Page 132 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

MR. HAMAR GREENWOOD, M.P. (instructed by Messrs. William A. Crump and Son), watched proceedings for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. MR. ROCHE (instructed by Messrs. Charles G. Bradshaw and Waterson) appeared on behalf of the Marine Engineers’ Association. (Admitted on application.) MR. A. CLEMENT EDWARDS. M.P., (instructed by Messrs. Helder, Roberts and Co.), appeared as Counsel on behalf of the Dock, Wharf, Riverside, and General Workers Union of Great Britain and Ireland. (Admitted on application.) MR. W. D. HARBINSON (instructed by Mr. Farrell) appeared on behalf of the third-class passengers. (Admitted on application.) MR. ROBERTSON DUNLOP watched the proceedings on behalf of the owners and officers of the s.s. “Californian.” (Leyland Line). (Admitted on Application.) MR. H. E. DUKE, K. C., M. P., and MR. VAUGHAN WILIAMS (instructed by Messrs. A. F. and R. W. Tweedie) appeared as Counsel on behalf of Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff-Gordon. (Admitted on Application.) CHARLES HERBERT LIGHTOLLER - Recalled. Further examined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL. 13797. You were just telling us what you found when you came up on deck after you had heard of what had happened, and I think you just told us that the steam was roaring off - blowing out of the boilers, I suppose? - Yes. 13798. Was it making a great noise? - Yes. 13799. So great as to be difficult to hear what was said? - Very difficult. 13800. Did you ascertain whether all hands had been called on deck? - Yes; I met the Chief Officer almost immediately after, coming out of the door of the quarters. First of all the Chief Officer told me to commence to get the covers off the boats. I asked him then if all hands had been called, and he said, “Yes.” 13801. I should like to understand whether there was a division of duties here. In an emergency of this sort, have you a special responsibility for one side of the ship as against the other? - No. 13802. Then there is an order from the Chief Officer that you should see to the stripping of the covers off the boats? - Yes. 13803. Did you do that? - Yes. 13804. At that time had any of the boats had their covers stripped, or had you to begin it? - None, with the exception of the emergency boats. 13805. Those were the two which we have heard of which were kept swung out? - Yes. 13806. And did you get hands to help you in that work? - Yes, I commenced myself, and then as the hands turned up, I told them off to the boats. 13807. Which side did you begin, and what was the order? - I began on the port side with the port forward boat. That would be No. 4. 13808. That would be the one immediately abaft of the emergency boat? - Yes. 13809. Just tell us the order of things, will you? - I commenced stripping off No. 4; then two or three turned up; I told them off to No. 4 boat and stood off then myself and directed the men as they came up on deck, passing around the boat deck, round the various boats, and seeing that the men were evenly distributed around both the port and starboard. 13810. Do you mean evenly distributed as between the different boats? - Exactly. 13811. Had you any means of knowing what boat a particular seaman would be attached to if he did not know; have you any means of telling him? - Well, I did not think it advisable, taking