Chief Officer’s Story

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 518, 22 November 1928, Page 9

Chief Officer’s Story

TOLD CAPTAIN OF LEAK

Passengers’ Criticism

THAT orders were disobeyed in the time of crisis was revealed by the chief officer of the sunken ship Vestris at the inquiry yesterday. Over 100 lives were lost. Passengers, in evidence, criticised the condition of the lifeboats and gear. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and y.Z. Press Association)

Reed. 10 a.m. NEW YORK, Wed. When Attorney Charles H. Tuttle’s Vestris inquiry was resumed, a definite course of action was decided upon, at the suggestion of the British Naval expert, Captain Joseph McConkey—namely: (1) That the former captain of the Vestris be called: (2) that Commissioner O’Neill and two naval experts inspect the steamship Vauban, which is a sister ship of the Vestris: (3) that the three main points be answered (a) to determine the actual cause of the sinking, (h) to determine the actual cause of the loss of life, and (c) to determine the cause for the delay jn sending the S.O.S. The hearing then proceeded along these lines. First-officer Johnston, of the sunken Vestris, recalled, said members of the crew refused some of his orders just prior to the disaster, and that some were not at their posts of duty ■when the lifeboat order was given; but, he added, “I was still able to control my men, however.” Mr. Johnston stated that he gave one officer the command to enter a lifeboat, but the officer walked away, ignoring the command. He also stated that He heard water running into the coal-bunkers, but he was unable to get there because of the coal. “I reported it to the captain, and he came down on Sunday morning and inspected it.” They were unable, however, to find where the water was coming from. “I got away lifeboats one, three, five and seven. They were not properly filled, because there was not sufficient time.” Officials who interviewed the survivor, Captain Sorenson, upon his arrival at New' York took the stand and denied that the latter had been misquoted, after which a passenger, Mr.

J. B. Duvalle, testified that the port window of his first cabin was cracked and the packing was missing, allowing water to enter every time the waves slapped the Vestris. Mr. Duvalle said he entered the last lifeboat and it was safely launched. “There was no officer or member of the crew in our boat, which carried 22 persons. Four of us had to bail water out all the time. I do not believe the boat had been greatly damaged by pounding against the side of the Vestris.” A first-class passenger, Mr. Edward Margin, said: “I was standing near boat eight. I saw a large hole near the water line. A sailor tacked a piece of tin over it, but I told Officer Johnston that I was not going on that boat. I got into number ten. The boat leaked all the time. The lantern was defective, and nine of the twelve flares were defective. Finally, we had to transfer 20 of the 51 people in the boat, because we feared it might founder. “I 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 Thirdofficer Conrad Oswald, both said they believed the lifeboats were in good condition, after which Captain Cummings, of the American Shipper, testified that none of the five lifeboats his ship rescued were overcrowded. “All could have taken on other passengers,” he said. Mr. Edward Walcott, agent for the third-class passengers, said boat nine, in which he was rescued, leaked badly. IN SPLENDID ORDER Before the Commerce Department, hearing Edward Ohman, second officer of the American Shipper, stated that the lifeboats of the Vestris were in good shape. “Only one lifeboat, number 5, contained any water, and there were only a few inches in it.” Mr. James Short, surveyor of hulls for Lloyd’s, said he exavmed the Vestris’s cargo hold and ballast tanks on August 31, and found the vessel in very good condition. Mr. Short said the Vertris’s second officer had told him that the half door, which figured so prominently in the investigation, was often left open to provide' fresh air for the stewards and other seamen. Asked if he got the impression that the door was occasionally left open without the officers’ permission, he replied, “I did.” Mr. Short testified that the lifeboats were in splendid shape K'hen he made his last inspection. He stated that he believed the boats were built with the Vestris, which would make them 16 years old.