Current Pitman: William Youmans
Original Pitman: Matthew Bennett

From The Daily Sun, Waukegan IL Wed April 24, 1912

Herbert J. Pittman, third officer of the Titanic, gave to the committee a harrowing account of the groans and cries that went up from the sea after the Titanic had made her final plunge. This officer testified that there was room for more passengers in the lifeboat which he was commanding but that when he attempted to turn about and answer the cries of distress, the passengers, most of whom were women, protested on the ground that the boat would be overturned and it would mean the needless sacrificing of more live. Pittman acknowledged he was in sole command of the lifeboat and that he finally yielded to the wishes of his passengers and pulled away out of the sound of the terrible cries. Pittman showed great emotion while in the witness chair and repeatedly urged Senator Smith to refrain from calling up the harrowing details of that scene to his mind. He testified that the Titanic was making 21 * knots at the time the collision occurred.