Page 54 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

12222. So that when six firemen and one sailor got into that, you thought it was a peculiar proceeding? - They were ordered into it. 12223. They were ordered into it? - Yes. 12224. Now, when you got to the water did you hear anything said by any officer from the boat deck through a megaphone? - No. 12225. You heard nothing at all? - No. 12226. When you rowed away, by morning when you sighted the “Carpathia,” did you hear any conversation in the boat? - When we rowed for the “Carpathia”? 12227. When you sighted the “Carpathia,” did you hear any conversation in the boat? - No. 12228. If Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon had spoken to anyone, would you have heard him? - I expect so, I was sitting alongside of him. 12229. Did you hear him say this: “He would make us a little present for this, and send a wire privately to our homes to let them know we were all right”? - Yes. 12230. You did hear that? - Yes. 12231. So you did hear a conversation? - Yes. 12232. Who did he say that to? - He said that to me. 12233. To you? - Yes. 12234. (The Commissioner.) Now tell me again what it was he said to you in the boat, you know? - In the boat? 12235. Yes; not on the “Carpathia,” but in the boat. What did he say? - He said to me he would write to our homes and our wives, and let them know that we were safe. 12236. Well, what else? - That was all he said to me. That is all I heard of the conversation. 12237. Did you hear him say anything about giving a present to anyone? - No. 12238. Then you should be careful how you answer, you know. The Witness: That is the only present I understood - this message to our homes. 12239. (Mr. Cotter.) Did you hear him make this statement; I will put the question to you again: “He would make us a little present for this, and send a wire privately to our homes to let them know we were all right”? - No, that is not right. He said he would send a wire home; that is all I know; but as for any present I know nothing about it. 12240. Did you hear any other gentleman make a statement? - No. 12241. In the boat? - No. 12242. Did you receive any present when you got on the “Carpathia”? - Yes. 12243. What did you receive? - £5. The Commissioner: They each got £5. 12244. (Mr. Cotter - To the Witness.) Was any statement made to you when you got the £5? - No; he only said, “This is a little present from me.” That was the only time a present was mentioned that I heard. That was three or four days afterwards. 12245. When you were rowing to the “Carpathia,” what sort of a sea was on? - A calm sea. 12246. Very calm? - What I should call calm, yes. 12247. Did the boat rock at all? - Not a great lot. 12248. Did she rock; did she roll? - No. 12249. Was there anybody seasick in the boat? - Yes. 12250. Who was seasick? - Lady Duff-Gordon. 12251. How do you know it was Lady Duff-Gordon; you have told us you do not know her? - I told that gentleman there (pointing.) that I was told afterwards that it was Lady Duff-Gordon. 12252. You were told afterwards it was? - Yes, I told that gentleman there. 12253. Was that the lady who objected to the boat going back? - The lady that spoke of its being swamped. 12254. Was that the lady? - Yes.