Page 77 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

17311. But above the forecastle head? - Yes. Sir Robert Finlay: Mr. Wilding has just verified it again, and finds it was 55 feet above the waterline. The Attorney-General: I think the crow’s-nest is about 40 feet above the deck. Sir Robert Finlay: Above the forecastle, yes. The Attorney-General: One can form some impression of the height. The Commissioner: In the crow’s-nest you know he would be looking down upon this when it struck, and not looking up to it. He said that the berg was not as high as the crow’s-nest. The Attorney-General: Yes, he is quite clear about that. What I have got from him is: It was not as high as the crow’s-nest, but it was higher than the forecastle head, and that is about as much as we could expect to get. The Commissioner: It may have been standing about 75 feet above the surface of the water. 17312. (The Attorney-General.) Yes, that is probably as near as we should ever get to it. (To the Witness.) You say the berg passed, did you? - Yes. 17313. As you were looking over to the starboard side of the ship? - Yes. 17314. Could you give us some idea of what it looked like when it came. Was it a great big mass that passed you, or was it a small mass that you could see? - Well, a great big mass. 17315. Do you mean like a great block? - Yes. 17316. When you saw it first could you form an idea of what height it was? - No. 17317. Well, it looked smaller, presumably? - Yes. 17318. Then did you remain on the crow’s-nest? - Yes. 17319. Until eight bells? - Till eight bells went. 17320. At eight bells, in the ordinary course, you were relieved? - Yes. 17321. I think then Hogg and Evans relieved you. Now, will you tell me, supposing there had been a haze, would it be your duty to report it at all to the bridge? - I have never reported haze yet. 17322. They would be on the bridge, you mean, and see it for themselves; is that what you mean? - Yes. 17323. Did you have any conversation with your mate, Lee, after you struck? - Well, I told him I thought it was a narrow shave - after we had hit it, after we had hit the ice. 17324. (The Commissioner.) It was a little more than a shave? - That was only my idea. 17325. (The Attorney-General.) You thought it was not anything very serious? - No, it was such a slight noise; that is why I said it. 17326. You thought it was nearly serious, but not quite? - Yes. 17327. (The Attorney-General.) I do not propose to take him right through the story of what happened with regard to the boats. We have heard enough, I submit, about that. (To the Witness.) You were eventually saved in boat No. 6? - Yes. 17328. (The Attorney-General.) Your Lordship will remember we have had some evidence about that from the Quartermaster, Hichens, but your Lordship shall have all that in the digest we are making for your Lordship. It is the one in which Major Peuchen was also. There is only one thing I would ask. (To the Witness.) Do you remember how many women there were in the boat, in boat No. 6? - About 23 or 24. 17329. (The Commissioner.) And how many altogether, including the crew? - Well, about 28 or 29; there was only me and Hichens of the crew. 17330. Twenty-four women. Were there any men passengers? - Two - one first and one-third, and two crew. 17331. And that was the whole boatload? - Yes. The Attorney-General: That does not quite agree with the evidence of Hichens, the Quartermaster. That you will find at page 43.