WITHIN SIX MILES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 526, 1 December 1928, Page 9

WITHIN SIX MILES

Steamer Without Wireless Passes Stricken Vestris NO “EARS” TO HEAR S.O.S. IT is revealed that a steamer passed within six miles of the stricken Vestris on the morning' that she foundered, and that only 35 or 45 miles separated the ships when the Vestris went down. But the other, the Montoso, had no wireless equipment, and so did not learn of the dire peril of the British liner.

(Australian and N.I Reed. 9.5 a.m. NEW YORK, Friday. At Attorney Charles H. Tuttle’s inquiry into the sinking of the British steamer Vestris, when over 100 lives were lost, Mr. W. W. Davies, formerly American correspondent of the Australian and New Zealand Press Association. testified that he never saw the captain of the Vestris from the time of sailing, although he was assigned his table. The witness declared that he was refused permission to send a radiogram to New York concerning the ship’s position. “They told me tfcfGy needed the wireless themselves, to get their position from the land stations.” He said he recalled that one of the radio operators told him just before the Vestris sank that the motor-ship Santa Barbara was only 60 miles away. Mr. Davies declared that he saw an officer running to men who were put-

Press Association) ting: women and children in the port boats to tell them that Captain Carey wanted them placed in the starboard boats, but this order was not complied with. Mr. Davies said it was at his insistence that a piece of tin was nailed over a hole in lifeboat No. S, even though an officer had said the leak would “swell shut.” The witness stated that Captain Carey appeared '‘hopeless’* as he paced the deck, and he distinctly heard the captain say I “Goodbye, boys.” i Officers of the steamer Montoso testified that it was now apparent the latter vessel passed within six miles |of the Vestris on the morning of the disaster, and was only distant 35 or 45 miles when the distress signal was sent, but their ship had no wireless. Mr. Tuttle declared that he introduced this testimony with a view to possible legislation compelling the carrying of wireless equipment.