Page 238 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

reading the telegram. The Commissioner: Please do not. Answer the question. 19653. (Mr. Lewis.) Is it a fact that the firemen are drilled separately from the sailors and stewards? - I do not know what you mean by “separately.” 19654. They do not take part in all drills? - All at the same time. That is the intention. 19655. Then you do not know whether they drill together or not? - I know that the firemen do not drill at all in practice, so far as my information goes. The stewards and the deckhands are doing it and the firemen are not. 19656. Not even at the present time? - Not even at the present time. They are still refusing. That was my information here. 19657. I think you said that you tried it on in the “Oceanic,” and that the men refused, and that you logged some of them? - No, I did not say that. I told the Court that about a year ago or more the men while on the passage to New York refused to attend boat muster and were logged for not doing it. It is a different thing from the boat muster at Southampton. 19658. Quite recently on the “Oceanic” seven men left. You said that seven men left the ship? - That was a boat muster at Southampton. 19659. They refused to attend, and left the ship? - Thirty-seven of them. 19660. Those are not the ordinary men employed by you as a rule? - I do not know that. 19661. Is it not a fact that when the “Oceanic” came back from New York she was short- handed? - I never heard of it. 19662. And that the men complained of the extra work they had to do, and, as a consequence, objected to the drill? - It never came to my knowledge. The Commissioner: Would it be an extraordinary thing if they did? The Witness: Complain? The Commissioner: Yes. 19663. (Mr. Lewis.) I think in your evidence you complained of the shortage of A.B.’s. I think you said that in the event of extra men being required through new regulations it would be difficult to obtain a sufficient supply of A.B.’s? - Yes, I think it would be. 19664. Do you not think that there are a large number of A.B.’s who prefer to work ashore owing to the irksome duties they have to perform? - I am not aware of it. I am not aware that they regard their duties as irksome. 19665. Do you not think that the majority of sailors object to the system of four hours on and four hours off? - It has not come to my knowledge if it is so. 19666. Do you not think that it would be desirable to have three watches of sailors instead of two watches? - No, I do not. 19667. Are you satisfied with the number of petty officers that are supplied? - Entirely. 19668. Do you not think it would be desirable to have extra bo’suns or bo’sun mates? - The necessity for it has never been suggested to me. The Commissioner: How many more men of your Union do you suggest ought to have been on board this boat? Mr. Lewis: How many do I suggest? I am not suggesting it from the Union point at all. 19669. (The Commissioner.) Never mind about that. How many of the men you represent do you think ought to have been employed on this boat in addition to those who were employed? - I do not suggest that any particular number of my Union should be employed. I suggest that all we ask for is that enough men should be employed. It does not matter what Union they belong to. The Commissioner: Will you tell me how many more men you suggest there ought to have been on this boat? Mr. Lewis: I suggest, my Lord, that there should have been on the “Titanic” at least 15 extra men.