Volume 14 , Issue 22

100 Years Ago Today - 28 May 1912

One hundred years ago today and over a month after the Titanic sank, we found this headlines in The Evening World, dated 28 May 1912, out of New York: Blame Californian For Titanic Deaths and 1,500 Titanic Victims Perished by Neglect of the Californian.

It was reported by Chairman Smith reports to Senate that none would have been lost had Capt. Lord not ignored sisters signals. The Senate ordered a $1,000 Gold Medal presented to Capt. Rostron of Rescue Ship Carpathia.

Washington, May 28, 1912 -- "Teeming with eloquence, combining praise for heroism and scathing rebuke for negligence and cowardice of the most appalling marine tragedy of history, was the final and official requiem today in the senate for the victims of the Titanic. Senator Smith of Michigan, Chairman of the Senate investigating committee, summed up his views of the evidence developed."

The newspaper mentioned that everyone aboard the giant liner might have been saved but for the indifference, inattention and almost criminal neglect of Capt. Stanley Lord and the other officers of the Californian. It was reported as the most "startling charge Smith bitterly made."

Five hundred needless lives were sacrificed because of insufficient number of lifeboats that were not filled. There was findings of "obsolete and antiquated" shipping laws. The laxity of regulation and hasty inspection by the British Board of Trade was denounced by Smith. As a contributory cause, he named the indifference of Capt. Smith of the Titanic for ignoring ice warnings and moving the Titanic full speed through the northern waters.

Lack of discipline among the crew and cowardice of some of its members indicated after the crash was scathingly arraigned. To the two Titanic wireless operators, Phillips and Bride, the speaker paid a glowing tribute. He lauded Capt. Rostron of the rescue ship Carpathia and denounced Capt. Lord of the Californian. The Senator said the Titanic's distress signals were plainly seen from the deck of his vessel a short distance away.

The Senator asserted, "America would leave to England the chastisement of those guilty." The Senator quoted British law to show that Capt. Lord might be prosecuted for a misdemeanor.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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