Page 111 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 1 - 5

refused. She would not go without her husband. There were several cases like that while I was lowering my boats on the port side. 1818. Several cases like that came under your own notice? - Yes. 1819. You know that a great many third-class women passengers were saved? - Yes. 1820. You were not there to hear how they were told what was happening? - No. 1821. Somebody must have told them? - Yes. Re-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 1822. You have spoken to us of what happened before you left Southampton. With reference to the boats, was it No. 3 and 7 lifeboats which were swung out, do you remember? - I could not answer for that. 1823. Were there two boats on the starboard side? - Yes. 1824. Were the deckhands duly mustered? - Yes. 1825. And then were a number of men told off to swing out and lower the boats into the water? - Yes. 1826. Do you remember at all how many men? - No. That is all the men, all sailors - it does not matter what you are - all go to those two boats. 1827. All the sailors who would otherwise have to man the other boats? - Yes. 1828. The sailors? - Yes. 1829. A number of them with an officer formed the crew of each boat? - Yes. 1830. Then were the boats swung out at the same time? - Yes, they went away together. 1831. Is that a matter which takes about 3 1/2 minutes, or something like that? - It would be about that. 1832. Were the crews exercised by the officers in the water? - Yes. 1833. Did you see an Emigration Officer of the Board of Trade there at the time this was done? - Yes, there was an officer there. 1834. We are talking of it as a boat drill; it is as well to get it correct, my Lord; it is not boat drill? The Commissioner: So I gathered. The Attorney-General: It is a muster. The Commissioner: They do not go through any evolutions. The Attorney-General: No. The Commissioner: They simply go up and stand opposite two boats, not more. The Attorney-General: Yes. Then, of course, they swing out the boats and they go into the water and they are exercised. This is in order to satisfy the Emigration Officer of the Board of Trade. That is the point. It is not boat drill at all; it is a muster. Your Lordship asked a question also about the rules. I find that the last rule is the 14th June, 1911, and that makes some additions and amendments to rules in reference to deck lifeboats. If your Lordship has not got it we will see you get it. We will go into that more fully hereafter. (The Witness withdrew.) FREDERICK BARRETT, Sworn.