Page 19 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 1 - 5

Mr. Scanlan: That I cannot tell your Lordship. The Seafarers’ Union is a distinct body from the Union I represent. The Commissioner: I understand now (I did not know it yesterday) that it is an offshoot from your body. Can you tell me how many of your body were on the “Titanic”? Mr. Scanlan: Well, my Lord, our information is not quite accurate as yet on that point, because the officials of the Union have only just got the Ship’s Articles, from which they are compiling a list. They have paid away quite a number of claims to widows of the deceased - somewhere over 30, I understand. The Commissioner: How many men do you suppose there were on board the “Titanic” belonging to your Union? Mr. Scanlan: I understand the number is less than 100. The Commissioner: Have you any idea how many men there were on board belonging to the new organisation, the offshoot - the British Seafarers’ Union? Mr. Scanlan: We cannot say, my Lord. The Commissioner: Have you any idea of the number? Mr. Scanlan: The gentleman who represented that body yesterday, my Lord, stated that it was 200. The Attorney-General: Sixty or 70 out of 200, I understood him to say. The Commissioner: Can you communicate with him? Mr. Thomas Lewis: I am here, my Lord. The Commissioner: Can you tell me how many men belonging to your Union were on board the steamer? Mr. Thomas Lewis: There was a communication from the Chairman - I am not aware whether your Lordship has received it or not - to this effect - The Commissioner: About the number is enough for me. Mr. Thomas Lewis: The number is 228 on board the “Titanic,” and the corrected figure of those saved, 77 out of the total number of 228 on board. The Commissioner: How long has the Seafarers’ Union been in existence? Mr. Thomas Lewis: Since October 6th of last year. The Commissioner: Then it has been in existence about six months? Mr. Thomas Lewis: Six or seven months, my Lord. The Commissioner: Is it more closely connected with Southampton than the other Union? Mr. Thomas Lewis: It is all Southampton men, my Lord; it is at present a Southampton Union. It is called the British Seafarers’ Union, but its headquarters are at Southampton, and the bulk of its members reside at Southampton, and it has a membership of about 4,000. Practically the whole of the seafarers of the “Titanic” are members of our Union. The Commissioner: I personally had never heard of this Union, but I have heard for many years past of the Seamen and Firemen’s Union I think, Mr. Attorney, in these circumstances it would be more satisfactory if the Seafarer’s Union was also represented. The Attorney-General: My Lord, I quite accept it. Mr. L. S. Holmes: My Lord, might I renew my application as to the whole of the officers and the deceased officers who were members of the Union? The whole of the officers were members; they belonged to the Imperial Merchant Service Guild. The Commissioner: I think they ought to be represented. Mr. W. H. Champness: With your Lordship’s permission I desire to renew my application to represent a deceased passenger. With great respect I submit that the interest of the passengers is the most vital interest that can be affected by this Inquiry, and that interest can only be represented by someone who appears on behalf of one or two of the deceased. There is no association of passengers, and I submit that that is an interest which should be before your