VESTRIS ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1928, Page 5

VESTRIS ENQUIRY

ENQUIRY RESUMED

(United Press Association —B.v Kleetrh Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received this dav at 11.25. n.»».) NEW YORK, Nov. 21.

"When Tuttle’s Yestris Enquiry was resumed, a definite course of action was decided upon, at the suggestion of the British Naval Expert. Captain Joseph McCoukey, namely: First, that the former captain of the Yestris be called; second, that Commissioner O’Neill and two naval experts inspect the steamship Yauban, which is ■ the sister ship of the Yestris; third that the three main points-li© answered, one to determine the actual cause of tho sinking; two, to determine the actual cause of the loss of life; and three to determine the cause for delay in sending the S.O.S. The hearing then proceeded along these linos. First Officer Johnston, recalled, said that the members of tho crew refused some of his orders just prior to the disaster, and that some were not at tlieir posts of duty when me lifeboat order was given, but lie added: “I was still able to control my men. however.”

NEW YORK, Nov. 21

Johnston stated that he gave one officer a command to enter the lifeboat, but the officer walked away, ignoring the command. He also stated that lie heard water running into tho coal hunkers but was unable to get there because of the coal. ‘‘l reported to tho captain and he came down on Sunday morning and inspected it. Wo were unable, however, to find where the water was coming from. I got away the lifeboats, one, three, five and seven, but they were not properly filled because wo had not sufficient time.” Meantime, at the resumed investigation before the inspector and officials, a reporter who interviewed Sorenson upon arrival at New York took the stand and denied the latter had been misquoted, after which a passenger, J. B. Duvalle, testified that the port window of his first cabin was cracked and the packing missing, allowing water to enter every time a wave slapped tho Vestris.

Duvalle said lie entered the last lifeboat safely launched. “There were no officers or members of the crew in the boat which carried 22 persons. Four had to hail all the time. I do not believe the boat had been greatly, damaged by pounding against the side of tho Yestris.”

A first-class passenger, Edward Alargin, said: “I was standing near boat 8, and saw a largo hole near the water line. A sailor tacked a piece of tin over it, but I told the officer, Johnston. I was not going in that boat. I got into No 10 boat which leaked, all tho time. The lantern was defective, and nine of the twelve flares failed. Finally we had to transfer twenty of fifty-one people in the boat, because we feared it might founder. X wish to take this opportunity to state that at no time did I see evidence of cowardice on the part of the ship’s officers. Officers of the American Shipper which went to the rescue, namely chief officer Eric Nelson, and third officer Conrad Oswald, both saicr they believed tho lifeboats were in good condition, whereafter iCapt. Cummings of tho American Shipper, testified that none of the five lifeboats his ship rescued, were overcrowded. “All could taken on other passengers.” Edward Alcott, agent for the thirdclass passengers said that boat 0, wherein lie was rescued, leaked badly. new YORK. Nov. 21. Before the Commerce Department Edward Ohm an. Second Officer of the American Shipper, stated the lifeboats of the Vestris were in good shape. “Only lifeboat Number Five contained any water and there were only a few inches in it.” James Short, surveyor of hulls for Lloyds said lie examined the Ycstiiss cargo hold and ballast tanks oil August 81st and found the vessel in veiw good condition. Short said tho A csIris’s second officer told him the half

door, which figured so prominently in the investigation was often lott open to provide fresh air for the stewards and other seamen. Asked if he gained the impression that the door was occasionally left open without the officers permission, he replied. "1 did. Short testified the lifeboats were in splendid shape when he made his last inspection. He stated he believed the boats were built with the Aestiis, which would make them 16 years old.