Page 13 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

Sir Robert Finlay: I think what my friend the Solicitor-General says is probably perfectly accurate, but this affidavit, with which the Attorney-General was dealing in opening, is a sort of free translation of that message, which we have not got in extenso. There is nothing in the message about the outward southern track. The message gives the latitude. The Commissioner: Yes, but the affidavit says “reports” - in the plural - “were received from a number of steamships of having passed ice.” That is paragraph 2, and these ice reports were sent out to the “Titanic.” Sir Robert Finlay: Yes. The Commissioner: Now that does not seem accurate. Sir Robert Finlay: It is not accurate, my Lord; it is a very free translation. The Solicitor-General: The American evidence shows that the Captain of the “Baltic” is right in saying that he received more messages than one. The Commissioner: That is no doubt right. I do not doubt that at all. That is his affidavit, but that they were sent on to the “Titanic” in the sense of being received by the “Titanic,” does not seem to be accurate. Sir Robert Finlay: I think the inaccuracy is in the second paragraph as to what reports were sent to the “Titanic”; we now know what the message to the “Titanic” was it gives the particular latitude. The Commissioner: It is only that one message indicating ice at a particular spot. Sir Robert Finlay: Exactly. The Solicitor-General: That is right. I think we shall find when Mr. Bride gives evidence that he will say he heard another message being sent to the “Baltic”, he overheard it. I have his evidence in America before me. The Commissioner: From the “Titanic”? The Solicitor-General: Yes. The Commissioner: I will wait for that. 16187. (The Solicitor-General.) I think you will find that is what he will say, a message was being sent from another ship to the “Baltic” and he overheard it. (To the Witness.) Now we will go on to the next one, the “Californian.” Here again we have evidence in the shorthand note, the evidence is the evidence of the operator Evans, and it is to be found at page 201. He says that he was sending to the “Antillian,” and that he was told by the “Titanic” operator that the “Titanic” operator had overheard it. (To the Witness.) Have you got the procès-verbal there showing he was sending to the “Antillian” ? - Yes. 16188. What is the entry? - The entry is under the 14th April, “5.35 p.m. in New York time, sent M.S.G. to M.J.L.,” M.J.L. is the “Antillian.” 16189. What is the time? - 5.35 p.m. in New York time. 16190. That would be about 7.30 ship’s time? - I should say so. 16191. That is what he says. You have the procès-verbal before you? - Yes. 16192. Can you tell me whether you have an entry in the procès-verbal immediately before at 5.20 showing that the “Californian” was in communication with the “Titanic”? - Yes. “5.20 p.m. New York time, exchanged Trs M.G.Y. nil.” 16193. What is “Tr”? - “Tr” is the telegram which is exchanged between two ships when they first enter into contact to announce to each other what telegraphic traffic they have for each other. 16194. (The Commissioner.) What does that mean? - What telegrams they have. 16195. (The Solicitor-General.) Nowadays they send messages like they do from two offices. When you find in the procès-verbal the entry that you exchanged Trs. with a ship, does that indicate that the ship and your own ship are in communication? - Certainly. 16196. Now have the message that was sent to the “Antillian” at 5.35? - I have it here.