Titanic Disaster.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 254, 26 April 1912, Page 5

Titanic Disaster.

THE TITAXIC'S INSURANCE. RAISING THE RATES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 25, 9.30 p.m. London, April 25. The British insurance markets, assisted by those of the Continent and the United States, are finding £1,000,000 in settlement of the Titanic claims. The heaviest underwriting loss is to the Royal Exchange Assurance, namely i £7600. The renewal of insurances of numerous liners has been effected at far higher rates than heretofore. THE FIFTH OFFICER'S EVIDENCE. SENATOR SMITH'S ATTITUDE. GRAVE ALLEGATIONS. Received 25, 9.30 p.m. Washington, April 25. Mr. Lowe, fifth officer of the Titanic, gave evidence that the collision did not awaken him. 1 Senator Smith asked if witness was intemperate. Mr. Lowe indignantly denied the charge. Senator Smith: I ask because a note has just been passed up stating that it Was reported that you were drinking on the night of the disaster. Mr. Lowe: Impossible. I am a total abstainer.

Continuing, lie stated that when he awoke he found the boats being prepared, and the vessel tipping at an angle of fifteen degrees. The only eonfusion was due to passengers interfering with the lowering gear of the lifeboats. Otherwise the discipline was excellent. He told one passenger, who was excitedly saying "Lower away!" that "if he went to hell we would get the boats awav." The passenger stepped back, and he afterwards learnt that it was Mr. Ismay. Ismay's fault was over-anxiousness in helping all he could.

When no more women came forward the male passenger were put into the boats. There was no discrimination between the classes or against the stewardesses.

One lifeboat was launched with forty passengers, because the officers were unable to find anyone waiting to go. The passengers seemed not to care to get into the boats. There was no time to drag women from their husbands. One Italian, with a shawl over his head, sneaked into a boat full of women and children.

After the Titanic sank he waited at the edge of the scene until the cries ceased. Then he transferred his passengers to other boats and called for volunteers to row back to the wreckage. He ihad forty-five in his boat when the Carpathia picked them up. including twentyone from a sinking collapsible. It would have been suicidal to take the boat into the struggling mass of drowning people.

Mr. Lightoller. recalled, stated that wen he saw Mr. Ismav on the Carpathia he seemed obessed with the idea that he should have gone down with the ship, as women had been drowned, lie had to receive medical attention. The chief officer actually put Mr. Ismay into the boat, telling him that there were no

more women to go. There are many comments on the committee's haphazard methods and Senator Smith's nautical ignorance. He asked one witness if the Titanc sank by the bows or by the head. There was loud laughter. Apparently as a consequence of these criticisms, Senator Smith has } stated that the committee intends to j question all British subjects from the ■wreck who were in America. "We shall hold them here," he said, "until we have learned all. The committee will not tolerate any further attempts of anyone to •hape its course." He punctuated his remarks by pounding his fist on the table. He asked Mr. Lowe whence the icebergs came. Mr. Lowe: The Arctic regions. Senator Smith: Of what are they composed?! Mr. Lowe: Ice. Mr. Lowe further stated that he was afraid to crowd his boat lest she should break in the davits. He saw steerage Italians during the lowering glaring like wild beasts over the railings, ready to ■pring. He fired his revolver thrice to frighten them. Hitchings, the Titanic's quartermaster, was served with a subpoena aboard the Celtic at New York, and arrived in Washington in custody. He denied that he had said, when the passengers asked his boat to return to rescue the drowning. "We're not going back after those stiffs." Nevertheless, it was impossible to return. SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT. MRS. ASTOR'S STORY. THE SENATORIAL ENQUIRY. Copenhagen. April 24. The owners of the Helligolao state that the vessel was 350 miles westward when the Titanic struck. Washington, April 24. The captain of the Californian disclaims the supposition that the Californian was the steamer seen five miles away from the Titanic, as on Sunday evening she was twenty miles away. At 10.30 she entered an immense icefield, so they stopped the engines and waited till daylight. Her wireless installation was not working, or they might have saved all. They did not learn of the disaster till Monday morning. Mrs. Astor. giving evidence to the Committee, stated that her husband, awakening her. told her something was wrong, and urged her to dress, assuring her that the Titanic was unsinkable. ne left, but returned, looking grave. He declared she had struck a submerged ieeocrg. Mrs. Astor hurriedly dressed, westing some jewellery, and accompanied hen husband to the boat deck. They

donned lifebelts. Colonel Astor, noticing his wife was lightly clad, sent for a

heavier dress and wrapped liar in a fur coat. As she was entering the boat her husband said, "The sea is calm. You are all right and in good hands. I will meet you in the morning." He stood smiling as the lifeboat was lowered. She soon noticed the Titanic settling, and saw her terrier running on deck. She saw the Titanic sink. It was very cold. Icy water entered the bottom of the boat and rose up to her knees. She rowed, ' j knowing how to' handle an oar, and so did Mrs. Widener. Eight or ten drowning men were picked up during the night. She saw the day break. Icebergs were surrounding them when the Carpathia ; rescued them. She found in the pockets I of the fur coat two hundred dollars, which she distributed among the destitute aboard the Carpathia. The Senate Committee refused Mr. Ismay and Mr. Franklin permission to return to New York. At the enquiry Major Peuchen did not criticise Captain Smith, but blamed the company's policy and methods. He felt convinced that caution would have averted a terrible calamity. London, April 24. In the House of Commons, Mr. Acland, replying to several questions, said that he was not aware of any precedent i under which the Senate was holding an enquiry into the Titanic disaster, although Congress had power to investigate and summon witnesses if circumstances arose . If witnesses desired pro- j tection the Ambassador would be instructed accordingly, but lie trusted the good sense of the Senate and the American people. New York, April 24. The body of Leslie Williams, Welsh bantam-weight boxer, was recovered, and was interred at New York. { LOST ON MAIDEN VOYAGES. In view of the fact that the Titanic was on her maiden voyage to America, the following records of other vessels likewise lost and damaged on their maiden voyages and trip is of interest:— I Amazon.—Burnt in the Bay of Biscay i:i January. 1802. with heavy loss of life. Tayleur—Total loss on Lambv Island. 1554. Schomherg (Blackball liner). —From United Kingdom to Australia, totally lost on the Australian cost, 18m. Holyhead. Liverpool to Melbourne, sunk in collision in Ilobson's Bav in ISB9. Mnsashi Maur—Lost 1800. , George Roper. Liverpool to Mel--1 bourne, lost at the entrance to Port j Philip, July, 1883. ) Port Errol. Port Glasgow to Mel- ; bourne, burnt at Lamlasli, 181)5. Ourimbah.—United Kingdom to Aus- , tralia, in Algoa Bay. Abhona (British India Company). Missing. 1010. Lucania (Cunarder).—On her trial trip touched the ground at a cost to the un-) derwritcrs of £7OOO, j WORLD'S GREATEST STEAMERS. The loss of the Titanic leaves the Olympic, her sister ship, in the undisputed lead among the world's greatest ■ merchantmen:—■ j Tonnage. I

Olvmpic (British) 45,324 Manrctanin (British) ... 31,038 Lus.ita.nia (British) 31.550 George Washington (German)... Ivaiserin Aujrusta "Victoria (Ger2;1:750 - man) 25,570 Adriatic (German) 24,541 Rotterdam (Dutch) 24.140 Baltic (British) Amerika (German) 23,87<i 22.022 Cedric (British) 21,035 . Celtic (British) 20,904 Minnesota (American) 20.718