Page 113 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 23 - 26

on application.) MR. C. ROBERTSON DUNLOP watched the proceedings on behalf of the owners and officers of the s.s. “Californian” (Leyland Line). (Admitted on application.) MR. H. E. DUKE, K.C., M.P., and MR. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (instructed by Messrs. A. F. and R. W. Tweedie) appeared as Counsel on behalf of Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon. (Admitted on application.) MR. F. LAING, K.C., and MR. ALFRED BUCKNILL appeared on behalf of Messrs. Harland and Wolff. (Admitted on application.) The Commissioner: Are you getting us the turning circle of the “Titanic”? Mr. Laing: Yes, my Lord; we have it prepared. The Commissioner: It is suggested to me that the turning circle, having regard to the rudder, was probably very large. The Attorney-General: This is it, my Lord. (A diagram was handed to the Commissioner.) The Commissioner: Can anyone tell us whether this diagram is made upon the supposition that both engines are going ahead. Mr. Wilding: Both engines full ahead and the rudder put hard over. The Commissioner: Then we should like to know what the turning circle would be if one engine were reversed. Mr. Wilding: I can get the information for you, my Lord. The Commissioner: What is the “position when bell rung”? Mr. Wilding: That is when the signal was given from the crow’s-nest. The Commissioner: Is that the gong from the crow’s-nest? Mr. Wilding: Yes. The Commissioner: Or is it the bell to the engine room? Mr. Wilding: No, the one from the crow’s-nest. The Commissioner: The gong. Mr. Wilding: Yes; it is a big bell, really. The Commissioner: Meaning something ahead. Mr. Wilding: Yes. The Commissioner: What we want is to see at what point, what is called the transfer, that is the movement in answer to the helm, would commence and how speedily it would develop, in order to see when this ship would have escaped a berg in its way? The Attorney-General: At what distance from the time it is sighted, assuming the helm was put hard over? The Commissioner: Yes, I daresay Mr. Wilding will understand it. If Mr. Wilding will come up here, we can explain to him at once what it is we want. (Mr. Wilding explained to the Commissioner on the bench.) The Attorney-General: I understand the result of what has taken place is to ask for some further plans; otherwise we ought to have on the note what has taken place? FRANCIS CARRUTHERS, Recalled. Examined by Mr. COTTER. Mr. Cotter: May I ask Mr. Carruthers a question or two? The Commissioner: Yes. 24021. (Mr. Cotter - To the Witness.) When you surveyed the “Titanic” at Belfast did you notice what kind of lifebuoys she carried? - Yes. 24022. What were they? - Solid cork. 24023. Did you notice whether she had any lifebuoys with acetylene gas attachments to them? - No,