Page 129 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

telegram, or whatever it is called - the Marconigram - arrived on the “Titanic” at about 2 o’clock. The Attorney-General: 1.40 really. The Commissioner: 11.52, as I understand, by New York time. The Attorney-General: That is right. According to the evidence we have got that would be about 1.40 or 1.45. The Commissioner: Very well, that is 20 minutes to 2, and then he says 20 minutes past 1. The Witness: It was the hour of lunch I was trying to fix the time by. 18351. (The Attorney-General.) Very well. Now let us take it that you received it immediately before lunch. You said nothing about it then, as I understand you? - No, I did not. 18352. But having read it, you put it in your pocket? - Yes. 18353. And did you then go down to lunch? - Yes, I went down to lunch. 18354. Were you alone at lunch? - I was. 18355. You lunched alone? - Absolutely. 18356. Then you spoke about it in the afternoon to two lady passengers? - Yes. 18357. Will you tell me to whom you spoke? - I spoke to Mrs. Thayer and Mrs. Ryerson. [Mrs. Marion Thayer and Mrs. Emily Ryerson.] 18358. Will you tell us what you said? - I cannot recollect what I said. I think I read part of the message to them about the ice and the derelict - not the derelict, but the steamer that was broken down; short of coal she was. 18359. Did you understand from that telegram that the ice which was reported was in your track? - I did not. 18360. Did you attribute any importance at all to the ice report? - I did not; no special importance at all. 18361. Why did you think the Captain handed you the Marconigram? - As a matter of information, I take it. 18362. Information of what? - About the contents of the message. 18363. The ice report? - About the contents of the message. He gave me the report of the ice and this steamer being short of coal. 18364. It conveyed to you at any rate that you were approaching within the region of ice, did it not? - Yes, certainly. 18365. Did Mrs. Ryerson say anything to you about slowing down in consequence of this ice report? - I have no recollection of it at all. 18366. Will you pledge yourself that she did not? - Yes, I think I can. 18367. Up to this time had you been increasing the number of revolutions? - I believe the revolutions were increased from 70 to 72 and up to 75. 18368. You had begun at 70, I suppose? - We began at 68. 18369. Was that when you left Queenstown? - When we left Southampton. 18370. When you left Southampton you began at 68? - Yes. 18371. What would that give in knots? - I cannot tell you; it is easily worked out. 18372. Then we know, I think, that 75 gives between 21 3/4 and 22 knots; we have got that in evidence already? - Yes. 18373. You started, you said, at 68. Did you then get to 70? - I believe she went at 70 from Cherbourg to Queenstown. 18374. When was it you first got to 75? - I really have no absolute knowledge myself as to the number of revolutions. I believe she was going 75 on the Sunday. 18375. But really, Mr. Ismay, if you will just search your recollection a little. Remember that this question of speed interested you very materially. You, as Managing Director of the Company, were interested in the speed of the vessel? - Naturally. 18376. And when the report was made to you, as I suppose it was, that she had increased to 75