Page 83 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

sharp look-out. 17438. The only order you got was an order which had been passed along to you by the look- out men whom you relieved? - That is all. Examined by Mr. COTTER. 17439. In your four years’ experience on the “Oceanic” did you ever see ice at any time? - No. 17440. You could form no judgment how far you could see an iceberg? - No. Examined by Sir ROBERT FINLAY. 17441. You have been asked as to what Symons said about the night. Will you listen to this question. It follows after the one which was read to you. It is on page 268, Question 11987. It is about the glasses. This is the question put to Symons about the glasses: “If you were on the look- out on a fine clear night, would you rather trust to the eye than a binocular to pick up anything? - (A.) Yes; you use your own eyes as regards the picking up anything, but you want the glasses then to make certain of that object.” Do you agree to that? - Yes. 17442. That is right: For picking up anything would you trust to the eyes, and then having picked it up -? - You look with glasses to make sure. 17443. Then as regards picking up an iceberg or anything else, you would pick it up with the naked eye at first? - That is all we had to do that night - use our eyes. 17444. Yes, but do not you see -? - I see what you mean. 17445. Do you agree with this. This is what Symons says: “You use your own eyes as regards the picking up anything, but you want the glasses then to make certain of that object.” Do you agree with that? - Yes. 17446. On the White Star Line I think they have special look-out men? - Special? 17447. Yes? - I do not know. 17448. You were one of them, were you not? - Yes. 17449. You signed on as a look-out man? - Yes, I signed on as a look-out man. 17450. I mean that is your work? - Yes. 17451. That is the practice on the White Star Line, is it not? - Yes, that is it. 17452. To have special look-out men. Do you know whether it is the practice on other lines? - I do not know; it is the only company I have been on the look-out. The Attorney-General: They sign on as look-out men. 17453. (Sir Robert Finlay.) Yes, for that purpose. (To the Witness.) Now, with regard to this light which you saw when you put off from the ship, had you any doubt that that was a ship’s light? - I could not tell what it was; it might have been a sailing ship or it might have been a steamer. 17454. (The Commissioner.) Was it a ship’s light? - Yes. 17455. (Sir Robert Finlay.) You are quite clear about that? - Yes. 17456. You were rowing towards it? - Yes. How came the two men to get into your boat? The Commissioner - To the Witness: Two men passengers were in your boat, you know. 17457. (Sir Robert Finlay.) How came they to get in? - One man we found out afterwards was underneath the thwarts. The Major got into the boat as we were in line with the square ports; he came down the life-line. 17458. We have heard that Major Peuchen was ordered in by Mr. Lightoller? - Yes. 17459. And he came down in the way you have described? - Yes. 17460. Were any women left behind who were willing to go? - I could not say.