Page 120 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

think I am right in saying that I asked for these calculations immediately after coming on deck. 13583. That would be just after six o’clock? - Yes, I have got it, I think. I asked for the calculations immediately after coming on deck and they were given to me about half an hour or three-quarters of an hour afterwards. It is very difficult to remember. The Solicitor-General: I quite follow, and you are helping us considerably. 13584. (The Commissioner.) Would that be about seven o’clock? - No, I do not think that fits in with the time I went to dinner. 13585. When did you go to dinner? - Dinner is at half-past six. 13586. Then it would be more like a quarter to eight? - No I did not go to dinner at half-past six my Lord. Mr. Murdoch goes to dinner at half-past six and relieves me, I think, at five past seven, and I relieved him, I think, at 7.35. 13587. (The Solicitor-General.) That means that Mr. Murdoch, the First Officer, would be taking your place for half an hour between seven and half-past? - Exactly. 13588. And after that you were in continuous charge, in fact, until ten o’clock? - Exactly. 13589. (The Commissioner.) And from 7 to half-past seven there was a fall of four degrees in the temperature? - Yes, my Lord. 13590. (The Solicitor-General.) Did you observe that at the time as something pretty sharp? - Yes, a pretty sharp drop. It had been going down previously to that before I left the deck. 13591. When did you notice the fall in the temperature beginning seriously? - Probably about half-past six. 13592. Very well; the fall in the temperature began at half-past six and a drop of four degrees between seven and half-past? - Yes. 13593. Did you notice what the actual temperature was a little later by the thermometer? - Yes, later on in the watch I think the Quartermaster two or three times told me what the temperature was in order that I might know when it got near to freezing point to send word to the engine room and the carpenter with regard to fresh water. 13594. Can you tell me what was the temperature which you were given and at what time? - When Mr. Murdoch mentioned it to me as far as I recollect it had fallen from 43 degrees to 39. 13595. This is Fahrenheit I suppose, is it not? - Yes; and then I sent word down to the carpenter about nine o’clock; it was then 33 degrees, and I sent word to the carpenter and to the engine room - for the carpenter to look after his fresh water; that is to say, he has to drain it off to prevent the pipes freezing - and to the engine room for them to take the necessary precautions for the winches. 13596. It is 33 degrees at nine o’clock. That is only one degree above freezing? - One degree, exactly. 13597. What did that circumstance, the serious drop in temperature, indicate to you as regards the probable presence of ice? - Nothing. 13598. You do not think it indicates anything? - Nothing whatever; you may have it any time in the year, summer and winter, going across the Atlantic. It is not quite so noticeable in winter because the air generally is cold. 13599. (The Commissioner.) That may be, but is it not the fact that when you are approaching large bodies of ice the temperature falls? - Never in my experience, my Lord. 13600. It does not go up I suppose? - Well, though it may seem strange, it is quite possible for it to go up if the ice happens to be floating in slightly warmer water, or if the wind were to come round from the southward. You will frequently be passing through a cold stream, and if the wind comes from the southward you will almost invariably look out for a fog, owing to the warm wind striking the cold water. The atmosphere may be comparatively warm. The moment the wind comes back again to the northward you expect the weather to clear, and it will get very much colder, of course.