Page 246 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

The Commissioner: Yes, I remember it. The Attorney-General: They were very different instructions, you know. I will read it if you desire it. The Commissioner: No, I do not think it is necessary. Sir Robert Finlay: The only point is that the Captain has exactly the same discretion with regard to the ice. It is totally immaterial whether it is North or South. 19781. (The Commissioner.) Can you recall, Mr. Sanderson, any occasion when the captain of one of your ships traversing this track has advised the Company that he had deviated in consequence of meeting ice? - I cannot recall one, my Lord, but I have no doubt there are such. 19782. (The Attorney-General.) It is those we are asking for? - I did my best to find out. 19783. Perhaps they may still be found? - If there are any you shall certainly have them. 19784. You see the point? - I quite understand. 19785. We want to see whether there is any record of it. It may be that you have not had time to look them up carefully. If you find any subsequently you might hand them in? - I will ask them to pursue the examination. The Commissioner: I can understand that they may have deviated if they came across what I call field ice or pack ice, I do not know whether there is any difference. Then I can understand them deviating to get out of the way of it because they could not make their way, but they may not have deviated on account of icebergs. 19786. (The Attorney-General.) That would depend on how many they expect to encounter or sight. With one or two probably one would have thought they would not; they would simply get out of the way of the iceberg. (To the Witness.) There is one other fact I want from you, or at least I will take it from you if you can help us. Can you tell me the time, from any record of your Company, when your vessel, the “Titanic,” left Queenstown on the 11th April? - Yes. I think I have it here. 19787. Will you tell me it? - I am sorry I have not got the hour, but I can easily get it for you. The Attorney-General: I have been enquiring about it. Sir Robert Finlay: I think I handed that information in. The Witness: It must have been somewhere between one and two o’clock. 19788. (The Attorney-General.) 2.30, I am told it was by your marine superintendent. We will take it at that? - It would be about that. The Attorney-General: That enables us to answer a question which was asked yesterday. Supposing she had left Queenstown at 2.30 on the 11th April, and had arrived in New York on the Wednesday morning at 5 o’clock her passage would have taken, allowing, of course, for the voyage westward, 5 days 19 hours and 30 minutes. Sir Robert Finlay: Arriving on Wednesday morning. The Attorney-General: Allowing for her arrival at 5 o’clock on Wednesday morning. The record, I think that was given yesterday of the “Olympic” from Queenstown was 5 days 17 hours and 29 minutes. The Commissioner: So that the “Titanic” would have taken about two hours longer? The Attorney-General: Yes, if she had arrived at 5 o’clock on Wednesday morning. The Witness: I think the difference was more than that, my Lord. I think the “Olympic’s” time was 5 days 7 hours - not 17 hours. Mr. Maurice Hill: It was seven hours, my Lord. You will find it on page 450 of the notes. The Commissioner: What is it, Mr. Hill? Mr. Maurice Hill: 5 days 7 hours 29 minutes. The Attorney-General: Is that right? - Yes, 5 days 7 hours and 29 minutes is correct. The Commissioner: Then it is a difference of 12 hours. The Attorney-General: Yes, 12 hours. My own note is wrong. I had 5 days 17 hours 29