Page 33 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

16504. I am not quite sure that I understand what you mean by that: assistance where? - He gave us to understand he wanted us to call C.Q.D. 16505. That is to say that what the Captain wanted you to do was to call for assistance from other vessels? - Yes. 16506. And you were to send out this signal C.Q.D.? - Yes. 16507. Did you hear any conversation between Mr. Phillips and the Captain about this? - Yes. 16508. Beyond what you have just told us that you were to call for assistance? - The Captain gave him the latitude and longitude of the “Titanic,” and told him to be quick about it or words to that effect. 16509. Then what did Mr. Phillips do? - He started to call C.Q.D. 16510. After the Captain had come in, the first message was sent out, C.Q.D. was by Mr. Phillips; is that right? - Yes. 16511. I do not know whether you can help us at all with regard to the time a little more than you have. You have told us you came up at 12 o’clock, and that then you heard this conversation between the Captain and Mr. Phillips. Could you give us any idea of the time - how long had elapsed after your coming up at 12 o’clock, or coming into the room with Mr. Phillips? - Not with any accuracy. 16512. Give us the best estimate you can? - I do not think I could. 16513. Do you remember what was the first vessel to answer your C.Q.D. call? - The “Frankfurt.” 16514. Do you remember what the “Frankfurt’s” answer was? - “O.K. Stand by.” 16515. “O.K.” - is that “All right”? - Yes. 16516. What was the next ? - The “Carpathia.” 16517. What was the message from the “Carpathia,” so far as you can recollect it? - She transmitted her position and told us she had turned round and was coming along as fast as she could. 16518. To your assistance? - Yes. The Commissioner: Did the “Frankfurt” transmit her position? - No. 16519. (The Attorney-General.) So as far as I follow from what you have told us, the “Frankfurt’s” message was “O.K. Stand by”? - Yes. 16520. What did you understand that to mean? - That he had got my message and would let me hear from him in a minute or so. 16521. It meant to say “All right,” that he had got your message. “Stand by” - that is. “Wait and I will communicate with you later”? - Yes. 16522. He would have to communicate with the Commanding Officer? - Yes. 16523. You received those two messages, the one from the “Frankfurt” and the other from the “Carpathia;” what did you do then? - I went to report to the Captain. 16524. And Mr. Phillips remained in the room? - Yes. 16525. Did you report to the Captain? - Yes. 16526. Where was he when you reported to him? - He was on the boat deck, the starboard side, if I remember. 16527. What was he doing? - He was superintending the loading of the lifeboats. 16528. Do you recollect any other message? - Yes. 16529. What was the next you recollect? - The next one was the “Olympic.” 16530. What did you do about that? - We received several messages from the “Olympic” from time to time, but to the best of my recollection they were not delivered because Captain Smith was busy and we presumed he would be worried, and we let them go. 16531. (The Commissioner.) What was the effect of the messages? - They merely said - one message I remember was that the Commander of the “Olympic” told Captain Smith to have his