Page 56 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

Yes. 16992. About ice? - Yes. 16993. Then the next question was, “Reports which had been received earlier on the same day, do you mean? - (A.) No, I cannot say from my own recollection that they were received on Sunday, but subsequently I have heard that some of them, or one of them, that I put on the chart was received on the Sunday, and that I put it on between 4 and 6. All the ice marked on the Captain’s chart I put down myself.” What I want to know is, your recollection serving you candidly, do you remember whether there were on the notice board more than one report about ice? - There must have been more reports on there, because I spoke about reports yesterday that we had had on leaving Southampton or leaving Queenstown about the ice, and those undoubtedly would be on the notice board. 16994. (The Commissioner.) Are these reports not taken down from time to time; do they remain on the notice board? - The reports received for the ensuing voyage are kept there all the voyage. 16995. (The Solicitor-General.) That is the best you can tell us about it? - That is the best I can tell you. The Commissioner: This passage you have read does not appear to be perfectly clear, because it may refer, reading the whole of it, to reports about ice on an earlier date. 16996. (The Solicitor-General.) Of course it may be. As I gather from the witness, whatever be the period to which they refer, it does show there was more than one report about ice on the notice board. That is how it stands, does it not? - Yes. 16997. Now there is another matter. You say that it was you who wrote out this chit of paper? - Yes. 16998. Now, do not hurry about it. Just think a minute, because I have a reason for asking. What was the message from which you got that position? - Something about west-bound steamers reporting ice from latitude 42º to longitude 49º to 51º. 16999. That is the “Caronia” message? - That is the “Caronia” message. 17000. Are you sure? - Yes, I feel pretty sure of that. 17001. Then just follow this. We will just test it. If that is the case, then you would already reach the eastern boundary of the danger zone some time before the collision? - Yes. 17002. Do you know that another of your officers looked at that chit, and made a calculation in respect of it? - No, I did not know. 17003. (The Solicitor-General.) It is so, my Lord; there is a reference to it. The Witness: Yes, I have heard that just now. That is what reminded me of this chit. I have heard that only a moment or two ago. 17004. Now what I am referring to. Mr. Lowe says he saw this chit, which you speak of, and he says he made calculations. ‘I ran this position through in my mind, and worked it out mentally, and found that the ship would not be within the ice region during my watch, that is from 6 to 8.” Do you still think it was the “Caronia” message? - Oh, yes, I feel perfectly confident that it was the “Caronia” message. 17005. Because you mean the “Caronia” message would show reaching the place at some time like half-past 9? - I did not calculate it out; I had not the slightest idea when she would reach the region of the ice or of the “Caronia’s” position rather. 17006. How could that be; I thought you told us the other day that it was you who had worked out these positions and marked them on the chart? - There is no need to work them out at all; you just prick them off on the chart. 17007. Did you do that? - Yes, I pricked them off. 17008. This particular message? - Yes. 17009. Then that would mean you would mark the line on the chart? - No, that is not necessary