THE TITANIC DISASTER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143786, 9 May 1912, Page 3

THE TITANIC DISASTER.

INQUIRY IN BRITAIN. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright(Received May 9, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. When applying to represent steerage passengers at the Titanic inquiry, counsel stated that two third-class passengers allege that, while they were swimming about, members of tho crew struck their heads and hands, and prevented them climbing into a boat. EVIDENCE OF LOOK-OUT MEN. (Received May 9, 1 p.m.) LONDON, May S. ! Leo, who was with Fleet in the crow's nest, gave evidence at the Titanic inquiry that the haze ahead thickened, but speed was not slackened. Fleet’s warning that an iceberg was right ahead was acknowledged from the bridge. The iceberg appeared to he a dark mass, and the only white spot was a Iringo along the top. It was first seen when half a mile or less distant. COMMENTS BY A STEWARD. TOO FEW SAILORS AND BOATS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 8. A steward on one of the Union Company’s boats has been giving tho Post some of his experiences on tho Atlantic liners. His name is not given, so the statements do not carry quite the same weight. He, however, complains bitterly of the conditions under which the stewards on tho White Star liners had to work and live. “On some’ships,” he says, “stewards have almost to fight for their meals. Complaints were made to the Board of Trade, but nothing was done. The conditions were a great contrast to those prevailing on Now Zealand ships. In regard to boat drill on the Atlantic liners he had never known its being regularly practiced on the voyage. Sometimes a muster was called for boat drill, but half the men could not be found. They planted themselves in all sorts of hiding places. He mentioned a dummy funnel on one boat, and the result was that the whole thing was a farce. It had been proved by the Titanic disaster that not enough boats were carried to accommodate all the ship’s company, passengers, and crew in case of accident. A serious accident had never been contemplated until the Titanic disaster, and personally in all his ten years’ experience he had never seen or been connected with any maritime mishap in the Atlantic. It was not really a sailor’s life at all on these huge ocean palaces. There was a - crow including stokers, officers, and engineers, but excluding’ stewards, of only 400 men on such monsters as the Titanic. Of these, a largo proportion were first voyage men, and ordinary seamen —very ordinary ; ho thought, as often as not. It was impossible, with a ship containing over 4000 souls, as did the Olympic on her maiden voyage, to exercise adequate discipline. They trusted to things going right. If they went wrong, well, the Titanic disaster was sufficient evidence of the consequences. On the Olympic in one voyage there were 720 saloon passengers, 670 second cabin, and 2500 third class. There were 500 men iu tho victualling department (cooks, stewards, etc.), and only 400 sailors, officers, stokers, and engineers. Pie had made over a dozen voyages with the late Captain Smith in the Atlantic service. He was a wonderful man, not particularly’ inclined to be bothered with passengers. He left that to the other officers. Our informant remembers Captain Smith well on one voyage chatting with Lord Charles Bcresford on the bridge. They spent whole days together, for they had served together as young men in the navy. Captain Smith, though not looking for popularity, was one of the most popular officers in tho Western Ocean. Pie was liked by everybody, and his tragic fate was felt with personal sympathy all over the world by men who had served under him. .“I feel sure,” said the steward, “that the disaster could in no way bo attributed to him. I think tho Titanic was out to break the Olympic’s records and that caused tho disaster.”