Page 249 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

19824. Where did the other electrical machinery get its steam from? - From Nos. 1, 2 and 4 boiler rooms. 19825. Just to clear up a question which arose earlier in the case. If the engines which actuate the propellers are stopped, that has nothing whatever to do with the engines that actuate the dynamos? - Nothing whatever. They have a separate pipe of their own. 19826. They are separate engines drawing, by means of separate pipes, steam from the pipes of the ship? - Certainly. Of course, there are boilers which also supply the main engines. 19827. I quite understand that. The next paragraph of your Report deals with the general equipment, which is not very material to this accident except the installation of wireless telegraphy. That is the first one to which I wish you to refer. Where was the electricity for the wireless telegraphy generated? - There were certainly two, and, I believe, three provisions. It could be taken in the first instance, from the main dynamos of the ship, of which one, at least, was always running. It could, in addition to that, be taken from the emergency dynamos which were running every night after sunset; and I believe - though I am not quite sure in regard to this matter, because I have not got the information from the Marconi Company - they had a small battery which would take them on for a short time. 19828. A storage battery? - Yes, a storage battery. 19829. Then you had submarine signalling apparatus? - Yes. 19830. And electric lighting apparatus? - There was one point which was rather of a special character in that. Some of the lights in the electric light equipment could only be controlled from the switchboard, so that in the event of accident one could practically ensure the ship being fairly well lit, and that a passenger could not accidentally put out the lights. 19831. Then you had a system of telephones? - Yes, of which you have heard something. 19832. And electric elevators? - Yes. 19833. I see on page 3 of your Report you say there were four electrically-driven boat winches provided on the boat deck for handling the boats? - Yes. 19834. Where were they situated? - They were marked on this general arrangements plan (Showing.). 19835. Do you know whether they were used on this occasion? - They are not necessary for lowering. You can lower just as fast without them, but they are necessary if you have to raise. 19836. That is what they are used for? - That is what they are used for. 19837. Then you have telephones and engine and docking telegraphs, emergency telegraphs, steam whistles, and so on. I do not think that apparatus is material to the present Enquiry particularly, but you have a plan, have you not, if the Court wishes to see it, the rigging plan of the vessel, which would show all these connections. You need not produce it? - It does not show the telegraphs, but it shows several of these things. 19838. I do not think you need produce it, but you have the plan, if necessary? - Yes. 19839. We will go on to the question of the decks now. We know generally now what decks there were, but will you just tell me how high the boat deck was above the keel? - It was about 92 feet 6 inches above the keel at the lowest point. It was a little more at the ends because of the shear of the vessel. 19840. It would be about 60 feet above the water when she was loaded? - Rather more than 60 feet. 19841. That deck was about 500 feet long, was it not? - About - a few feet under 500. 19842. Can you tell us shortly - I do not know whether it is in the mind of the Court or not - what access there was to the boat deck? - Yes, but it is simpler to follow it on the plan. Would your Lordship like a copy of the plan (Handing the plan.)? Mr. Rowlatt: Is that the same plan that we have had all through? 19842a. (Mr. Laing.) What plan have you handed up? - The 32nd scale general arrangements