Page 87 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

crow’s-nest? - There were none when we left Southampton. 17505. Did you ask for them? - Yes. 17506. When you left Southampton? - I did not exactly ask for them, but my mates asked for them at that time. 17507. Did you ask for them at all after you left Queenstown? - After I left Queenstown. 17508. You personally asked for them? - I personally asked. 17509. Whom did you ask? - Mr. Lightoller. 17510. Will you tell us what you said to him, quite shortly, about it? - I said, “Where is our look-out glasses, Sir?” He made some reply, I did not exactly catch it. “Get them later,” or something like that. 17511. At any rate, you did not get any? - I did not get any. 17512. You went on your look-out duties without glasses for the rest of the time? - Yes. 17513. Have you had experience of glasses; have you used them much? - Never before; only in the White Star Line. 17514. But had you used them before you were on this voyage? - On another ship. 17515. Of the White Star Line? - In the “Adriatic.” 17516. You had never had them in any ship you have been on except in the “Adriatic,” which was another ship of the White Star Line you had sailed in? - No other ship except the White Star. 17517. Did you find them of use? - Well, I believe in my own eyesight. 17518. Do you mean you believe in your own eyesight better than you do the glasses? - Yes. 17519. It is suggested - I only want to know how far you agree with it - that it is easier, or just as easy, to pick up an object that you may see on the horizon with your own eyesight as it would be with the glasses? - You might not see the object, but if you think it is a ship you might just see the smoke. 17520. With your own sight? - Yes, with your own sight. You would not see the ship first; you would see the smoke first. 17521. Would you see it any better with glasses? - You would put the glasses up to your eyes then and make sure. 17522. What it comes to, if I understand that, is you pick it up with your eyesight, and then if you want to see as well as you can what it is you would use the glasses? - That is what they are handy for, Sir. 17523. But not for picking up things, you mean? - No, I pick up things with my own eyesight. 17524. I should like to know what your experience is in the use of these glasses. Is that what the rest of the men who were on the look-out with you have done? Is that the way the glasses are used - when you have picked up an object to look closer? - I could not say; I am speaking for myself. I do not know what they did with the glasses. 17525. On this particular night, Sunday the 14th, when the collision happened, your mate was Evans, was he not? - Yes. 17526. You were not on duty - you did not go on duty till 12 o’clock? - Twelve. 17527. That is right? - That is right. 17528. You relieved Fleet and Lee? - Yes. 17529. What were you doing when the collision happened? - Asleep. 17530. Did you feel anything at all of it? - None. 17531. Did you know anything of it at all until you had to get up? - I knew there was an accident because everybody rushed up into the forecastle. I asked what was the matter and what the confusion was about. 17532. What did they say? - They said she had hit something. 17533. What was the last watch you had had before you relieved Fleet and Lee at midnight? - 6 to 8.