Page 75 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 1 - 5

some time between 8 and 9 o’clock in the morning. 874. And when did she sail? - Twelve. 875. You do not remember any boat drill? - No. 876. Whether there had been one before you joined or not you do not know? - I do not remember. Re-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 877. I want you to help us if you can on this one point. You were in this boat for some hours after you left the “Titanic”? - Yes. 878. And you have told us, at any rate, that they were mostly women and children in the boat? - Yes. 879. I want you to try if you can to give us some idea of how many men there were in the boat? - I could not say the number of men. 880. You could not give us any idea? - No. 881. You have told us who were there, seamen and firemen like yourself? - What I know. 882. Yes, quite right. There were some men passengers there? - Yes, I think there were some. 883. But cannot you give us some idea whether there was a dozen, or six, or anything like that? - No, Sir, I do not know. I have no idea of the number at all. 884. (The Commissioner.) Were there more women than men in the boat? - Yes, there were more women and children in the boat. 885. (The Attorney-General.) Have you any idea how many there were in the boat altogether? - They were full up - someone said between 60 and 70 - I know it was crowded. I did not count the number. Sir Robert Finlay: Perhaps your Lordship will allow the Witness to point out on the plan where he was. The Commissioner: Yes. The Attorney-General: He did so. Sir Robert Finlay: It was not pointed out on the plan. 886. (The Commissioner - To the Witness.) Do you understand that plan? - Yes. 887. Could you point out to us what stokehold you were in? - Yes. 887a. (Sir Robert Finlay.) Take that pointer and go over and point it out. (The Witness indicated the position on the plan.) 888. (The Commissioner.) That is No. 10, is it? - Yes; No. 6 boiler, No. 10 stokehold. 889. (Sir Robert Finlay.) Was the stokehold fore or aft of the boiler? - Aft. 890. (The Commissioner.) I thought you said you were in the second stokehold from the bow? - Yes, Sir. 891. Now show me there which is the first stokehold from the bow. (The Witness indicated the position.) 892. I thought that was the stokehold you pointed to as the one in which you were? - No, that is the first one. This is the second one. The Attorney-General: And that is the one he pointed to, my Lord. ROBERT HICHENS, Sworn. Examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 893. Are you a quartermaster? - Yes. 894. And did you sail on the “Titanic”? - Yes.