Page 76 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

12650. (Mr. Scanlan.) You made a suggestion in your evidence as a reason for not taking more people in the boat that there would have been more room if the oars and sails had been put away? - Yes. 12651. As a practical man you knew that it would be very easy to put the oars and sails away and take in people? - As a practical man, I must say I did not think anything about it. The Commissioner: This does not help you much. It is admitted there was plenty of room in the boat for more people. The Witness: I did not know it at the time, my Lord. I admitted that I know now that there was. The Attorney-General: If that is the effect of Sir Cosmo’s evidence up to now, it is news to me; it is news to me to hear Sir Cosmo say he did not think there was any room. I thought his evidence showed that there was some. The Commissioner: I certainly understood so. Examined by Mr. HARBINSON. 12653. Had you, during the course of that voyage after you left Queenstown, been in conversation at all with Mr. Ismay? - No, I had never spoken to him in my life. 12654. Do you know, after the impact, if any general alarm was sounded to give the passengers warning? - I believe not; I did not hear it. 12655. You did not hear it? - No; I heard nothing. 12656. Did you know that a message had been received from the “Carpathia”? - No. 12657. You did not hear so? - No. 12658. Saying she was coming to the aid of the “Titanic”? - No. 12659. Do I rightly understand you to say that 20 minutes after you got into the boat, that is after the boat had been launched - The Commissioner: Have we heard of any message from the “Carpathia” received by the “Titanic” to the effect that the “Carpathia” was coming to the “Titanic’s” aid? The Attorney-General: I think you will hear something; but I do not think you have. We have had some messages. Yes, my Lord, there is one. I remember one of those read out by my friend the Solicitor-General when we were taking the Marconi operator. It is page 213. There is nothing definite. I think the particular passage you want is this question, 9459, page 211: “I have got down here ‘Titanic’ still calling C.Q.D., is answered by the ‘Carpathia,’ and says: Struck iceberg; come to our assistance,’ sends the position.” That is the first. Then later on you get “The ‘Carpathia’ sends to the ‘Titanic.’” We have got the whole series of messages, your Lordship will remember, but I do not think there is a definite message saying the ‘Carpathia’ is coming to the assistance of the “Titanic.” The Commissioner: I do not remember it. The Attorney-General: I think your Lordship will hear about it. Sir Robert Finlay: It is later, but I think it is after the “Titanic” sunk. Mr. Duke: That is so. The Attorney-General: I am not sure that you have that at all. Sir Robert Finlay: Yes, on page 214, but it is quite immaterial, because it was after the ship had gone down. 12660. (Mr. Harbinson - To the Witness.) Did I rightly understand you on Friday to say that about 20 minutes after the “Titanic” sank, while you were in the boat, was the time when the conversation with reference to the presents took place? - Something of that sort; 20 minutes or half an hour, I should fancy. 12661. That was while those scenes, which we have heard described so often to us, took place and harrowing cries could be distinctly heard by you? - Oh, no.