Page 106 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 1 - 5

1707. Did you muster? - No. 1708. (The Commissioner.) Why was that? - I do not know, my Lord. Cross-examined by Mr. SCANLAN. 1709. In the boat drill you had at Southampton is it the case that only able seamen and deckhands took part in it? - That is all. 1710. No firemen, no stokers, no engineers or stewards were called to take part in it? - No. 1711. Had you been given any training in the launching of a collapsible boat? - That is my work. I do not want any training. 1712. I know you are a capable man. Had you on board the “Titanic” been instructed in the launching of any of those collapsible boats? - No. 1713. In the state of your knowledge while you were on the “Titanic” did you know whether to expect plugs or not in the collapsible? - No. 1714. If there had been plugs in this collapsible boat attached with lanyards or chains, could you have found them easily? - Certainly. 1715. Can you tell my Lord that there was not a plug attached by a lanyard or a chain in this collapsible boat? - I should say now that there was no plug attached to the boat; I never saw one. 1716. Was there a sea anchor in this collapsible? - No. 1717. Was there a baler? - Yes, there was a baler. 1718. A rudder or tiller? - No rudder or tiller. The Commissioner: Is a rudder used in those boats? Mr. Scanlan: I am reading, my Lord, from the general rules under the Merchant Shipping Act, and if your Lordship will refer to page 15 of the rules you will see: “Equipments for collapsible or other boats and for the rafts. In order to be properly equipped each boat shall be provided as follows: - (A.) With the full single banked complement of oars and two spare oars. (b) With two plugs for each plug hole, attached with lanyards or chains and one set and a half of thole pins or crutches, attached to the boat by sound lanyards. (c) With a sea anchor, a baler, a rudder and a tiller, or yoke and yoke lines, a painter of sufficient length and a boat hook. The rudder and baler to be attached to the boat by sufficiently long lanyards and kept ready for use.” The Commissioner: What is the date of those rules? Mr. Scanlan: 1894 my Lord, it is here. The Attorney-General: February, 1902. Mr. Scanlan: Yes, 1902. I think there was a rule made in 1910. The Attorney-General: Quite right, and there is another in 1909. Mr. Scanlan: And the rules were reprinted in 1911. The Commissioner: Are they the same in 1911 as they were in 1902? Mr. Scanlan: Yes, my Lord, with the exception of the one added rule. The Attorney-General: I do not think that affects this. 1719. (The Commissioner - To the Witness.) Is it possible to steer these collapsible boats without a rudder? - Yes, by putting an oar over the stern. 1720. Is not there a provision made in the stern of collapsible boats for an oar which is to act as a rudder? - No, my Lord. 1721. Well, there is according to my notion. Are you sure? - I have never seen a place, my Lord. 1722. I mean a place for a rowlock? - No, I never saw one, my Lord. 1723. Did you ever look? - Well, I did look when I was in this collapsible boat. Mr. Scanlan: I think that point that your Lordship is referring to is met in one of the rules