Page 86 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

The Commissioner: It seems to me very desirable that there should be some test for a look-out man. Mr. Scanlan: What I have been instructed to apply for is that such a test be made obligatory with regard to look-out men. The Commissioner: That will come at the proper time. The Attorney-General: You agree it is not obligatory at the present time, Mr. Scanlan? Mr. Scanlan: Yes. GEORGE ALFRED HOGG, Sworn. Examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 17481. You have been at sea for some 13 years and able seaman for 10, I think? - Yes. 17482. You have been in the employ of the White Star Line how long about? - Four years, I should think, off and on. 17483. All the time as look-out man? - No. 17484. Were you first an able seaman and then became a look-out man? - Yes, able seaman, boatswain’s mate, and look-out man. 17485. Was that the order? - That is what I have been in those ships. 17486. The White Star ships? - Yes. 17487. How long have you been a look-out man? - I went one trip in the “Adriatic” and three days in this ship. That is all. 17488. And you have also been employed in ships of the P. and O. Company and the Royal Mail? - Yes. 17489. The Union Castle? - Yes. 17490. And other lines? - Yes, and other lines. 17491. And you have acted as look-out, I suppose, in some of those lines? - They do not carry look-out men; everybody takes their turn. 17492. You have acted as look-out, but you did not sign as look-out? - That is so. 17493. In these other vessels, as far as I understand you, there was no question of signing as look-out man. It is only in the White Star that has happened in your experience? - Yes. 17494. Do you remember when the “Titanic” was leaving Belfast - you signed on the “Titanic” as look-out man, we know - were a pair of glasses given you? - Yes. 17495. For the crow’s-nest? - Yes. 17496. Who gave them to you, do you remember? - Mr. Blair, the acting Second Officer then. 17497. Mr. Blair, who was then acting as Second Officer? - Yes. 17498. Did you notice how they were marked? - “Theatre, marine and field.” “Second Officer, S.S. ‘Titanic.’” 17499. That was on one side, was it? - Yes. 17500. Was “Theatre, marine, and field” the same? - No, you worked them as you wanted to use them. 17501. When you left the ship at Southampton, what did you do with those glasses? - Mr. Blair was in the crow’s-nest and gave me his glasses, and told me to lock them up in his cabin and to return him the keys. 17502. Who returned the keys? - I gave them to a man named Weller, as I was busy on the forecastle head. 17503. As far as you were concerned, the glasses, you were told, were to be locked up in the cabin of the Second Officer? - I locked them up. 17504. And they were locked up. When the ship left Queenstown were there any glasses in the