Page 235 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

15676. Then for the purpose of working out what your position was when the collision occurred did you actually have recourse to the chart? - None whatever. I had the 7.30 position in my work book. 15677. You had a note of it? - Yes. 15678. You would not have to return to look at the chart after the accident? - No, I had used that same position two or three times after giving it to the Captain, and that same course I used two or three times after giving it to the Captain as well, between 10 o’clock and the time of the collision, for the purpose of working up stellar deviations. 15679. That is to say checking where you were? - No, checking the compass error. 15680. Did I understand you to tell one of my friends that it was you who had marked upon the Captain’s chart the position of ice as reported? - Yes. 15681. I am going to ask the Court to allow me to read to them in order of time some messages which we can prove got to your ship, and I will ask you if you remember them. First of all, you remember the “La Touraine” message? - Yes. 15682. Which was two days before I think, on the 12th? - I do not remember the date exactly, but I think it was about a couple of days previous. 15683. Then do you remember the “Caronia” message? - I remember the “Caronia” message; I remember having that, and I pinned that on the board. 15684. Do you remember any other message about ice or whether there was any ice? - There were others, but I cannot remember, and I cannot fix the place. 15685. Let us be careful about this. Did you say there were others? - Yes, there were others. 15686. Do you mean there were more than three; I mean there was the “La Touraine,” and the “Caronia”? - There were some positions we had and I fancy we got them leaving Queenstown or got them leaving Southampton. 15687. I mean after “La Touraine”? - Yes, there was another one, but I cannot remember what it was after “La Touraine.” 15688. That is the extent of your recollection. And as far as the messages were brought to your attention did you plot them out on the chart and mark them? - Yes. 15689. (The Solicitor-General.) Now, my Lord, I think the thing which is clearest for your Lordship to follow is to read the messages in order of date while this witness is here. The first th one we have got a check of is the 12 of April. That is the Friday in the evening, sent from “La Touraine” to the “Titanic.” May I just read the message as I have it before me? “From ‘Touraine’ to Captain ‘Titanic.’ My position, 7 p.m., G.M.T., lat. 49.28, long. 26.28 W. Dense fog since this night. Crossed thick ice-field lat. 44.58, long. 50.40’ Paris’; saw another ice-field and two icebergs lat. 45.20, long. 45.09 ‘ Paris’; saw a derelict 40.56 long. 68.38, ‘Paris.’ Please give me your position. Best regards and bon voyage.” That is signed “Caussin.” I suppose that is the Captain. And that is acknowledged? - There is one thing I want to ask about that message. You allude to “Paris.” Does that “Paris” mean the ship “Paris,” or does it mean the longitude given as from the meridian of Paris? 15690. I think, inasmuch as it follows two longitudes, it must mean the longitude of Paris? - That is what I think. 15691. It is evidently the longitude of Paris? - Yes, and that is what we allowed. We had some discussion on board the ship - the Captain, Mr. Wilde, and myself. I forget the difference in longitude between Paris and the British meridian, but we allowed for that. 15692. Do you know what the allowance is? - I do not remember. I believe it is something like 54 minutes, but I am not sure. You can soon find out from the tables. 15693. That calls it to your mind that that message was received, and you had to make that correction? - Yes. 15694. The only one of those messages which would seem to be material, as I make it out, is