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CHAPTER XXIX
THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION
PROMPT ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT—SENATE COMMITTEE
PROBES DISASTER AND BRINGS OUT DETAILS—TESTIMONY
OF ISMAY, OFFICERS, CREW, PASSENGERS AND OTHER
WITNESSES
Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters |  |
HAD ASKED FOR BINOCULARS
It was made to appear that the blame for being without glasses did not rest with the lookout men. Fleet said they had asked for them at Southampton and were told there were none for them. One glass, in a pinch, would have served in the crow's nest.
The testimony before the committee on April 24th showed that the big steamship was on the verge of a field of ice twenty or thirty miles long, if she had not actually entered it, when the accident occurred.
The committee tried to discover whether it would add to human safety if the ships were fitted with search lights so that at night objects could be seen at a greater distance. The testimony so far along this line had been conflicting. Some of the witnesses thought it would be no harm to try it, but they were all skeptical as to its value, as an iceberg would not be especially distinguishable because its bulk is mostly below the surface.
One of the witnesses said that much dependence is not placed upon the lookout, and that those lookouts who used binoculars constantly found them detrimental.
Harold G. Lowe, fifth officer of the Titanic, told the committee his part in the struggle of the survivors for life following the catastrophe. The details of this struggle have have already been told in a previous chapter.
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CHAPTER XXIX
THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION
PROMPT ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT—SENATE COMMITTEE
PROBES DISASTER AND BRINGS OUT DETAILS—TESTIMONY
OF ISMAY, OFFICERS, CREW, PASSENGERS AND OTHER
WITNESSES
Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters | |