Page 100 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 1 - 5

1508. How many boats did you help to lower? - About eight. 1509. One after the other? - Yes. 1510. With regard to each of them was there very orderly embarkation of women? - Yes. 1511. Then finally did you go in a boat? - Well, I got in a boat and I got ordered out by Mr. Lightoller. That was the last boat that left. 1512. Then you were ordered out of the boat? - Yes. 1513. Could you see whether the boats were properly equipped with oars and things? - The two boats that I got into afterwards were properly manned with oars. 1514. You said 16 was the last boat, did you not? - No; 16 was the last boat like, the after boat on the port side. 1515. What was the last boat you got in? - The collapsible boat, the port side, inside the emergency boat. 1516. Is that the one you got into? - I got into her and got ordered out. 1517. Who ordered you out? - Mr. Lightoller. 1518. What did you do then? - I went over to the starboard side to see if there was any more boats there. There were no more boats there so I came back and the boat was riding off the deck then. The water was up under the bridge then. The ladies sung out there was no sailor in the boat and no plugs, so I was a sailor and I jumped into the boat. 1519. It was a boat that was on the deck, just explain that? - Just here (pointing to the model). 1520. What boat was that? - A surf boat; they call them collapsible boats. 1521. She was lying on the deck? - Yes. 1522. The sides collapse, do not they? - No, they are three parts clinker boats and about three parts of the gunwale is canvas. 1523. Had the gunwale been pulled up? - Yes. 1524. And made fast? - Yes. 1525. Who had done that? - I assisted in doing that. 1526. Who else? - There were eight more sailors there besides myself just at the time. 1527. At that time you say the water was right up to the place where you were? - The ship was at that angle then (indicating). 1528. (The Commissioner.) And the water up to the bridge? - Yes; the water under the bridge. 1529. (Mr. Rowlatt.) How long was that after the collision? - I should think about an hour and a quarter. 1530. Was it long after all the other boats had gone away? - I should say about a quarter of an hour. Mr. Rowlatt: Here is an illustration of these collapsible boats, if you care to look at it, my Lord. It is a very shallow boat. (the same was handed to the Commissioner.) The Commissioner: I have seen them. 1531. (Mr. Rowlatt - To the Witness.) You were telling us about this collapsible boat; you assisted to get her out? - Yes. 1532. Now what did you do with her? - I pulled her to the davits. 1533. Did you hook her on the falls? - The same falls used for the emergency boat picked up that boat. 1534. Did you get the falls up again? - Yes, but the water was about 1 1/2 feet then when she was strung up to the davits. 1535. What falls do you say? - The same falls as the emergency boat used. 1536. They had been hauled up again? - Yes. 1537. Did you lower her and get her to the water by these falls? - No, they only required lowering. They were already in the water. 1538. Who got into her? - About forty women.