Page 145 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

Mr. Scanlan: We all believe a great deal in it, my Lord - of an alleged interview between a representative of this paper and the designer of the “Titanic,” the Right Honourable A. M. Carlisle, who was the late general manager of Messrs. Harland and Wolff, who built the “Titanic” and partly designed her. If your Lordship allows me to submit this point to the witness, I think it is of very great consequence. Amongst other things in this newspaper it was stated: “In working out the designs of the ‘Olympic’ and the ‘Titanic’ I put my ideas before the davit constructors and got them to design me davits which would allow me to place, if necessary, four lifeboats on each pair of davits, which would have meant a total of over 40 boats.” The Commissioner: A total of what? Mr. Scanlan: Forty lifeboats. The Commissioner: I do not know what is the meaning of it. I thought you said four lifeboats. Mr. Scanlan: Yes. The Commissioner: How are four lifeboats equal to 40? 18661. (Mr. Scanlan.) I mean, to place four lifeboats on each pair of davits, which would have meant a total of over 40 boats. (To the Witness.) Did you personally examine the designs for the lifeboats? - I did not. 18662. Who of your Company did examine the designs? - The design would be submitted to us by the shipbuilders. 18663. Will you tell me who, amongst your officials, would be responsible for accepting or rejecting a design of this kind? - I never saw any such design and I do not know that anybody connected with the White Star Line saw such a design. 18664. If there was a question of accepting or rejecting a design which provided for greater lifeboat accommodation than you had on the “Titanic,” I want to ask you whether it is you yourself or some subordinate of yours, or some associate of yours - ? - It would be done jointly between the shipbuilders and the managers of the White Star Line. 18665. Evidently you were not the manager who was responsible for examining this design? - I saw the design I have no doubt; I saw the design with the rest of the ship. 18666. I suggest to you that a design was submitted which would have provided sufficient lifeboats to take off everybody on board, and was rejected by the White Star Line? - I tell you I have never seen any such design. 18667. (The Commissioner.) Have you ever heard of it before? - No, I have not. 18668. (Mr. Scanlan.) Of course, I take it this is what you say, that you have no recollection of seeing the design at all? - No; I have no recollection of seeing any design which showed the “Titanic” fitted up for 40 boats. 18669. Or the fitting up of boats at all? - Oh, yes. 18670. You did see it? - Oh, yes. Mr. Scanlan: Very well. 18671. (The Commissioner.) But I want to know. (To the Witness.) Have you ever until today heard that there was a design for the “Titanic” by which she was to be provided with 40 lifeboats? - No, my Lord. 18672. (Mr. Scanlan.) I take it your statement is, you personally have not seen it. Can you give any explanation of this circumstance that, while the boat capacity, according to your calculation and that of the Board of Trade, was to give accommodation to 1,178 passengers and crew, there were only 703 in all saved? - Can I give any explanation? 18673. Yes; what do you attribute it to? - I presume that the people were not put into the boats. 18674. Whose fault was that; whom do you blame for that? - I cannot blame anybody for it. 18675. Why were they not put into the boats? - That I cannot answer. 18676. I think the information you had from those you consulted on the ship before leaving her was that the ship was not likely to sink? - I had no conversation with anybody in regard to the