Page 243 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

15848. One of the men in your boat has given evidence, and he says he looked up and saw the rope of the falls twisted? - No; I looked up and I could not see anything. 15849. Just let me ask you this, because it is fair to ask you it. Could they twist? - I suppose they could. 15850. Can the blocks revolve at the top? - Oh, yes, the blocks are movable in the davits; they are swivelled; both are swivelled, the top and bottom blocks. 15851. Then you got to the water and you slipped her, as you say? - Yes. 15852. Did you take command of the boat? - Yes. 15853. What did you do with her? - I took, I think it was, No. 12 to a distance of about 150 yards from the ship, and told him to stay there until I gave him orders to go away or any other orders. I then came back to the ship and escorted another boat, and so on, until I had five boats there. 15854. You gathered five boats together? - Yes. 15855. There is just another thing I want to ask you. Did you use a revolver at all? - I did. 15856. How was that? - It was because while I was on the boat deck just as they had started to lower, two men jumped into my boat. I chased one out and to avoid another occurrence of that sort I fired my revolver as I was going down each deck, because the boat would not stand a sudden jerk. She was loaded already I suppose with about 64 people on her, and she would not stand any more. 15857. You were afraid of the effect of any person jumping in the boat through the air? - Certainly, I was. 15858. In your judgment had she enough in her to lower safely? - She had too many in her as far as that goes. I was taking risks. 15859. You say you collected these four boats together at a distance of about 150 yards? - Yes. 15860. Can you judge how long that was before the ship went down? - I have not the remotest idea of time from the time she went down until we boarded the “Carpathia.” All I know is that when we boarded the “Carpathia” in the morning it was six o’clock, and that is the only time I know of. 15861. You could not give me any idea? - I could not; it is no good my trying. 15862. What did you do after you got the four boats out there? - I tied them together in a string, and made them step their masts. 15863. What was that for? - In case it came on to blow, and then they would be ready. 15864. Did you transfer any of your passengers? - Yes, I transferred all of them. 15865. Among the other boats? - Into the other four boats. 15866. Why did you do that? - So as to have an empty boat to go back. 15867. (The Commissioner.) To do what? - To go back to the wreck. 15868. (Mr. Rowlatt.) Was that before the “Titanic” foundered or after? - No, that was after she went down. 15869. Having got an empty boat, did you go back to the wreckage? - I did. 15870. Was there much wreckage? - No, very little. 15871. (The Commissioner.) Am I to understand that you were alone in the boat? - No. 15872. (Mr. Rowlatt.) You were there with your crew? - Yes. The Commissioner: How many men had you an the boat? - I do not know; I should say seven. 15873. Including yourself? - Yes, I should say six and myself. 15874. (Mr. Rowlatt.) Did you row six oars back to the wreck? - No, five oars, I think, and I had a man on the look-out. 15875. I understand what you say is that you got rid of the passengers. You got rid of the people who could not do anything, and went back with a working crew to look for people who were drowning; that is what you mean? - Yes; it would be no good me going back with a load of