Page 240 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

The Witness: The boat deck, as those who have seen it know, with the number you speak of, is already very congested, and she is not nearly boated to her full capacity. 19684-5. (The Commissioner.) In your opinion, is she, with these 24 collapsible boats added to the number that were previously on deck, as seaworthy a boat as she was without them? - I think she is quite seaworthy. 19686. What I mean is, can you work the boats quite as easily? - You mean put the boats in the water as easily? 19687. Yes? - I should not like to say that we could, and I would not like to say we could not. I think she is fairly well congested now. 19688. What do you mean by “congested”? - The boats are very close together, and there would not be much room for the men to work. If the men started on these boats, which are amidships - opening them out and moving them to the side of the ship - they would have very little room to work in. 19689. I suppose - I do not know - there comes a point when an additional lifeboat, instead of being of service to the ship, is a disservice? - That is my feeling, my Lord. 19690. (Mr. Lewis.) Is it not a fact that you contemplated - I want to find out the number of men that are really required for these boats - sending the “Olympic” away without any extra men to look after the extra boats that you put on? - I should not have hesitated to do it. 19691. Is it not a fact that your Company did not contemplate, in the first instance, sending any extra men? - I do not remember that; I do not remember how the matter came up. I know that five extra men were shipped, but at whose instance I cannot tell you. 19692. Are you not aware it was at the request of the men themselves that extra men were placed upon her? - I will take your word for it. 19693. And that objection was taken by the Company that they could not afford the space? - I will take your word for it; I attach no importance to it. 19694. Just one word with regard to the speed of ships during fogs. I understand you said in your evidence that you have never known your boats to proceed at full speed during a fog? - I do not remember stating that. If I did find one of our ships proceeding at full speed during a fog, somebody would hear about it. I never said it. 19695. Your boats frequently run into fog off the banks of Newfoundland? - Yes. 19696. Would they telegraph from the bridge to the engine room to stand by? - I am sure they would. 19697. Is it not a common practice as long as no sounds of other steamers’ whistles are heard to continue full speed even in a fog? - My dear Sir, I thought I had made myself abundantly clear on that point. The Commissioner: I put the question myself of this witness yesterday. 19698. (Mr. Lewis.) So I understand, my Lord. I have read the evidence? - I say the suggestion is an outrageous one. 19699. I understand you say that the person who made that suggestion would be a very ignorant person? - Ignorant and malicious. 19700. The average revolutions at full speed would be about 75 to the minute, would they not? - I think 78 was mentioned as full speed. 19701. 75 to 78. Is it not a common practice when half speed is rung down to proceed very often at 65 revolutions? - I have not got the figure of half speed in my mind. You cannot get half speed by dividing the revolutions in half. 19702. Are the engine room logs kept? - Certainly they are kept. 19703. If men who follow the sea, such as greasers and leading firemen, were to suggest that ships do frequently run through fog - in fact, the term they use is “run through anything” - they would be ignorant persons and malicious? - They would.