Senate's
investigating committee prevented. In the face of the criticism aimed
against him Mr. Ismay issued a long statement in which he not only
disclaimed responsibility for the Titanic's fatal collision, but also
sought to clear himself of blame for everything that happened after the
big ship was wrecked.

He laid the responsibility for the tragedy on Captain Smith.

He expressed astonishment that his own conduct in the disaster had been
made the subject of inquiry. He denied that he gave any order to Captain
Smith. His position aboard was that of any other first cabin passenger,
he insisted, and he was never consulted by the captain. He denied
telling anyone that he wished the ship to make a speed record. He
called attention to the routine clause in the instructions to White Star
captains ordering them to think of safety at all times. He did not dine
with the captain, he said, and when the ship struck the berg, he was not
sitting with the captain in the saloon.

The managing director added that he was in his stateroom when the
collision occurred. He told of helping to send women and children away
in life-boats on the starboard side, and said there was no woman in
sight on deck when he and William E. Carter, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., entered
the collapsible boat--the last small craft left on that side of the
vessel. He asserted that he pulled an oar and denied that in sending the
three messages from the Carpathia, urging the White Star officials to
hold the Cedric for the survivors of the Titanic's officers and crew, he
had any intention to block investigation of the tragedy. Ismay asserted
that he did not know there was to be an investigation until the Cunarder
docked.

Mr. William E. Carter, of Bryn Mawr, who, with his family, was saved,
confirmed Mr. Ismay's assertions.

"Mr. Ismay's statement is absolutely correct," said Mr. Carter. "There
were no women on the deck when that boat was launched. We were the very
last to leave the deck, and we entered the life-boat because there were
no women to enter it.

"The deck was deserted when the boat was launched, and Mr. Ismay and
myself decided that we might as well enter the boat and pull away from
the wreck. If he wants me, I assume that he will write to me.

"I can say nothing, however, that he has not already said, as our
narratives are identical; the circumstances under which we were rescued
from the Titanic were similar. We left the boat together and were picked
u