BY ICEBERGS. NEW YORK, April 24. Mrs Astor states that her husband, on awakening her, told her that something was wrong, and urged her to dress, but assured her that the Titanic was unsinkable. ile left the cabin, but soon returned, looking grave. He said the steamer had struck a submerged iceberg. She hurriedly dressed, and, wearing some of her jewellery, accompanied her husband to the boat deck, where they donned lifebelts. Noticing that his wife was lightly clad, Mr Astor sent for a heavier dress, and wrapped her in a fur coat. As she was entering the boat her husband said: “The sea is calm, and you are all right and in good hands. I’ll meet you in the morning.” He then stood smiling as the lifeboat was lowered. As the Titanic was fettling down she saw her little terrier running about the deck. It was very cold, and icy water entered the bottom of the boat up to the knees. She rowed, knowing how to handle an oar, and so did Mrs Wiedener. Eight or ten drowning men were picked up during the night. At daybreak she saw that icebergs were all around them. Then the Carpathia came and rescued them. She found in the pockets of her fur coat 200dol (£4O), which she distributed to the destitute people aboard the Carpathia. THE BRITISH INQUIRY. LOKDON, April 23. Lord Mersey’s committee and the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee will meet to discuss matters affecting safety at sea. After their reports have been considered Mr Buxton will decide on the expediency of a further national or international committee or commission. Meanwhile he has ordered copies of the affidavits made in America by those officers and members of the crew, or passengers, who are not returning to England, as well as any useful information relating to the disaster. LONDON, April 28. Rear-admiral Gough Calthorpe, Captain A. W. Clarke, Commander Lyon, and Professor Biles (Glasgow University) will act as Lord Mersey’s assessors. SADDENING SIGBTS. LONDON, April 25. The steamer Rappahannock, from Halifax, passed the Titanic on the Saturday night before the disaster. The Rappahannock’s rudder was twisted and her hows dented by the icefield where the Titanic was lost. The captain says he is surprised the Titanic failed to see the ice in time, as it was a clear night. NEW YORK, April 25. The s.s. Bremen has arrived. She passed the scene of the Titanic wreck, and saw the iceberg. The passengers state it was a pitiable spectacle. In the water they saw one woman in her nightdress, with a baby clasped to her breast. Another women’s body was fully dressed. She was clutching a shaggy dog. There were three men clinging to a steamer chair, and elsewhere they counted a dozen bodies, all with lifebelts oh, locked together as though they had died in a fierce struggle for life. April 25. The steamer Mackay-Bennett is conveying 205 bodies to Halifax. Several passengers and members of the crew of the steamer Mount Temple, which has arrived at St. John (New Brunswick), state that they saw the Titanic’s rockets and flare lights, but the Mount Temple continued on her course. The officers deny this. MEMORIAL SERVICES. LONDON, April 22. Memorial services for the loss of the Titanic were held in all British battleships, also throughout Canada, South Africa, and the United States. Many congregations sang the hymn “ Nearer my God. to Thee.” The disaster lias placed 600 families in Southampton in necessitous circumstances. April 25. There was a large attendance at the late Mr W. T. Stead’s memorial service at Westminster Chapel. Queen Alexandra was represented, and Earl Grey, Lord Esher, Lord Milner, and many parliamentarians and journalists were present.

There were also world-wide letters of sympathy. PARIS, April 25. The British and American Ambassadors attended the Titanic memorial service at the Madeleine. DEMAND FOR REFORMS. NEW YORK, April 22. There is a general demand in America that every liner shall carry an adequate number of lifeboats, for the standardisation of all wireless apparatus. Government supervision of marine operators and ruthless control of amateurs, while violation of the regulations shall be treated as a criminal offence. The confusion between the earlier stories respecting the safety of all passengers arose through the picking up of fragments of wireless messages. LONDON, April 22. It is understood that the plans of the White Star Line’s gigantic steamer now building at Belfast have been altered to provide for cellular sides to the engineroom and stokehold, and also for cellular spans above the water line and other holds. BERLIN, April 25. The Kaiser has ordered a searching investigation and the extension of lifesaving appliances on passenger ships. The Government has circularised the Powers suggesting an international conference for the improvement of life-saving precautions at sea. TRIBUTE TO THE ENGINEERS. ’ LONDON, April 22. Lord C. Beresford, in a letter to The Times, says the fact that the lights were burning for a few minutes before the last plunge shows that the engineers remained at their posts for two hours after it was known that a terrible death awaited them any minute through the bursting of a steam pipe.

PERCENTAGES OF RESCUES. LONDON, April 25. In the House of Commons the President of the Board of Trade (Mr Buxton) stated that 139 out of 144 women in the first class had been saved, 78 out of 93 in the second class, and 98 out of 179 in the third class. All the children in the first and second class were saved, and 25 out of 78 in the third. One hundred and twenty-six men out of 777 and 189 out of a crew of 875 were saved. The percentages of the saved were as follow: —l9 per cent, of the men and 77 per cent, of the women. QUESTION OP NATIONALITY. LONDON, April 24. In the House of Commons the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, replying to several questions, said he was not aware of any precedent whereon the United States' Senate was holding its present inquiry, although Congress had the power to investigate and to summon witnesses. If the circumstances arose, and the witnesses desired protection, then the British Ambassador would be instructed, but he trusted to the good sense of the Senate and the American people. In the House of Lords Lord Stanhope drew attention to the fact that the Titanic was flying the British flag. He said the inquiry struck at the root as to the position in war time, rendering her nationality doubtful. American feeling would be forcibly expressed if the position were reversed. Lord Morley deprecated any discussion. He said that any State might institute an inquiry into a foreign wreck whereby the lives of its subjects were lost. The power to detain witnesses existed in most countries, but it was obvious that they should be exercised with consideration for the necessities of other countries. April 26. During the discussion in the House of Lords Lord St. David remarked that the Titanic was only technically a British ship. Her owner's were absolutely controlled by an American corporation. In the House of Commons Sir E. Grey informed Mr R. C. Monro Ferguson that when the Paris was stranded off Cornwall no investigation was held. The captain declined to give evidence which might prejudice himself. Afterwards the owners held an investigation in America, and the captain’s certificate was suspended. The President of the Board of Trade (Mr Sydney Buxton) informed Mr Ashley that the Dover-Calais steamers were certified to carry 1518 passengers and a crew of 56, and were compulsorily bound to provide boat accommodation for 256 souls, with further accommodation for 24.

SURVIVORS IN ENGLAND. . LONDON, April 29. One hundred and fifty-seven members of the crew of the Titanic have arrived. They declined to undergo examination until the representatives of the Seafarers’ Union are present. Some freely narrated incidents connected with the disaster. One saw the captain swim with a baby to a boat, and he helped others, afterwards returning to the vessel. He showed no desire to survive. Others state that the engineers were imprisoned in the pump room when the watertight doors were closed. The whole of the stokehold watch was drowned. No engineer was afie-n on deck after the

collision, but they kept the lights going until the vessel was submerged. April 29. A detachment of the Titanic’s creur received an emotional ryelcoma at Southampton. ~V. An open-air thanksgiving service was attended by naval and military Reserves, the Territorials, and 50,0“"; civilians. An American committee, consisting of friends of the captain of the Titanic, is raising funds for Captain Smith’s family, THE RELIEF FUNDS. LONDON, April 23. The Queen of Norway has given 100 guineas to the Lord Mayor’s fund, which Is now £105,000. The other funds in Great Britain and America total £75,000. Subscriptions are being taken up in Paris and Vienna, as well as in many other cities, for the Titanic victims. Memorials are being promoted for the members of the band on the Titanic and for Mr Phillips, the Marconi operator. The relief funds have reached £300,000. OTTAWA, April 26. The Dominion Government has voted £2OOO to the relief fund. LOSSES BY INSURANCE COMPANIES LONDON, April 25. The British insurance markets, assisted by those on the Continent and in th® United States, are finding £1,000,000 for the settlement of the claims arising oul of the loss of the Titanic. The heaviest underwriting loss has been sustained by the Royal Exchange Assurance Company—viz., £76,000.

Renewal insurances on numerous liners have been effected at far higher rates than those prevailing heretofore. The underwriters, who have lost £BOO,OOO over the Titanic, have sent Mr Ismay a message of sympathy. Owing to seven vessels hopelessly overdue, the marine underwriters’ losses for the four months of the year are stated to be about £5,000,000. It is feared that the Titanic’s lose, including cargo and passengers’ claims, will total £2,000,000. GENERAL ITEMS. The Pannonia reports many icebergs, some from 100 ft 'to 300 ft high. Among the bodies identified is that of Mr Millett, the artist. Mr Cunningham (steward) says that Mr W. T. Stead was the last passenger under his charge to take a lifebelt. The body of Leslie Williams, the Welsh bantam-weight boxer, was recovered, and has been interred at New York. The owners affirm that the Helligolav was 350 miles westward of the. Titanic when the latter struck. It is officially stated that the Mount Temple went to the assistance of tha Titanic, arriving after the Carpathia had taken up the passengers. The mistake was due to thinking the captain saw the Titanic’s signals, instead of having received a wireless call. The bodies of Colonel Astor, Mr Straus, Mr Alison, and Mr Hart are among those recovered. In memory of the late Mr Hays the entire Grand Pacific trunk system was suspended for five minutes. The stations were draped in mourning. If the freight steamer Lena had been equipped with wireless apparatus she could have reached the Titanic in time to save those aboard. She passed within 20 miles of the sinking liner. The Times calls attention to the ignorance of Senator Smith, chairman of the Titanic inquiry, in asking Mr Lightoller whether the watertight compartments were intended as refuges for the passengers. The White Star and the Ounard Companies state that the captains’ standing instructions are to ensure the safety of the lives and of the ship before speed. Bills are being introduced into Congress to present gold medals to the captain and crew of the Carpathia, and 10,000dol (£2000) apiece to the widows of the Titanic’s American mail clerks. Thirty-two women were drowned among the first and second claves.

One hundred bodies have been recovered. Mr Wadener’s was among the first to be identified. The newspapers report Mr Whitley as saying that a boat was lowered on the starboard side before the officers issued their orders; that the boat contained an American millionaire, with his wife, .child, two valets? and seven firemen, whom he had bribed, and that each, when aboard the Carpathia, received £5. Two French children, Lolo and Louis Hoffman, are among the saved, but the fate of the parents is unknown. OLYMPIC DELAYED. LONDON, April 24. The Olympic, with 1400 passengers aboard, was detained an hour at Southampton, owing to the firemen and stokers deserting her, alleging that some of the collapsible boats were not seaworthy. Mr Curry, the local manager for the White Star Line, states that all boats had been officially examined and passed. Other firemen were engaged immediately. April 25. When the Olympic wax on the point of Sailing a number of her firemen hurled their kits on the quay, and scores then Oed round the gangway, demanding wooden lifeboats instead of collapsIbles be placed on board. The officers offered to demonstrate the seaworthiness of the boats, but 295 men left the ship. Pickets were posted on the dock, and at the White Star Company’s offices. The sailors state that they are determined not to sail without union firemen. April 26. The officials of the Seamen’s Union witnessed the trials of the Olympic’s boats, and agreed that they were seaworthy, except one collapsible. The White Star Company immediately offered to replace it. The company is now recruiting firemen in the provinces Fifty of the Olympic’s sailors have been arrested on charges of deserting and refusing to sail with non-union firemen. The remnant of the firemen hitherto loyal also declined to sail. The deserters jumped into the tug which had brought the non-union firemen, whereupon the captain of the Olympic signalled to the cruiser Cochrane.

Captain Goodenough proceeded in his pinnace, and remonstrated with the deserters in the tug, declaring that their conduct was tantamount to mutiny. The deserters remained obdurate. Meanwhile a passenger steamer was sent to t;Jrs cff the saloon passengers. The White Star Company has appealed io the Prime Minister to support its

efforts to secure the punishment of the guilty men, as unless firmness is shown it will be unable to restore discipline and maintain its dates of sailing. April 27. The Olympic’ strikers have been remanded on bail till Tuesday. The Sailors and Firemen’s Union repudiate their action, and states that it is due to the local Seafarers’ Union, which has seceded from the former union. EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY. Motions expressive of sympathy with the widows, orphans, and relatives of those who lest their lives in the Titanic disaster have been passed by local and public bodies, including the Otago Harbour Board, Otago A. and P. Society, Shipwreck Relief Society, and other's. THE DISASTER AND ITS LESSONS. ADDRESS BY MR HAVELOCK WILSON. AUCKLAND, April 29. An address on “ The Titanic Disaster and its Consequent Lessons ” was given last evening by Mr Havelock Wilson, general president of the National British Seamens and Firemen’s Union. The lecturer stated that he liad been a member of Parliament and had lost his seat because at the time of the general election he was in America engaged uipon an important mission. He was a member of an advisory committee of the Board of Trade which was supposed to be responsible to the Government for all the acts and regulations with reference to British shipping for the past 20 years. He had been striving to find out what and where the Board of Trade was. He was aware it had a president, a secretary, and four assistant secretaries, but he had been unable to discover the Board of Trade itself, although he had heal'd ail sorts of ex fram'd inary stories about it. Only 12 montlis ago, he said, the question ot boat accommodation on the Titanic was considered by the committee, and it was held that there' was room in the boats for only half the persons on the liner. The board took action, but Mr Wilson said it was t’lien and right up to tlse time of the accident the general opinion that this ship was unsinkable. He believed that if the Titanic had struck bow on her bulkheads would have kept her afloat for a long time, and would probably have saved her, but he thought she glanced along the ice and tore her side out. While substantial bulkheads as numerous as possible should be built into every vessel, another precaution might be taken with advantage. Iron steamers nowadays had water ballast tanks running all the way fore and aft, and cases had been known when vessels had tom their outer skins and yet steamed thousands of miles on only the ballast tank deck. At all events in passenger ships these inner skins should be increased in number and

carried throughout the length and breadth of the vessel. Above the water line their safety would be secured even if the outer skin were completely torn away. He hoped, if a commission was appointed to inquire into this matter, the mistake would not be made of providing plenty of boats and disregarding the important matter of keeping the vessel herself afloat. —(Applause.) In these matters he did not blame the ship-owners at all, but he did blame the permanent officials of the Board of Trade, who had allowed the existing state of things to go on for so long, despite the suggestions of its advisory committee. He had noticed with deep regret that several sinister references had been made to Mr Israay personally. He was delighted to Learn that that gentleman was among the saved, because he would now realise to the fullest extent the terrible position of people upon a lost steamer. Such a lesson would never be forgotten, and it would of necessity make a deep impression upon the minds of his fellow shipowners. At the same time, if he thought there was any blame attachable to Mr Ismay or to his colleagues he would denounce him and them from every platform he had an opportunity of speaking on.—(“ Hear, hear.”) But he did not believe that either the blame or the recponsibility lay at their doors. The name of the Ismays in shipping trade stood very high, for it was held that no more conscientious men were engaged in it. Mr Wilson maintained that on all passenger ships there should be a sufficient number of lifeboats, and that each should have a crew of at least three competent seamen under a petty officer. He ventured to say, although he had no facts before him, that the Titanic had not in nil her crew 50 competent seamen apart from officers. Wireless telegraphy should be made compulsory on all ships, and all foreign ships trading to British ports should be compelled to comply with these regulations. In conclusion Mr W 7 ilson pa.id a high tribute to the conduct of the officers and crew of the ill-fated steamer,-who shouted “ Women and children first,” and then perished like heroes. —(Loud applause.) He added that he had cabled the seamen the world over asking every man to devote two days’ pay to the relief fund.— (Cheers.) A resolution embodying the suggestions made by the lecturer was carried.