Page 37 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

The Solicitor-General: My Lord, the Attorney-General has been called away. Perhaps your Lordship will allow me to finish the witness? The Commissioner: Yes. 16609. (The Solicitor-General - To the Witness.) I think you had just got to the point when you found yourself in the water? - Yes. 16610. Tell us what it was that happened to you? - I swam away from the “Titanic,” saw the “Titanic” go down, and climbed on top of the collapsible boat for the second time, was picked up from there by the “Titanic’s” lifeboat, and taken on board the “Carpathia.” 16611. I want to imitate your own brevity about it as far as I can; but did you get on to the collapsible boat at once, or were you in the water for some little time? - I was in the water for some little time. 16612. Do you mind telling us about it? - I was in the water, I should estimate, nearly three- quarters of an hour. It may have been more. It was some time after the “Titanic” sank. 16613. I only want you to tell us about it. I have looked up your evidence in America. Did you find yourself at the under-side of the collapsible boat? - I was on the under-side of the boat, yes. 16614. I want you to tell us about it? - I was on the underside of the boat. After I had been there two or three seconds I cleared myself and swam away from it. 16615. The collapsible boat is a flat kind of thing like a raft? - Yes. 16616. You mean, you found yourself on the underside of that? - Yes. 16617. (The Commissioner.) In the water? - Yes. 16618. Knocking your head against the bottom of it? - I was upside down myself. I was lying on my back. 16619. (The Solicitor-General.) You were lying on your back, and found yourself on the underside of this raft? - Yes. 16620. Was there an air space between the underside of that and the top of the water? - I could not find it. 16621. Then you were in the water? - Yes. 16622. (The Commissioner.) You cannot have been very long there? - Oh, no. 16623. You must have got out of that position? - Yes, I did. The Commissioner: What is this material to? 16624. (The Solicitor-General.) It is not very material except that one likes to be satisfied we have got hold of the same gentleman who gave evidence in America. I read here: “You remained under the boat how long?” and you are recorded as giving an answer: “I should say about three- quarters of an hour or half” Is that right? - No. Senator Smith pressed that question, and I could not give him any idea, he said: “How long did it seem”? and I said: “It seemed a life time.” 16625. The next question is” “Was there a breathing space under the boat when it was turned over in that way?” and you are recorded as having answered “Yes, Sir.” Did you mean, no? - No, I do not think I said anything like that. 16626. “So that you got away from it as quickly as you could? - (A.) Yes, Sir. (Q.) Then you got out of it and got on it. At any rate, there seems to be some confusion. Now, going back a minute or two to the practice - supposing a message comes to the Marconi room for the Captain, and it is heard, taken down, I suppose, by either you or Phillips. Do you see? - Yes. 16627. Just tell us what happens; what would you do in a case like that? - In a case like that I should take it along myself to the Captain. 16628. What is it you would take along? - The message. 16629. Well, I suppose it is a piece of paper? - Yes, a piece of paper. It would be enclosed in an envelope. 16630. Would it be enclosed in an envelope? - Yes. 16631. Then there is not any ship’s messenger or boy who does this; you do it yourself? - Well,