PAGE SIX
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY i, 19 12.
The Titanic
Purpose Is to Get at All the
Facts Bearing on the
Disaster.
Mrnii) purpose of the inquiry into
Ithe Titanic disaster now being
conducted by a committee of
the United States senate, of I
hlch Senator William Allen Smith of 1
JFtehlcau is chairman, is to uet nt nil
the Tacts bearing upon the catastrophe.
The curlier witnesses called were olll
clals otthe White Stnr line, which
owned thetotaulc; olllcers of thaship,
members ofthe crew nnd surviving
passenpers. OTonithom the committee
sought to learnrncts and circumstances
that surroundecX the progress of tho
ship before the collision nnd what
transpired thereafer, such informa
tion to form the groundwork of subse
quent sessions, when shipbuilders and
naval architects will be witnesses.
J. Bruce Ismay, managing director
of the White Star line, nnd Philip A.
S. Franklin, vice president, were
among the llrst witnesses, but their ex
amination wns not completed, nnd both
are under sulJpoena to nttend every
session of the committee.
Some of the testimony has been sen
sational. Herbert G. Lowe, fifth olll
cer of the Titanic, told how he had to
use violent language to Mr. Ismay
when the latter was interfering with
the loading of the lifeboats. Lowe said
that he did not row back to do rescue
work till the dying had thinned out.
fearing the drowning would swamp the
boat.
J. B. Boxhall. fourth officer of the
Titanic, declared that within fifteen
minutes of tho sinking of the ship he,
with other officers, including Captain
Smith, and also several passengers,
noticed the masthead lights and red
Bide light of a large steamer whose po
sition seemed to be not more than five
miles away.
Startling Declarations.
Boxhall said that be sent up rockets,
used tho Morse electric signal code and
did everything possible to attract the
attention of this steamer. lie did not
see her reply or acknowledge any of
tho signals, but he was assured by oth
ers that she did reply. Nevertheless
the mysterious vessel drew nway, tak
ing an oblique course that soon sent
lier below the horizon of those on the
sinking Titanic.
II. J. Pitman, the third ofilcer of the
Titanic, beard, be said, after he took
to sea in a lifeboat, 11 long, low, con
tinual moan from tho drowning people
It caused him to make an effort to re
turn to try to rescue some, as his boat
could hold more, but ho gave up tin
attempt on tho protest of the passen
gers in his boat, who said the crow J
would swamp tho boat and add forty
to tho list of dead. He heard thire
heartrending cries for an hour, gradu
ally dying away as victim after victim
perished.
Frederick Fleet, a lookout on the Ti
tanic, testified that no spyglasses were
furnished the lookouts. If he had been
furnished with glasses, Fleet believes,
bo would have been able to see the fa
tal Iceberg la time for tho vessel to
have steered a safe course. lie sent
tho customary three bells warning to
the bridge and also telephoned that Ice
was ahead just before the vessel crash
ed. As soon ns he bad telephoned an
acknowledgment was sent back from
the bridge, but it was not until the Ti
tanic had collided with the iceberg that
any change was made in the vessel's
direction.
Lowe's Story.
Lowe, nlthough only twenty-nine
years old, has been a seaman for four
teen years. He was on duty from d
p. m. to 8 p. m. on the night of the ac
cident, when he went below. He wns
awakened by hearing voices, got up
and dressed and went on deck. The
passengers were wearing lifebelts and
were getting into lifeboats ready to go
overboard.
Fourth Officer Boxhall told him that
tho ship had struck an iceberg. lie
crossed to the starboard side and help
ed lower the lifeboats. When he was
working on boat No. 0 Mr. Ismay, al
though he did not know Ismay's iden
tity at tho time, was anxious and ex
cited and kept ordering him to "lower
away." He then used harsh language
toward Ismuy.
Lowe's words to Mr. Ismay were
given to the committee on paper. Ho
said that hud lie obeyed Ismay nnd
lowered nwuy quickly bo might have
drowned all the persons In the life
Iwat. After Lowe had spoken to him
Ismay walked uway and went to an
other lifeboat.
Lowo got into lifeboat No. 11, which
was roped to four others, no waited
until tho yells and shrieks of the per
sons In the water hud subsided o that
they would thin out, as ho expressed
it, nnd then rowed among tho wreck
ago and picked up four persons.
Lowo says ho fired suvoral pistol
shots ns ho was being lowered in his
lifeboat It was ovcrcrowdod, nnd ho
was afraid It would doublo under hlra.
A number of Italians wero at tho ship's
rails ready to spriug, nnd he fired to
keep them from Jumping Into tho boat.
Ho was positive ho did not hit any one.
BoxhalPs Story.
Boxhall's story was dramatic. Ho Is
thirty-two years old. no wont on duty
t 8 n. m.. on the daV of tho arclrtnnt
Inquiry I
Committee I
Some of the Witnesses Have X
o
t
Told Highly Sensational
Storibs.
nnd was In the chart room working out
positions most of the evening. He was
just approaching the brldgo on the
starboard side when the collision took
place and heard tho sixth officer say
what It was. The Impact .wns slight.
He did not take it seriously and pro
ceeded to tho bridge, where he found
tho sixth officer, tho first ollk-cr and
the captain.
Boxhall heard Captain Smith nsk
First Officer Murdock what she had
struck and heard Murdock reply that
she had struck an iceberg. Murdock
added thnt ho had put the ship hard
a-starboard nnd run the engines full
astern, but it was too late; she had hit.
no saw Murdock apply the electricity
that closed tho water tight doors.
The stars were shining, nnd It was a
clear night, though there was no moon.
Boxhall went below to ascertain the
extent of the damage and returned to
the bridge and reported that he could
not see any damage. He Inspected nil
Ihe decks and went Into the lowest
steerage, but not Into the cargo por
tion of tho ship. Captain Smith sent
him to find tho carpenter nnd get hliu
to sound the ship. The carpenter told
they wontd drift around and later re
turn to tho ship. His lifeboat had for
ty persons In It and contained biscuits
and water, but had 110 ocenston to ubo
either.
After the Tltnnic went down ho heard
cries of distress, crying, moaning and
shouting from the persons in the wn
tor. He wanted to pull toward the
wreck. His bont was 300 yards nway,
nnd there wns room in It for n few
nioro persons. Hverybody In the boat
Bald it wns n mad Idea of his, because
they had far better save what few
were in the boat than to go back to tho
scene of tho wreck nnd bo swamped by
tho crowds that wero in the wntcr
there.
ritinan said there was a continual
moan rcnchlng his ears for nu hour,
then the sounds died nway gradually.
Lookout Fleet's Story.
Lookout Fleet is twenty-live years
old. Ho has served four years as a
lookout nnd occupied tho crow's nest
on the Titanic from 10 to 12 on tho
night of the tragedy, no discovered
'.ho Iceberg nnd gave warning Before
the vessel struck if.
Fleet was told to keep a sharp look
out for ice when ho went on watch.
He saw the Iceberg right ahead a
black mass and reported it. He first
struck three bells and then telephoned
to the bridge. He got the answer.
"Thank you."
He remained In the crow's nest twen
ty minutes after tho accident. Tho
hlp did not stop after he gave the sig
nal, not until she passed the Iceberg.
The jar of the collision wns not enough
to disturb his position and did not
nlnrni him seriously.
Tho most sensational part of Fleet's
testimony was his declaration that u
night glass would have saved the Ti
tanic and all on board. When tho shin
Copyright, 1912, by American Press Association.
PROMINENT FIGURES IN THE SENATE TITANIC INQUIRY.
FOItKSAW SKA TIIAGKDY
THROUGH KUW LIFKBOATH.
Now York. Emll Taussig, presi
dent of tho West Disinfecting com
compnny of Now York, who lost his
llfo on tho Titanic, in ado persistent
endeavors whllo allvo to got tho
united States steamship Inspection
sorvlco to onforco regulations that
would compel steamships to carry
enough hontB to glvo every person
on board a scat In caso of accident.
Letters written hy Mr. Taussig to
tho officials of this sorvlco at Wash
ington glvo ovldcnco thnt ho .foresaw
with romarknblo clearness tho possi
bility of just such a disastor as tho
ono which cost his llfo. Thoso let
ters woro written In 1008 and 1909
and nro in part as follows:
" It will cortalnly bo calamitous if,
nt tho next disaster which may oc
cur, any of tho passengers havo lost
their lives, simply becauso thoro
woro not llfehonts enough for them
to get Into. Thnt is a responsibility
that nobody would bo willing to
shoulder.
" In lieu of all these mntters
brought beforo you, and your experi
ence in tho service, is tho board will
ing to take tho responsibility that in
caso of an accident to a vessel a
lnrgo number of pcoplo lose their
lives duo to tho fact that there wero
Hfehoats carried by tho ship to save
only a small portion of tho passen
gers? " Do you want to tako tho respon
sibility In view of tho added facili
ties in the direction of entrusting
steamships to carry a sufficient num
ber of lifeboats to enablo any ono
to say these people lost their lives
owing to the fact that tho board of
steamship supervising Inspectors did
not prescribe or compel steamships
to carry more boats?
" Just as sure .13 you are living
and just as sure as there is a sun
ahovo us this thing will como to
pass sooner or later, unless the rules
are amended compelling steamships
to carry moro boats."
Stop
Look
Read
SOUTH CANAAN.
(Special to Tl'e Citizen.)
South Canaan. April 27.
Mrs. Algin Rockwell has returned
from Dr. Thompson's hospital, at
Scranton, where she has been re
ceiving treatment.
Miss Beatrice Curtis has opened
her millinery shop and is having fine
success.
Mrs. Ell Shaffer and three sons
are visiting relatives in Newfound'
land.
Orville Bronson, who has been
laid up with a broken log for some
time, now has nn attack of plursy.
John Congdon is working at Z. A.
Wonnacott's saw mill, Waymart.
The new creamery at this place is
having fine success.
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Bentham spent
Saturday and Sunday at Waymart
with the latter's grandparents, Mr.
and Mrs. O. L. Wells.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mandervllle,
of Carbondale, will move into tho
house with the latter's parents. Mr.
I and Mrs. Charles Fielding, in tho
near future.
Mrs. Blanche Bronson made a
business trip to Carbondale April 17.
I John Bentham is having a hot
and cold water plant installed in his
hotel. Tho plumbing work Is being
' done by James F. Arthurs of Dick
son City.
William Piatt has purchased the
blacksmith shop of Charles Van
sickle, and is now ready for work.
Mrs. Alson Swingle, of Albany, N.
. Y., Is visiting her sister, Mrs. John
i Bronson.
Lena Shaffer, of East Canaan, is
tho guest of Charlotte Robinson.
I Albert Jenkins and Lemuel Bar-
hight had tho misfortune of loosing
1 a valuable cow.
j Rumor reports a wedding soon.
' Adam Wagner entered Waymart
High school April 15.
Do You want Electric Lights
in your home, boarding house or hotel? If so we
will put them in. Let me know how many and I
will tell you what it will cost. Electricity beats
them all.
It's the
Dean Home Electric Lighting Plant
Our btoro in tlio Grnmbs Building, is lighted by it. IiCt ns show It to
Reo the Fitth, Ford and Brush
AUTOMOBILES
John Deere Sulky Plows, Success Manure Spreader,
Hnnsifir Grain Prills, (lain Vflrtinal lift Mnuinr
Ireland Wnnil Saw. Kant Klnor Hand SnravprQ
W W U W Mill K U 1 I U IUIIU 1J I J I J ma
r- j
The Famous "New Way" Air Cooled Engine,
him that the ship was making water.
He went down forward and found tho
mall hold rapidly filling.
From the time of his return until ho
left the ship Ills attention was mostly
taken up with firing off distress rock
ets and trying to signal a steamer that
was almost ahead. He saw her mast
head lights and side lights, and she
seemed to be coming toward them.
Ho thought she was close enough to
rend their electric Morse signal, nnd
ho signaled that she should come at
once as they were sinking. IIo saw
no reply, but others told him the
steamer had replied, ne figured that
tlie ship was flvo miles distant.
Boxhall got away In the last life
boat but ono on tho port side. He
wns ordered Into the boat by the cap
tain. He wns half a mile nway when
the Titanic sank.
Pitman's Story.
Third Ofilcer Pitman, who has spent
seveuteen of thirty-four years on tho
ocean, told 11 thrilling tale of tho disas
ter, no wos In his bunk at the time
of the collision nnd was awakened by
a sound that seemed to him like the
ship coming to anchor. lie waited a
few minutes uud then got up and went
on deck.
Ife was toUl by Boxhall what had
hnppcned and that tho water was com
ing In fast, no went to the boat deck
nnd assUted In getting lifeboats uncov
ered and ready for swinging out.
While ho was standing by boat No. fi
Mr. Ismay, in dressing gown and slip
pers, said to him, "Thero is no time
to waste." no thought Ismay didn't
know anything about it and went
about his work in tho usual way, Tho
boat was filled mostly with women
and children, and Murdock told him to
tako charge of It
Ills boat pulled a short distance
away. They wero in tho water an
hour before ho realized that tho Tl
lonlp wnnM alnlr TT hurt thnnvhr
left Southampton, Fleet said, he ask
ed for glasses and was told that there
were none. If he had had glasses he
could have seen tho iceberg soon
enough to get out of the way.
Fleet put off In lifeboat No. C. Light
oiler told him to get Into that boat and
help tho women in.
WRECK ADVICE TO TAFT.
President Overwhelmed With Letter!
on Protection of Life.
Many guggcstlons for luws and regu
lations to protect life on tho ocean are
being received by President Tnft from
every section of tho country. The
president Is sending those letters to
Secretary Nagel of tho department of
commerce nnd labor. Ultimately the
Information and advice they contain
may be laid beforo congress.
Ono of the most general recommen
dations is that vessels be compelled to
travel across the occau in pairs and
always within communicating dis
tance. This can be accomplished In
largo measure, ono communication
points out, by insisting that compet
ing steamships on common voyages
shall sail nt approximately the same
time.
Instead of (tending warships to Gunn
tanamo each year to fire at targets
nnd destroy Imaginary enemies one
writer ndvised that they bo dispatched
to mldoceau to demolish Icebergs.
Tho othcrcommunications recommend
nn adequate number of lifeboats for
all ou board, emergency drills for pas
sengers and crews, a wireless opera
tor always on duty, powerful search
lights and a patrol of tho ocean for the
location and destruction of Icebergs.
SOUTH STERLING.
(Special to Tho Citizen.)
South Sterling, April 27.
As spring is hero all thoso who
intend to keep city people are busily
engaged preparing for the enter
taining their guests.
George II. Lancaster Is remodeling
his house.
James M. Gilpin is papering and
painting his new bouse.
Samuel Frlck is painting and
plastering his now house.
Charles Dunning Is Improving.
Mrs. Angelino Burke has returned
from New York after a stay of five
months.
Fisnlng has been poor on account
of tho cold weather. Tho catches
havo been small so far this season.
William II. Osborno injured two
fingers a week ago and thoy aro
causing him a lot of trouble and
causing dolay in grading around his
new houso; also his son Lewis has
been very sick but is Improving.
Suffragettes Old $30,000 Damage,
Tho damage dono to storo property
during tho recent window smashing
campaign of London suffragettes Is
Dfllclallr eftttmnred at $30,000.
STATU MAY HAVK
FAlt.MIXG COL'USK.
Harrlsburg. Tho study of agricul
ture may bo Inaugurated In tho pub
lic schools of tho Stato, especially In
rural high schools, during tho com
ing Winter as a result of an inves
tigation into tho practicability of in
stalling It now being made by tho
Department of Public Instruction.
This Investigation Into conditions
and facilities, as well a into tho
needs of such education, has been in
progress for several months undor
tho direction of Dr. N. O. Schaoffor,
Stato Superintendent of Public In
struction, nnd ho plans to tako up
tho matter within a short tlrno.
Under tho school codo Dr. Schaof
fer was empowered to appoint exports
In industrial education, agriculture
education and drawing, tho appoint
ment of tho agricultural branch be
ing given to Prof. L. II. Dennis, of
Stato College.
Tho plnns nro to havo a survey
made of tho Stato with roferonco to
tho needs of various localities and
tho financial resources of districts
whero such oducatlon Is found to bo
advisable. Prof. Dennis has boon
visiting many counties, having cov
ered practically all of tho agricul
tural counties, and tho results of his
investigations aro to ho taken up
this Spring.
Aji optimist is a person -who bo
lloves In himself, when nobody is
looking.
What makes a woman proud of
her husband is for him to bo proud
of her.
Honesdale. Pa.
HONESDAL
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SUPERVISED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS
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