Page 159 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

reported by that Marconigram I saw somewhere about 11 o’clock.” Do you follow this? - Yes. 14274. “(Senator Smith.) That you would be in that latitude? (Mr. Lightoller.)Longitude. (Senator Smith.) At 11 o’clock? (Mr. Lightoller.) Somewhere about eleven, yes. (Senator Smith.) Did you talk with Mr. Murdoch about that phase of it when you left the watch? (Mr. Lightoller.) About what? (Senator Smith.) I said, did you talk with Mr. Murdoch about the iceberg’s situation when you left the watch? (Mr. Lightoller.) No, Sir. (Senator Smith.) Did he ask you anything about it? (Mr. Lightoller.) No, Sir. (Senator Smith.) What was said between you? (Mr. Lightoller.) We remarked on the weather, about its being calm, clear. We remarked the distance we could see. We seemed to be able to see a long distance. Everything was clear. We could see the stars setting down on the horizon.” From this it appears that when you gave your evidence you were under the impression that you had not told Mr. Murdoch about the icebergs and the conclusion you arrived at as to approaching them? - I may say by the questions that were put to me that those answers you might agree were correct as far as I understood the questions at that time. 14275. Is it your explanation then that this is incorrect or incomplete? - Incomplete, I say, yes. 14276. And that notwithstanding this evidence, you did tell Mr. Murdoch about the icebergs? - Undoubtedly, yes. 14277. You will admit, I suppose, that this is misleading, and, I suppose, you would like to correct it? - Yes, I should. The Solicitor-General: I think if you look a little earlier, Mr. Scanlan, you will find that this gentleman was asked, “Did you communicate to Mr. Murdoch this information that the Captain had given you on the bridge?” And he speaks of having communicated to him about the ice then, I think. “So that the officer in charge, Mr. Murdoch, was fully advised by you that you were in proximity to these icebergs,” and he says: “I would not call it proximity,” but I think the answers show that he did say that then. I know you want to be fair. 14278. (Mr. Scanlan.) I do, and I hope you will understand that, Mr. Lightoller? The Witness: Quite right. 14279. Apart from your telling Mr. Murdoch, was there any record which he could look up for himself in order to be assured that you were getting on towards the ice-field? - The custom, as I think I explained previously, is that we have a notice board in the chart room for the purpose of putting up anything referring to navigation, wireless reports on matters navigational, and it is open for anyone to look at. 14280. Are you quite clear that there was not a haze on this night? - Yes. 14281. Are you aware that while you were on watch from 6 to 10, George Symons, a witness who was examined yesterday was one of the men stationed in the crow’s-nest? - Yes. 14282. In answer to Mr. Laing, when he was asked, “While you were on the look-out up to 10 o’clock what sort of a night was it?” He replies, “Pretty clear, Sir, a fine night, rather hazy, if anything a little hazy on the horizon, but nothing to speak of.” Do you agree with that? - No. 14283. You did not observe any haze. Is it possible that the man in the crow’s-nest would have a better opportunity than you had of observing whether or not there was a haze? - No. 14284. You say you would have as good an opportunity where you were stationed on the bridge? - Better. 14285. I suppose you know that we have it from other evidence as well, from the look-out man, Lee (this is on page 72, my Lord), that it was hazy that night. He is asked, “What sort of a night was it?” and his answer was: “A clear starry night overhead, but at the time of the accident there was a haze right ahead.” Then he is asked, I think by the Attorney-General: “Did you notice this haze which you say had extended on the horizon when you first came on the look-out, or did it come later on? - (A.) It was not so distinct then, not to be noticed.” Can you explain if these men are truthfully giving their evidence how it is that they could have observed a haze