Page 140 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

enquire whether any such order had been given? - Of passengers coming up from down below? 18569. Yes? - No, I did not. 18570. And you did not inquire whether any such order had been given? - I did not. 18571. Did you think then when you left the vessel that she was rapidly going down? - I did. 18572. Before you left the vessel did you see the rockets being sent up? - I did. 18573. That went on for some time? - For some time. 18574. When you got into the boat and she was lowered, how were you sitting? - I was sitting with my back to the afterend of the boat. 18575. Facing the bow? - Facing the bow. 18576. And did you assist with the oars? - I did. 18577. Did you see any light? - We saw a light a long way from us, which, I think, was a little bit on our starboard side. 18578. That is a little bit on the starboard side of the “Titanic” or your boat? - Of both. 18579. You were heading the same way? - Yes. 18580. Did you pull towards it? - We did. 18581. But without success? - We thought we gained on her, and then she seemed to draw away from us again. 18582. Then the light disappeared? - In daylight, yes. 18583. I say the light of the vessel disappeared? - Yes, when daylight came. 18584. Not till daylight came? - If you will excuse my saying so, I do not think it was a steamer at all; I think it was a sailing ship we saw. 18585. (The Commissioner.) Am I to understand that you do not think it was the “Californian”? - I am sure it was not. 18586. I am rather sorry to hear that? - This was on the starboard side of the ship. I understand the “Californian” was seen on the port side of the ship - or the ship that was supposed to be the “Californian.” This light I saw was on the starboard side. 18587. Never mind about what side it was at all; have you come to the conclusion that the vessel whose lights were seen for so long a time was not the “Californian”? - No, Sir. 18588. I thought you said you had come to that conclusion? - No, I said that the light that we pulled for I do not think was the “Californian’s” light. 18589. Then was there more than one light visible? - The only light I saw was the one we rowed for. 18590. Was there any other light visible? - I saw no other light. This was one plain, white light. 18591. (The Attorney-General.) There was very little wind that night? - Very little. 18592. Practically a dead calm, we have been told? - Yes, up to a certain hour in the morning, when the wind did get up. 18593. A sailing vessel would not have been making any way at all, or practically none? - Well, very little. 18594. The “Californian” is of course a vessel under the control of your company, the company of which you are president? - Financially, yes; so far as the management of the company is concerned I have nothing to do with it. 18595. I did not suggest you had, but it is one of those in the Leyland Line, the controlling interest of which is in the American Trust? - Quite. 18596. Did you continue pulling towards it all the time? - Yes, for a very long time. 18597. Did you continue pulling towards it till daylight? - No. 18598. Do you mean you gave it up? - We gave it up because the wind got up; a little sea got up and we were making no progress at all. 18599. Did you see the lights of the “Carpathia” before daylight? - No. 18600. You only saw her when day broke? - Yes.