Page 65 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

Captain. 17108. Then what was done about the “Carpathia”? - She was turned round immediately. 17109. And made for the position? - And headed for the position, yes. 17110. Then you, I suppose, would go back to the Marconi room, to your instrument? - Yes, I did; I went right away. 17111. Up to this time had you sent the “Titanic” any news of where you were? - No, not up to then. I went straight away back to the cabin and sent our position. 17112. Who gave you your position? - The Captain gave me our position. 17113. Then you were in a position to tell the “Titanic” where you were? - Yes. 17114. And did you tell her that you were coming to her assistance? - I did. 17115. Just look at this print we have before us. We understand it is not an actual copy of your procès-verbal. We have: “11.30 p.m. Course altered, proceeding to the scene of the disaster.” Is that an estimate? - Yes, that is a rough estimate, because I made no P.V. of that at all. 17116. Just let us follow what you did after that. Your ship is turned round and making for her. Did you endeavour to keep in touch with the “Titanic”? - I did the whole time. 17117. The whole time? - Yes. 17118. Could you overhear what the “Titanic” was trying to say to other ships? - I was helping the “Titanic” to communicate. 17119. Would you explain that? - Well, the “Titanic” told me when I had sent the position, he said he could not read signals because of the escape of steam and the air through the expansion joint, so I helped him with the communications. 17120. Will you repeat that? - He could not read the incoming signals on account of the escape of steam and the air from the expansion joint; the water rushing into the hollow of the ship was driving the air through the expansion joint. 17121. The expansion joint is a joint that runs across the deck? - Yes, right across the deck just outside the cabin. 17122. Outside where he would be? - Yes. 17123. You would very likely know; would you expect, then, that a great escape of steam, blowing off steam, or a great rush of air, would interfere, in your experience, with messages? - Certainly; it would not be the noise only; it would be the trembling of the ship. 17123a. (The Commissioner.) But mainly the noise? - Mainly the noise, yes, my Lord. 17124. (The Solicitor-General.) And he told you he could not read the messages coming to him clearly? - He said he could not read them well. 17125. What did you do? - I simply stood by. First of all, when I got back he was in communication with the “Frankfurt”; when I came back from the bridge and sent my position he was in communication with the “Frankfurt.” 17126. You heard that? - Yes, I heard that. 17127. (The Solicitor-General.) Now, my Lord, I will just put the thing I have on page 212. I have a record here of something he said to the “Frankfurt.” (To the Witness.) Tell me if this is what you remember. It is at Question 9470: “‘Titanic’ gives position and asks, ‘Are you coming to our assistance?’ ‘Frankfurt’ replies, ‘What is the matter with you?’ ‘Titanic’ says, ‘We have struck an iceberg and sinking. Please tell Captain to come;’ and the ‘Frankfurt’ replied, ‘O.K. Will tell the bridge right away.’ Then the ‘Titanic’ said, ‘O.K., yes, quick.’” That is a record taken down by your colleague on the “Mount Temple”? - Yes. 17128. Does that bring to your mind what you heard? - It does to a certain extent, but it was some 20 minutes afterwards. 17129. It was later than that, was it? - When the “Titanic” first sent her position the “Frankfurt” operator got up apparently and he came back in twenty minutes and asked what was the matter.