Page 162 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13
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suspicion. The Commissioner: I took you off your line. Mr. Scanlan: Yes, my Lord. The Commissioner: You were asking him about the mile and a-half to two miles, and I want you to follow it. 14310. (Mr. Scanlan - To the Witness.) What you said was that you could see an iceberg with the naked eye for from a mile and a-half to two miles, and I put it to you that with the glasses you could probably see it at a greater distance, and you agreed? - I agree. 14311. Of course the same thing would apply to the look-out man as to you? - Yes. 14312. At the rate of speed at which the “Titanic” was travelling, how long would it take you to cover the distance of a mile and a half? - It works out at about five minutes - something about that. 14313. So that it is a matter of great consequence, do you agree, to have binoculars for look- out men? - Do you want me to pass an opinion as to whether look-out glasses ought to have been in that crow’s-nest? Is that it? 14314. (The Commissioner.) I do not think so; I will put it in the same form to you. He wants to know whether the look-out man ought to have the binoculars glued to his eyes? - Oh, no, your Lordship, certainly not. The Commissioner: I do not know how you are to get those binoculars used advantageously unless they are fixed on to the man’s eyes. Mr. Scanlan: I sincerely hope I did not put a question which raised that view as to my meaning, my Lord. The Commissioner: Let us understand, Mr. Scanlan. This witness, as I understand, says this: “Binoculars are put into the crow’s-nest to be used, but not to be all the time at the eyes of the man who is on the look-out,” and that is what I call being glued to his eyes. Mr. Scanlan: Yes, my Lord. The Commissioner: And the binoculars are only had recourse to when by the naked eye something has already been discerned; that is what I understand. Mr. Scanlan: Yes, my Lord, but which cannot be described or which the man cannot understand. The Commissioner: He wants to know more particularly what it is. 14315. (Mr. Scanlan - To the Witness.) For the purpose which my Lord has been explaining to you is it not very desirable to have glasses provided for look-out men so that they can use them when necessary? - It is a matter of opinion for the officer on watch. Some officers may prefer the man to have glasses and another may not; it is not the general opinion. 14316. I am not talking about the opinion of officers in general, but the particular opinion which you entertain as to the usefulness of glasses? - Yes - now I can answer you decidedly - certainly I uphold glasses. 14317. For look-out men? I am glad you do. Do you know now that a complaint was made at Southampton by the look-out man that glasses were not provided in the crow’s-nest? - I know of no complaint. 14318. Do you know there were not glasses in the crow’s-nest? - I do. 14319. You say there was no complaint made. You mean - The Commissioner: No, he does not; he says he knows of no complaint. The Witness: I meant to convey that impression, that there was no complaint - there was no right to make a complaint. 14320. Do you mean to tell me that if the look-out man goes into the crow’s-nest and finds that here are no binoculars in the pocket or box or whatever it is, he has no right to come and say so? - Yes, he has the right to come and report, and there the matter ends.
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