Page 98 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

The Commissioner: Just tell me where it is. Mr. Raymond Asquith: I will point out what I think he means. Your Lordship sees this tank in the blue (pointing on the cartoon.) I think he means the place just above that, marked “Store.” The Commissioner: Very well, that is sufficient; I see where it is now. 17721. (Mr. Raymond Asquith - To the Witness.) Was the store-room you went to immediately forward of the chain-locker? - Yes. That is the place where you pointed out just now. 17722. You told us you did not see any sign of damage? - No. 17723. Did you still hear the hissing noise? - Yes. 17724. What did you do then? - I came up to ascertain where the noise was coming from, and I went on the forecastle head again, and I found it was coming from an exhaust pipe in the four- feet tank. 17725. Was that a pipe which came out on the top of the forecastle? - Underneath the forecastle head. 17726. (The Commissioner.) What purpose does it serve? - It is the air exhaust for the water going into the tank. 17727. (Mr. Raymond Asquith.) Was that a pipe which connected with the four-feet tank? - Yes. 17728. Do you know whether the four-feet tank had water in it when you started on the voyage or not? - I could not say. 17729. At any rate, you found air coming out of this exhaust pipe? - Yes. The Commissioner: That indicates that water was coming into the tank. 17730. (Mr. Raymond Asquith.) Yes, my Lord, that is the effect of it. (To the Witness.) Was the air coming out with considerable force? - It was. The Commissioner: That would indicate, would it not, that the vessel had been injured in the fore part forward of the collision bulkhead? 17731. (Mr. Raymond Asquith.) Yes, that is the importance of this witness. We have never got the wound so far forward before. (To the Witness.) Did you see the Chief Officer shortly after that? - Yes. 17732. What did you say to him? - He asked me what it was. I said: “It is the air coming out of the four-feet tank. She must be making water there.” 17733. Nothing more? - He said: “All right.” I said; “The store rooms are dry though.” He said; “All right,” and went away. 17734. I think you saw the carpenter after that? - The joiner. 17735. Did he tell you something about there being water in the ship? - Yes. 17736. What did he say? - He said she was making water in 1, 2, and 3, and the Racquet Court. 17737. What did he mean by 1, 2, and 3? - 1, 2, and 3 holds. 17738. Shortly after that, did you see the boatswain? - Yes. 17739. What did he say to you? - He told us to turn out; that the ship had half an hour to live, from Mr. Andrews; but not to tell anyone, but to keep it to ourselves. 17740. I did not hear what you said about Mr. Andrews? - The boatswain told us to turn out; the ship had only half an hour to live, from Mr. Andrews, but not to tell anyone. The boatswain heard it from Mr. Andrews, and he told us. 17741. (The Commissioner.) When was this; how long after the jar which you heard? - About 10 minutes, I should say. 17742. (Mr. Raymond Asquith.) After this, did you go at once up on deck? - As I was ordered to, to go to the boats. 17743. And you stood up to help with the boats? - Yes. 17744. Which side of the ship were you? - The port side. 17745. When you were told by the joiner there was water in 1, 2, and 3 holds, what did you