Page 27 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

when you offered your ice report? - (A.) He said: ‘It is all right; I heard you sending it to the ‘Antillian,’ and I have got it.” 16398. (The Commissioner - To the Witness.) Do you remember sending such a message? - It was a message to that effect, but there was no mention made of a ship’s name. 16399. That is what I wanted to know. Do you remember ever having referred to the “Antillian”? - In a case like that you would refer to the ship’s call letters; you would not mention the ship by name. 16400. I suppose the man on the “Californian” would have the corresponding letters? - Yes. 16401. Do you remember referring to the call-letters of a ship called the “Antillian”? - I remember referring to the call-letters of a ship which I understood to be the “Baltic.” 16402. (The Attorney-General.) Whatever it is, whether you recollect the letters or the name of the ship or not, it was a ship with which the “Californian” was in communication - is that right? - Yes. 16403. And whose message you overheard? - Yes. 16404. So far, your recollection is clear? - Yes. I see in America - I am going to read a passage th from the evidence you gave in America with regard to the message, which is on April 20 , 1912. The Commissioner: I have not got the American evidence. The Attorney-General: I thought I handed it up. Your Lordship need not be troubled with it; we will get the effect of the evidence from this witness. The Commissioner: That is what I mean. I do not ask for it, but I presume that whenever it is referred to the reference to it will be on the shorthand notes. The Attorney- General: Yes. The Commissioner: For instance, what you are to say at present will be taken down on the shorthand notes. 16405. (The Attorney-General.) Yes. (To the Witness.) I would like you to tell the exact language of that message. If you will follow what I am putting to you, this is your answer: “(Q.) It stated that the ‘Californian’ had passed three large icebergs, and gave their latitude and longitude? - (A.) That they passed three large icebergs, yes.” And then you are asked, “And gave their latitude and longitude. (A.) Yes, she passed very close to them.” And then you were asked whether you recollected the latitude and longitude, and you said you did not. That is the evidence you gave in America? - Yes. 16406. I take it that evidence is right? - That is correct. The Attorney-General: The message which has already been read, which I will just refer to again, which was actually sent, your Lordship will remember, “Three large bergs five miles to southward of us. Regards.” The Commissioner: There is the latitude and longitude. The Attorney-General: Yes, I am going to refer to that; I wanted to get first the actual facts to bring them to his recollection: “Three large bergs five miles to southwards of us. Regards”; but you see how it begins, “6.30 p.m., A.T.S.” which is we know the ship’s time. Then there is the latitude 42.3º N., and the longitude 49.9º W. 16407. (The Commissioner.) The message begins “To Captain, Antillian.” The Witness: Yes. The Attorney-General: It is sent off at 5.35. The Commissioner: At 6.30 p.m. those three large bergs were noticed. The Attorney-General: Your Lordship will recollect that the time which is there mentioned is the time at which they are seen and the latitude and longitude are there given. I think it is unnecessary to go further into that. We could show, if it had been necessary, from the procès- verbal that the “Californian” message was not to the “Baltic,” that they were not in communication with the “Baltic’ at that time at all, and that the message we have got is the