Page 90 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

GEORGE THOMAS ROWE, Sworn. Examined by Mr. BUTLER ASPINALL. The Attorney-General: Mr. Rowe will give you some evidence, my Lord, about the starboard collapsible boat. 17573. (Mr. Butler Aspinall - To the Witness.) Were you serving as Quartermaster on board the ‘Titanic” at the time of this accident? - Yes. 17574. I think you have served as Petty Officer in the Royal Navy? - Yes. 17575. And you have also served as Quartermaster in the “Majestic” and “Oceanic”? - Yes. 17576. And have been in the service of the White Star Company for the last two years? - Yes. 17577. And during that time have you been voyaging in the Atlantic? - Yes. 17578. Now you were saved in the starboard collapsible boat? - Yes. 17579. On the 14th, when were you first on duty that day? - 8 to 12 in the forenoon; 4 to 6 in the dog watch, and 8 to midnight. 17580. Now 8 to 12 you were on duty. Were you steering at any time? - 4 to 6, the first dog- watch 17581. Did you hear any talk amongst the officers whilst you were steering about ice? - No. 17582. You heard nothing mentioned? - No. 17583. During that watch, did you alter the course at any time? - Yes. 17584. Do you remember when it was? - Yes, at 5.45. 17585. At 5.45 you altered course? - Yes. 17586. Now, before you altered course, do you remember what course your vessel was steering? - Yes. 17587. What course was she steering? - S. 85 deg. W. 17588. By the compass in front of you, I suppose? - By the steering compass. 17589. That is all you would know about it? - Yes. 17590. At 5.45 to what did you alter it? - N. 71 W. 17591. (Mr. Butler Aspinall.) Mr. Pitman, the Third Officer, gave evidence about this matter at page 351, Question 15173: “Do you know at what time the course that the steamer was to take was mapped out that day? - (A.) Yes, noon. (Q.) And, so far as you know, was the steamer’s course deflected at all from the course that had been marked out at noon; did it vary to the south, or in any way from the course which had been marked out at noon? - (A.) Yes, I considered we went at least 10 miles further south than was necessary. (Q.) Do I understand you rightly that in marking the course at noon, the course was marked ten miles further south than you considered necessary? - (A.) No. We had a certain distance to run to a corner, from noon to certain time, and we did not alter the course so early as I anticipated. Therefore, we must have gone much further south. (Q.) Whe did you alter the course? - (A.) 5.50. (Q.) Who was responsible for the alteration? - (A.) The Commander. (Q.) To whom did he give the order? - (A.) The officers of the watch. (Q.) Do you know their names? - (A.) Mr. Wilde. (Q.) Were you there? - (A.) No. (Q.) Do you know what conversation took place? - (A.) No. (Q.) But you say he gave instructions to alter the course of the ship? - (A.) The course was altered at 5.50. They were the Commander’s orders. (Q.) Ten miles further south. Was any record made of that at the time? - (A.) No, and I thought that the course should have been altered at 5 p.m. (Q.) Why did you think so? - (A.) Judging from the distance run from noon.” Have you any reason to remember that time, 5.45? - Yes. 17592. Will you tell me what it was? - We always make a practice of what we call rounding the corner, and the man at the wheel generally takes notice of it. 17593. And did you take notice of it on this occasion? - Yes.