VESTRIS DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1928, Page 5

VESTRIS DISASTER

STOKER’S STORY

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1G

The British Foreign Office ii;is authorised Sir Henry Armstrong, Consul General of New York, to co-oper-ate with Federad Attorney Tuttle in tlie Vestris’s inquiry, for a prclmii nary survey of %he facts. The main investigation will he conducted later by the British Board of Trade.

It is understood that Congress may make an independent investigation ol its own. Particular omuhasis is placed in the Foreign Office instructions on tho necessity for adequate technical assistance to American legal officers conducting the enquiry. A report was made to the British Embassy by one of the Vestris’ survivors, who stilted he was not satisfied that such technical assistance had been provided. Chief interest here lies in the contributory responsibility of officials of the American Steamboat Inspection Service, which issued a Certificate of Seaworthiness to the Vestris on November 7.

Senators Walsh, F'eSs and Nye bcliove that a Congressional investigation is justified, with particular attention to the method of tho Steamship Inspection Bureau.

WYOMING COMMANDER'S

REPORT

NORFOLK (Virginia) N"v i

The commanding officer oi ihe Wyoming, which arrived here with some of the Vestris’ survivors, forwarded to the Navy Department a report on its causes, based on statements of members of tho crew. Rescued stokers of the Vestris state that the first leak came from a cracked sea valve) which went down to the ash hopper in the stokehold. This sea valve was cracked before the Vestris started on the voyage, and there had ibeen some question as to whether she would sail at all. Saturday’s storm opened the seams of the Vestris to n great extent, and water rushed in and could not he controlled.

SHIP DECENTLY SURVEYED

NEW YORK, Nov. 15

Captain Heasley, Assistant Superin tendent of the Lamport Holt Line, said that the four-yearly Lloyd’s Register suvery of the Vr-»G r ; s was practically completed just before she sailed. It was extremely thorough and would have precluded the ship’s sailing in a defective condition. REVISED FIGURES.

(Received this day at 10 a.m •) NEW YORK, Nov. 16. The revised Vestris figures show : — Passengers drowned 68 Passengers rescued 60 ■Crew drowned 43 Crew rescued ... 155 Bodies recovered 22