Page 211 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13
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15178. To whom did he give the order? - The officers of the watch. 15179. Do you know their names? - Mr. Wilde. 15180. Were you there? - No. 15181. Do you know what conversation took place? - No. 15182. But you say he gave instructions to alter the course of the ship? - The course was altered at 5.50. They were the Commander’s orders. 15183. Ten miles further south. Was any record made of that at the time? - No, and I thought that the course should have been altered at 5 p.m.. 15184. Why did you think so? - Judging from the distance run from noon. 15185. What time did you think you were going to be in the neighbourhood of ice? - I was not thinking about the ice at all. 15186. Had you made any calculation? - No, I had not. 15187. It had not occurred to you although those Marconigrams had been received? - No, I saw that certain bergs were marked on the chart and that was quite sufficient. 15188. That is to say, you took matters as they were and made no enquiries. You accepted the position on the chart and you did not calculate or enquire? - No, I had other work to attend to. The Commissioner: Whom do you suggest that he should enquire from? Mr. Harbinson: From the First Officer. The Commissioner: And what were his enquiries to be? Mr. Harbinson: As to what time and in what locality they should expect ice. 15189. (The Commissioner.) Do you take charge of the bridge? - No. 15190. (Mr. Harbinson.) Who was in charge while you were on watch? - Mr. Lightoller, from 6 to 8. 15191. It would not be your duty to bring this matter to the notice of Mr. Lightoller as an officer or to mention the matter to him? - About ice? 15192. Yes, or about the bearings of your ship? - He could see the Marconigrams as well as I. 15193. At any rate you do not consider that course within the scope of your duties. About the lowering of this boat No. 5. did you see any of the collapsibles lowered? - I did not. 15194. And you did not know whether any of the three were lowered from the falls that lowered No. 5? - No. 15195. Did you think there were a sufficient number of trained seamen, I mean deckhands, on the boat deck to secure the expeditious launching of the lifeboats? - Quite. 15196. Did you see or have you read the report that was made from passengers on the “Titanic” who were rescued by the “Carpathia,” on their arrival in America, to the effect that there were not enough trained seamen on the boat deck to secure the safe and expeditious launching of the boats? - I do not think they are in a position to judge. 15197. (The Commissioner.) That is not the question: the question is, Did you read that report? - I did not. 15198. (Mr. Harbinson.) Have you ever been in a shipwreck before? - Yes, some minor affair. 15199. Do you consider that the system of launching boats from davits so high above the water, as the davits necessarily must have been on a vessel of the size of the “Titanic,” is a safe operation? - Apparently so; it was that night. 15200. But supposing the weather conditions had not been so favourable, would your answer be that it would not be? - I do not know; I would not make any suggestion. 15201. You will not make any suggestions? - No, I am not making any suggestions. 15202. Do you not think the system of lowering the boats to one of the lower decks and filling them either through the gangway doors or from the third deck would be less hazardous? - It is too long a job. 15203. And less calculated to inspire passengers with terror? - Oh, no, it is too long a job to
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