THE TITANIC DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 275, 17 May 1912, Page 5

THE TITANIC DISASTER

THE BRITISH ENQUIRY. THE STEAMER'S ROCKETS. By Call*—Praai Amtmtim--Qmpjii&ft. London, May 15. At the Titanic enquiry, during the examination of Stewart, chief officer of the Californian, Lord Mersey stated that he personally was of opinion that the rockets seen by the Californian were from the Titanic. Groves, the third officer, admitted that he now believed they were the Titanic's rockets.

THE VESSEL'S END. Received 16, 11.50 p.m. London, May M. Groves testified that at ten minutes past eleven he saw a steamer twelve miles distant. He told the captain. Judging from the deck lights she was a passenger steamer. The captain remarked that it was only a passenger steamer in the vicinity of the Titanic. This was at 11.40. Witness still saw the masthead lights, and told Stone, who relieved him. Owing to her change of position the deck lights were shut out. Witness proceeded to the wireless room and awoke the operator, and asked "What ship is in touch?" The operator replied "Only the Titanic." Witness putthe instruments to his ears, but heard nothing. He was only listening, however, for fifteen or thirty seconds. The Court was thrilled by evidence that the Titanic's calls were missed by a few seconds by a liner twelve miles distant. Lord Mersey asked: Do you think, from what you heard subsequently, that the steamer was the Titanic. Groves: Yes; decidedly. The officers admitted that they had not recorded the distress signals in the log-book. Durrant. the Mount Temple's operator, produced a record of a message passing between the Titanic and neighboring vessels, which disposed of the statement that the Titanic snubbed the Frankfurt. The latter immediately went to the Titanic's help. The Titanic's messages were clear till 1.33, when they ceased. The Oceanic picked up one of the Titanic's collapsible boats with three bodies in it. It is believed that the boat is the one from which twenty were saved, leaving three dead.