THE TITANIC DISASTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2, 29 April 1912, Page 5

THE TITANIC DISASTER.

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRY. THE TITANIC'S SIGNALS. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) i Washington, April 27. There was a sensation at the Senatorial inquiry when Gill, one of the Californian's donkey-engine men, gave evidence that he saw the Titanic's white rockets ten miles away at midnight. He did not notify the officers on the bridge because they could see the rockets themselves. An apprentice officer, however, informed the captain, who disregarded the signal,; of distress. (;ill added that he tried! to organise a deputation to go to the captain and protest, but the men were afraid of losing their jobs. Lord, captain of the Califomian, denied Gill's allegations. He stated that when he came to the icefilds lie sent a wireless message to the Titanic, which was nineteen and a half miles away. The Titanic replied: "Shut up! Get out!" He saw none of the Titanic's signals. If he had received a C.Q.I), signal on Sunday he would have reached the Titanic in two hours. Another ship lay within four or live miles of the Californian all night. She sent up several white rockets, which were not distress signals. The Califomian replied with Morse signals. Captain Lord told the wireless operator to ascertain the vessel's name. "She did not reply," he added, "so I wont to bed. I was told that she steamed away about 4 a.m. I am sure that she was not the Titanic." Evans, the Californian's wireless operator, stated that he went to bed at 11.25. Previously, acting on the ca]> tain's orders, ho warned the Titanic of icebergs. . The Titanic operator replied: "Shut up! You jammed me working with Cape Race." The chief officer awoke him at 3.40 a.m., saying that he had seen rockets, and wanted information. "I called the Frankfurt," he continued, "and learned that the Titanic was sinking. It was generally believed on the Califomian that the rockets were from the Titanic." Buley, a Titanic seaman, gave evidence that a steamer with, two lights at the masthead was visible when the Titanic struck. "She passed right by," he said. "We thought she was coming to our help, and told the passengers so to keep them quiet. She must have seen the rockets, as we saw the ship itself." BODIES RECOVERED. New York, April 2G. ' The bodies of Messrs lAstor, Straus, Alieson and Hants have been recovered. A PASSENGER'S MISTAKE. Ottawa, April 2(3. It is officially stated that the Mount Temple went to the assistance of the Titanic, arriving after the Carpathia. The passenger's mistake was due to thinking that the captain saw the signals. Instead, he received a wireless call. THE TITANIC'S REINSURANCE. New York, April 28. Franklin, recalled, denied that there was any attempt to reinsure the Titanic prior to the news of the sinking of the vessel. IN THE ICEFIELD. London, April 27. A Marconigram received in Liverpool states that the Canadian-Pacific liner, Empros of Britain, when crossing the Grand Banks, met a dense fog 240 miles eastward of the Titanic's position. An iceberg was sighted ahead, the engines were reversed, and the ship swung off, barely escaping. There were icebergs in all directions, and the vessel proceeded to Halifax instead of to Montreal. ENSURING EVIDENCE. (Received, 29 9.15 a.m.) London, April 28. The survivors of the Titanic arriving to-day will not be allowed to communicate with the public until the Board of Trade examination is finished. Memorials are being promoted for the Titanic's band and Phillips, the wireless operator. The relief funds now total three hundred thousand pounds. The Cannonia from New York reports passing many icebergs, some from a hundred to three hundred feet long. The body of Millet has been indentified. Cunningham, steward says Mr. Stead was the last passenger under his charge to take life belts. Mt. TEMPLE'S MOVEMENTS. (Received 29, 9.15 a.m.) Washington, April 28. Moore, captain of the Mount Temple ■examined, said he received the Titanic's signal when forty-nine miles off. He hastened to the scene but was compelled to slow down and eventually stop by ice. When fourteen miles distant ho saw fifty bergs in the Titanic's vicinity. He believed the mysterious lights belonged to a tramp which the Mount Temple passed and which did not respond to wireless. ! Cunningham, steward said the order | to call all the passengers was not given until fifty minutes after the collision. UNDER WRITERS' LOSSES. (Received, 29. 8.10 a.m.) London, April 28. Owing to seven vessels being hopelessly overdue for the past four months are about live million. It is feared the Titanic, including cargo

and passengers' claims will be two millions. THE BRITISH COMMISSION. (Received 29, 8.10 a.m.) London, April 23. Rear-Admiral Gough-Calthorp, Captain A. W. Clark, Commander Lyon, and Professor Biles act as Lord Mersey's assessors. SENATOR SMITH AGAIN. (Received, 29, 8.10 a.m.) Washington, April 28. Seaman Hemming, giving evidence said he was asleep when the ship collided. He returned to bed. Later the boatswain called out: "Turn out, you fellows. You haven't half a hour to live. That's from Air. Andrews. Keep it to yourselves." Andrews represented the builders. Lord said the ice-field was twentyfive miles long and several wide. He doubted the watch owing to ice. When he stated that he stopped the Californian owing to ice, Senator i Smith asked whether he cast anchor, apparantly ignorant that the sea is two miles deep. Evans stated that Gill stated that he expected the newspapers to give five hundred dollars for the rocket story. Crowe, steward, gave evidence that the Titanic stood almost perpendicular and presently broke clean in two. The aft section floated back, there was an explosion and the aft section turned and sank. Osman, seaman declared that after the Titanic got to a certain angle .she broke in halves. The aft section sank a certain distance and the passengers climbed to the top deck and the top poop which was black with people. "A FASCIAL INQUIRY." (Received 29, 8.10 a.m.) New York, April 28. The American Merchant Marine Association in a manifesto protests against what it describes as a farcial inquiry. WIRELESS LEG ISLATION. (Received 29, 9.30 a.m.) Washington, April 28. Senator Smith, chairman of the Titanic Committee, interviewed, said he thought a good case had been established to legislate regarding the use of wireless, particularly for an obligatory continued service. THE KARAMEA'S EXPERIENCE Auckland, April 28. The steamer Karamea which arrived from Cardiff, Wales, via St. John and Australian ports, reports a heavy gale and bitterly cold days almost throughout the voyage. When off Cape Race, Newfoundland, the scene of the Titanic disaster, the Karamea ran into a field of ice, and was over ten hours in getting clear. Although the speed of the vessel was reduced to two knots, the impact, as she bumped her way through the small bergs, was sufficient to shako her from stem to

stem, dent her bows, and loosen tho rivets. The ice appeared to grow thicker as tho vessel proceeded, and in order to avoid serious damage Captain Clifton made a detour of 100 miles southward in his course. Tho weather was very cold, the temperature falling to 15 degrees below zero. On the following day, February Bth, the ship's quartermaster (J. W. Scott) died from pneumonia, and was buried at sea on the evening of the same day. The Karamea steamed into St. John's with ice and snow two feet thick over her decks, rigging and sides. Spray was thrown on to her decks by the big sea running, and froze as it fell. Three lionrs were spent in clearing with the aid of crowbars and the steam winch the anchor, which had been frozen to the ships' side. Reports were received at St. John's of several schooners being sunk by the weight of ice and snow on their decks and rigging, while others were lost through all hands being frostbitten. During the voyage Captain Clifton suffered from a severe attack of rheumatic fever, and a call had to be made at Capetown for medical advice. WHERE ThITbLAME LIES. Auckland, April 29. Speaking to a crowded audience in the Opera House last night, Mr. Havelock Wilson, General President of tho National British Seamen's and Firemen's Union, said lie did not believe any blame or responsibility for the Titanic disaster rested on Mr. Ismay or his colleagues. The name of the Tsmays stood very high in tho shipping trade and there were no more conscientious men engaged in it. Whatever blame there was rested with the Board of Trade, which allowed tho existing state of affairs to sontimie despite suggestions from the Advisory Committee. He hoped the Commission, while seized with the importance of increased boats, would not disregard tho fact that it was more important still to make better provision to keep the vessel afloat. He made various suggestions for better provision against such disasters which were embodied in a resolution, which was carried. A collection in aid of the sufferers amounted to £4l.