Page 103 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 1 - 5

Transferred the women into No. 8 because I was frightened the boat was going down. 1611. I daresay you were rather crowded, were you? - Yes, we were; the gunwales were under water. 1612. You got them out? - Yes. 1613. You went in No. 8 yourself? - Yes. 1614. Now, was anybody left in the collapsible? - Yes, three men - a quartermaster and two men. 1615. What did they do? - They stopped there till they were picked up. 1616. By the “Carpathia”? - Yes. 1617. Did they go to see if they could save any people out of the water? - Yes, but they could not arrive there because our boat had two or three sailors in it and we got in there before them. 1618. They went, and you went back towards the scene of the wreck? - Yes. 1619. Now, you picked up 36 people off an upturned boat? - Yes. 1620. Did you pick up anyone else in No. 8? - No. 1621. Were there any other people to be picked up? - Well, there were people to be picked up, but they were dead before we got there. 1622. I suppose it took you some time to get there, did it? - Well, say about a quarter of an hour. 1623. How many men had you rowing in No. 8? - Four. The Commissioner: Will you ask him what his boat load was? 1624. (Mr. Rowlatt.) I was going to ask him that. (To the Witness.) When you got into No. 8 how many people were in altogether, after you got the 36 people out of the collapsible? - Well, I should say near about 80. 1625. Would she hold all that? - Well, we were frightened of her ourselves. Mr. Lightoller gave orders, “Keep quiet, men, before you get into the boat now.” 1626. I want to get it clear. I do not quite understand why you left the collapsible so very empty and filled this boat so very full? - Because we were frightened of her. We had no plug in it. 1627. You had no plug? - We did not know whether there was a plug in it or not. We could not find it. 1628. Was it full of water? - There was water under our feet. The women were frightened of her. 1629. Surely if there had been no plug there, there would have been a great deal of water with 40 people in her? - These boats have a false bottom and plug hole about that depth. Me and Mr. Lightoller were looking round for that plug a good ten minutes before any passenger got into it and could not find it. 1630. Is it plugged from the top? - I should say so. 1631. Do not you know how this boat ought to be plugged? - Well, not these boats. They are the first boats I have seen of that build. 1632. (The Commissioner.) For aught you know the plug may have been in position? - Yes, my Lord. 1633. (Mr. Rowlatt.) Did you see No. 8 go away from the ship? - I lowered No. 8 myself. 1634. How many people were there then in her? - I should say near about forty. 1635. How many men as far as you can recollect? - Three. 1636. How long before you went did she go? - About half an hour. 1637. Then she did not go very far away? - No. 1638. She had only three men to row and a heavy load? - Yes. The Commissioner: A heavy load! She had 40, and afterwards took 40 more apparently. 1639. (Mr. Rowlatt.) Yes. The other 36 makes up the other 40? - Yes. But when we got to the