Page 81 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

Witness.) You know George Symons; you know Symons was also a look-out man? - Yes. He was asked: “While you were on the look-out up to 10 o’clock, what sort of a night was it? - (A.) Pretty clear, Sir; a fine night, rather hazy; if anything, a little hazy on the horizon, but nothing to speak of.” The Commissioner: Then the next question. 17395. (Mr. Scanlan.) “Would you describe it as a very clear night? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) With stars? - (A.) Yes.” Do you agree with this description of the night - “fine night, rather hazy; if anything a little hazy on the horizon.” The Witness: Not when I went on the look-out; it was not hazy. 17396. But when the haze did come was it like that? - A slight haze. 17397. And did it extend right round the horizon? - No. 17398. It did not extend all round? - No. 17399. Was it right in front of you? - Right in front. 17400. (The Commissioner.) I understand you to say two points on each bow? - Two points on each bow; that is in front. 17401. (Mr. Scanlan.) Do you think if you had had glasses you could have seen the iceberg sooner? - Certainly. 17402. How much sooner do you think you could have seen it? - In time for the ship to get out of the way. 17403. So that it is your view that if you had had glasses it would have made all the difference between safety and disaster? - Yes. 17404. (The Commissioner.) Would it depend upon whether you had the glasses up to your eyes, or not? I suppose having the glasses in the box would not have been any good to you? - When I have to keep a sharp look-out I have the glasses in my hand, if there are any there, till my watch is finished. 17405. Glasses in your hand will not help you to see anything unless you had them up to your eyes? - I put the glasses before my eyes. I pick things out on the horizon with the glasses. Mr. Scanlan: Is it your experience on vessels where you have had glasses that the glasses enabled you to pick out objects more quickly than you would have done with the naked eye? The Commissioner: No doubt; that is his evidence, at all events. 17406. (Mr. Scanlan.) You were told when you went on watch that you had to keep a sharp look-out. In these circumstances, if there had been glasses in the crow’s-nest would you have used them? - Yes. 17407. Constantly? - Yes. 17408. After all, you are the man who discovered the iceberg? - Yes. 17409.(The Commissioner.) Did you know at the time you went into the crow’s-nest, which was at 10 o’clock that night, that there were no glasses in the box or bag? Did you know that? - I knew that as soon as we left Southampton. 17410. And you knew it when you went into the crow’s-nest at 10 o’clock the night of the 14th April? - Yes. 17411. You also knew that you were to keep a look-out for ice; who told you that? - Symons. 17412. Did you say at the time, “But we have got no glasses”? - No, I did not; he knew we had none. 17413. Do not you think, if it was necessary to have glasses in order to do what you were told to do, to keep a sharp look-out, you should go to the bridge or telephone to the bridge and say, “I am told to keep a sharp look-out, and I have not got any glasses”? - They would know that. 17414. But did not you call their attention to it? - No. I did not. 17415. (Mr. Scanlan.) On that point did you report or did one of your mates report in Southampton that there were no glasses in the crow’s-nest? - Symons went up, and asked Mr.