THE VESTRIS DISASTER

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 81, 17 November 1928, Page 5

THE VESTRIS DISASTER

. . ■ • ’ ■" INQUIRY OPCHeD. . —— EVIDENCE BY SURVIVORS. . : NEW YORK* November 15. , Thq federal Government .before United State* Commissioiier o’Ne.iU, opened an. investigation, into tbp Veitoa catastrophe.. 1 • . ' first witness was a survivor, Fred Fuppe, who lost his wife and baby As he gave evidence he wept and i-apoke excitedly. ’ wa» v daw3®«®/’ 119 sait^r Btart of fflJfc’tripj when he complained to a steward he received for answer; “You don -ft know anything about it.” He testified that he placed his wife an. baby wt one of the first boats launched. He went later in the leading 4 opened. He looked back and saw his wife’s boat hanging empty from the davits. He stated he saw no indication of the high wind reported. He aim stated boats containing women and children never left the raised potion of the deck. “I am sure of , it,’T he said. Aiiother survivor, Wallace Sinclare, stated that Puppe was correct in his, statement. Witness waa impressed with tty* lack of preparation and the neglect to give passengers proper instructions- The crew tried to jebbison the cargo bjyhand, but only moved two tons. stated nothing was accomplished in the lifeboats because all wanted to do something different. - There was no question of water coming through the seams. The bodies in tfye morgue showed clashes of-shark bites.