TITANIC DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1037, 30 April 1912, Page 4

TITANIC DISASTER.

STARTLING EVIDENCE

Washington, April 27. Further evidence regarding the foundering of the White Star liner Titanic after striking an iceberg between Cape and Sable Island on the night of Sunday, April 14th, was taken by the Senate Committee of Inquiry yesterday. A sensation was created by the statement of Gill, a donkey-engine man on the Leyland liner Californian, who gave evidence that he saw the Titanic firing white rockets. She was then ten miles off, and the time was midnight. He did not notify the officers on the bridge, because those on the bridge could see for themselves. Au apprentice officer, however, informed the captain, who disregarded the signals of distress.

Gill added that he tried to organise a deputation of the crew to go to the captain and enter a protest, but the men were afraid of losing their jobs. Captain Cord, master of tire Californian, denied Gill’s allegations. He stated that when he came to the icefields he sent a wueless message to the Titanic, which was then 19T2 miles away. The Titanic replied : “Shut up. Get out !’’ Witness saw nothing of the Titanic’s signals. It his ship bad received the “C.Q.D.’’ signal on that Sunday night she could have reached the Titanic iu two hours.

Another ship lay within four or five miles of the California all night. She sent up several white rockets, which were not distress signals. The Californian replied with Morse signals. Captain Lord added : “I told my wireless operator to ascertain this vessel’s name, but she did not reply, so J went to bed. I was told later that the vessel steamed away about 4 o’clock.” Witness was sure the stranger was not the Titanic.

Mr Evans, wireless operator on the Californian, stated that he went to bed at 11.25 on night of April 14th. Previous to that, by the Captain’s orders, he had warned the Titanic’s wireless operator of icebergs, and received the reply from the Titanic : “Shut up. You jammed me working with Cape Race.”

At 3.40 a.m. witness was awakened by the chief officer, who said they had seen rockets and wanted information. Witness called up the Frankfurt, and learned that the Titanic was sinking. It was generally believed on the Californian that the rockets came from the Titanic.

Duley, a seaman on the Titanic, gave evidence that a steamer’s two masthead lights were visible when the Titanic struck, and they passed right by. “We thought she was coming to help us. I told the passengers so to keep them quiet. The stranger must have seen our rockets, as we saw the ship itself.”