Page 82 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

The Commissioner: Then he gave two inconsistent answers, because I read here “was there anybody else on the same thwart as you? - (A.) Yes, a gentleman passenger. (Q.) You would not know at the time, but do you know now who it was? - (A.) No. (Q.) Do you know now it was Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon? - (A.) I understand it is that gentleman now, but I did not think at the time.” You should be careful not to assume that people said things when in fact they did not say them. Mr. Cotter: I have it here, my Lord. The Commissioner: Then will you read it. Mr. Cotter: At page 272, question 12250, I asked, “Who was seasick” and the reply was “Lady Duff-Gordon.” The Commissioner: Yes. Mr. Cotter: And I asked him then, “How do you know it was Lady Duff-Gordon; you have told us you do not know her? - (A.) I told that gentleman there (pointing) that I was told afterwards that it was Lady Duff-Gordon. (Q.) You were told afterwards it was? - (A.) Yes, I told that gentleman there. (Q.) Was that the lady who objected to the boat going back? - (A.) The lady that spoke of its being swamped. (Q.) Was that the lady? - (A.) Yes.” The Commissioner: Your statement to this witness was that he knew Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon when he was in the boat, and he did not. He says he did not. I am talking about Taylor. Mr. Cotter: Taylor knows now it was. The Commissioner: Yes, but that is a very different thing from knowing it when he was in the boat. 12754. (Mr. Cotter.) When Taylor states that Lady Duff-Gordon made that statement it is untrue? - Yes. Examined by Mr. LEWIS. 12755. You said in your evidence you were watching the “Titanic” until she sank, is that so? - Well, practically so, yes. 12756. And there was dead silence? - I cannot hear you. 12757. And there was dead silence when she went down? - There was silence when she went down, yes. 12758. Could you hear cries very distinctly? - No, not very distinctly. 12759. Might cries have lasted for an hour? - I do not think so at all. 12760. Were you close enough to hear anyone say there “My God, my God”? - No; that you have taken no doubt out of that story. 12761. This I take from the “Evening Herald”? - It is in the same story; I remember the words. 12762. I am not quite clear as to your answer to Mr. Cotter or Mr. Edwards as to the approach of the lifeboats. Did you see the other boats or merely hear them rowing after the “Titanic” had sunk? - I said we heard boats round us. 12763. Could you hear them rowing? - You could hear a boat rowing, yes. 12764. Supposing anyone had hailed that boat, could you have heard? - That I cannot say. The Commissioner: Could he have done what? 12765. (Mr. Lewis.) Could he have heard if anyone had hailed the boat? - I should think so. 12766. I understand you to say you did not hear anybody say, “We are full up” on your boat? - I have not heard that remark at all yet - about being full up. 12767. Did you hear any other remark, such as “Do not go near that boat, they might jump on ours”? - No, I do not think so. When was this? I do not know when you are talking about. 12768. I am talking about after the “Titanic” had gone down, and you were rowing about in your boat. I suggest you were approached by other boats? - We approached one other boat just