Page 130 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

inform me afterwards we had struck ice, and previous to him coming to inform me, as you will find out in his evidence, he had been a considerable way round the ship on various duties which must have taken him a good while. It might be less, it might be a quarter-of-an-hour. You will be able to form your judgment. 13786. He is the Fourth Officer? - Yes. 13787. How would his time of duty run? - He was on duty till 12 o’clock. 13788. Ten to 12? - Eight to 12. 13789. It was Mr. Boxhall who came to your room and gave you the information? - Yes. 13790. What was it he told you? - He just came in and quietly remarked “You know we have struck an iceberg.” I said “I know we have struck something.” He then said “The water is up to F Deck in the mail room.” 13791. (The Commissioner.) Well, that was rather alarming, was it not? - He had no need to say anything further then, Sir. 13792. (The Solicitor-General.) “The water is up to F deck in the mail room.” It is quite fair of you to have told us why you thought it was longer, but I want to see we get it right from your point of view. I see when you gave your statement about this matter at that time your impression was it was a shorter time than half an hour? - Did I? 13793. Yes, I have got down here six minutes? - Oh, there must be some mistake, I think, in that. 13794. When you got that news it did not take you very long to turn out the second time? - No, it did not. 13795. Did you go on deck? - After dressing. 13796. Now just tell us what you saw, and what you found was the condition of things there? - At this time the steam was roaring off. The Commissioner: You will be some little time yet, Mr. Solicitor? The Solicitor-General: Yes, my Lord. The Commissioner: Very well. You have him on deck, and I think this is the time to rise. (The Witness withdrew.) The Solicitor-General: I do not know whether your Lordship would wish the date of the adjournment to be settled now. The Commissioner: I thought that it would be convenient to rise next Friday evening about this time, and then to adjourn until the following Tuesday week. I mean adjourn over the Whit. week. We shall have plenty to do, I at all events shall have plenty to do in the meantime. I shall have all these notes to read, and post myself up in the evidence. I do not know whether that is convenient to you, Sir Robert? Sir Robert Finlay: Yes, my Lord. I have communicated with the Attorney-General about this. The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General told me so, and I thought it would be convenient if your Lordship made the announcement now, as it helps people to make their arrangements. The Commissioner: Very well. (Adjourned to tomorrow at 10.30 o’clock.)