Show U. U II II LAUNCH SHIPWRECK QUIZ OFFICER SAYS FAULTY f AUL TV GEAR CRASH CAUSE Freighters Freighter's Captain Testifies Before Federal Board 46 Feared Dead c If F By BT Associated Press NEW YORK Jan 26 Like 26 Like an automobile automobile au without a driver the luxurious lux urious liner Mohawk careened crazIly crazily craz ily across the path of the freighter Talisman it was testified toda today causing the Hie collision which sent her herto herto herto to the bottom of the Atlantic Testifying at a hearing by the United States steamboat inspection service Jervice into the disaster of off the coas coast near Sea Girt N. N J as a result of or which 46 persons died or are missing missing miss miss- ing the captain of or the Talisman Edmund Edmund Ed Ed- mund Wang said he thought the puzzling maneuver mancu of or the sunken vessel wa was cau caused ed b by a broken steering steering steer steer- ing ins apparatus I I said to myself No seafaring mani would have swung his ship over like that Captain Wang said The nig night ht was clear the sea smooth he said Says Sas Help Refused To questions as to why no survivors ors were taken aboard the Talisman end and why the freighter did not answer the Mohawks Mohawk's whistles just before the impact the witness testified that th the liners liner's captain him not to lower boats The Talisman did not blow her wh whistle tle he testified because the Mohawk Mohawk Mo hawk was passing at what seemed to be a safe are distance And I didn't have time time time-it it happened happened happened hap hap- so ro quick there was no time IP L- L he added L f Wireless logs re read at the Inquiry no message from the Mohawks Mohawks Mohawk's Mo Ma- hawks hawk's captain advising that no lir lifeboats lifeboats life life- boats be lowered from the Talisman i and Captain W Wang admitted he had u used d his own judgment about the i. i f matter f Probe Crash Cause Captain Wang was the first witness wit- wit ness nes b before rore the body which seeks answers t to these questions i Why did the two ships crash off oU Continued on P Page Pace e Two FEDERAL SHIP QUIZ ST STARTED Continued from Pare Pall One I Ithe the Jersey coast when the weather conditions were not adverse the sea moderate the visibility f fairly good How did the ships come together of off Sea Girt when the Mohawk Mohawk- had left the port of New NeV York earlier than the Talisman a sl slower vessel Captain Wang whose ship knifed Into the si side of ot the luxurious Ward liner sending it if to the bottom In Sn the thC frigid waters vaters testified that the Mohawk Mo hawk and the freighter were steaming steam steam- ing south when the former lormer abruptly swerved from her course and directly dl di ncr across s the thc Talismans Talisman's path The slips ships struck a terrific imp impact ct the captain s said id No Warning Given He lie received n nd nO warning blast from the M Mohawk hawk until she was about 50 feet leet away Captain Wan Wang testified After the crash the vessels lock locked d dand and shortly after the Talisman backed out of ot the hole she had made in the side of the liner Captain Karl C. C of at the steamboat inspection service criticized criticized the action of the Talismans Talisman's skipper in backing away from rom the stricken vessel e sel Cap Captain bin Wang Wange replied re- re re replied e plied he received no response to his repeated shout shouts to the Mohawks Mohawk's bridge accordingly he ordered hi his hi engines reversed Consulting his s log Jog book the wit ness t testified that at p. p m. m Thursday night E. E S. S T T. T he was eight miles off ol highlands and at was waS wai four miles off olf Sea ea Girt See Mohawk Did you vms see the Mohawk In that thIt asked NeIlson No How fast last were you yost traveling About 12 knots Was the weather clear It was a beautiful night and there was no sea James James' Smith Smith- inspector of oC boilers asked the witness how he accounted for lor the sudden swerving of the Mohawk Mohawk Mohawk Mo Mo- hawk from its course Breaking of the steering gear Is the only way o of accounting for It It Captain Wang replied There was absolutely no reason for his swing ing No seafaring man woold have swung his ship over lik like that and andI I said to myself Ill bet his gear is gone Another witness a at second officer on the Talisman said that after alter the crash the steering apparatus of the Mohawk s seemed med to bo be functioning pro properly Investigation Launched Launching of an Investigation of 01 the tragedy by United states Stales Attorney Altor- Altor ney Dey Martin Conboy was disclosed d today Conboy said that the chief officer and several members of ot the Talismans Talisman's crew had been questioned Question d dIn In his office office- He d declined to comment com corn ment on possible grand jury action Meanwhile coast guard boats continued continued continued con con- to search the icy waters at lit the scene of 01 the accident but hope that any of the missing persons w were re still alive was virtually abandoned Along the coast desperate searchers search search- ers both afloat and in the air continued continued continued con con- their hunt with steadily wanIng waning wan wan- Ing hopes that survivors could have withstood two nights and a day in an open boat A few Ie miles off oll the coast a low lying flying blimp from the Lakehurst naval al air station scanned the water with a dozen coast guard boats 32 Known Know Dead As Washington officials questioned survivors of 01 the collision relatives completed identification of ot the 33 known dead Twelve others were missing The officials were informed of 01 the Mohawks Mohawk's passengers passenger and crew were rescued before she sank Fifteen Fifteen teen passengers and 33 of of the crew drowned or were frozen to death in the frigid of the Jersey Jersey Jer Jer- sey coast COlSt 32 Bodies Recovered two Thirty frozen bodies recovered recovered recovered II ered by coast guard craft were brought last ast night to Bellevue hospital hos lies pital morgue Anxious families who had been waiting word of relatives for tor 24 hours quickly identified most of them One other body that of E. E R. R Barr Bur of Philadelphia Philadelphia Phil Phil- adelphia had been taken ashore from the rescue ship Algonquin Captain Joseph E. E Wood who some rome said went ent down with his ship was among the missing The body of Second Officer Malcolm was found in the sea Prominent among the passengers who died were Mr and Mrs Julian Peabody of ot Westbury N. N Y and Professor Professor Pro Pro- fessor lessor H. H F F. F Cleland of Williams college col col- lege escorting a group of 01 students on ona ona ona a geological expedition lion to Mexico |