Page 113 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

following day. 13442. On the 11th? - Yes. 13443. Just give me, if you will, the arrangement about the watches between the Chief Officer, the First Officer, and yourself. I suppose you would count as the three Senior Officers? - Yes, exactly. 13444. How was that? - The Chief Officer had from 2 until 6 a.m. and p.m.; the Second Officer - 13445. That is you? - Yes, myself. The Second Officer relieved the Chief at 6 o’clock and was on deck until 10 - 6 to 10 a.m., and p.m.. The First Officer was on deck from 10 to 2 a.m. and p.m. 13446. Then the junior officers would be divided into watches, I suppose, and would serve with one or other of the seniors? - They are divided into watches - 3 to 5 and 4 to 6, 4 hours on and 4 hours off, with a dog watch, that is, the watch from 4 to 8 p.m., is divided into what we call the dog watches, 4 to 6 and 6 to 8. 13447. We will go to Sunday, April 14th. Your first watch, the morning watch, would be from 6 to 10, as I follow you? - Yes. 13448. Then, having completed that watch, did you come to the bridge again about luncheon time? - Yes. 13449. Just tell us about it? - Lunch is at half-past 12. I relieve the First Officer, who has his lunch at half-past 12, and he comes on deck again about 1 o’clock or five minutes past; then I have mine. 13450. It really means that there is half an hour out of the First Officer’s watch? - Yes. 13451. Now, on this day, the 14th of April, did you follow that course? - Yes. 13452. And relieved Mr. Murdoch from 12.30 to about 1? - Yes. 13453. Do you remember Captain Smith showing you something during that time? - Yes. 13454. Just tell us what it was? - Captain Smith came on the bridge during the time that I was relieving Mr. Murdoch. In his hands he had a wireless message, a Marconigram. He came across the bridge, and holding it in his hands told me to read it. 13455. He showed it to you, I suppose? - Yes, exactly; he held it out in his hand and showed it to me. The actual wording of the message I do not remember. 13456. Did you see whether it was about ice? - It had reference to ice. 13457. Do you remember between what meridians? - Yes, I particularly made a mental note of the meridians - 49 to 51. 13458. That would be 49 to 51 W.? - Exactly. 13459. We have the message. I will just find it and read it to you, and perhaps you will be able to tell me if that is right. Do you know from what ship the message came? - No, I cannot remember the ship. The Solicitor-General: It is better to have it now. Sir Robert Finlay: Yes, I think we had better have it, and the ship it came from. The Solicitor-General: My recollection is that the Attorney-General read it in opening. The Commissioner: What time was it? 13460. (The Solicitor-General.) So far, my Lord, he has said it was between 12.30 and one in the middle of the day. (To the Witness.) Can you fix at all as between those times? - About 12.45 as near as I can remember. 13461. Very well; about a quarter to 1? - Yes. Mr. Laing: I have the wording of it. The Solicitor-General: Will you hand it to me? Mr. Laing: Yes. 13462. (The Solicitor-General.) I think this is the message, and perhaps I can read it to the