Page 194 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 23 - 26

Examined by Sir ROBERT FINLAY. 24982. With regard to your speed, you know the practice in the Atlantic; if the weather were clear and ice reported, do you keep up your speed? - We keep up our speed. 24983. And is that your invariable practice? - It has always been my practice. 24984. (The Commissioner.) What is the speed of your boat? - Sixteen knots. 24985. (Sir Robert Finlay.) You said the speed of your boat the “Baltic” was 16 knots? - Yes. 24986. Have you been on other boats in the Atlantic? - Yes. 24987. Faster boats? - Yes, the “Oceanic,” the “Majestic,” and the “Teutonic.” 24988. How many knots an hour would they make? - Twenty to twenty-one. 24989. Is the practice you have spoken of one which prevailed with regard to ships of that class as well as your boat the “Baltic”? - Yes. 24990. You know, of course, the Atlantic well? - Yes. 24991. Was that practice always pursued by all masters of liners? - Yes, for the last 21 years to my knowledge. 24992. I think Mr. Ismay has more than once travelled by your boat? - Yes, he has travelled numerous times. I cannot say how often. Possibly half a dozen to a dozen times. I cannot remember. 24993. Has he ever in any way taken part in directing the navigation of the boat or ever been consulted by you or by any of the officers? - Never. 24994. (The Commissioner.) It would be very irregular? - He went out of his way to avoid it - he never came near us on board the ship. 24995. It would be a very irregular thing for the Captain to consult Mr. Ismay or anybody else? - It would, very much. 24996. (Sir Robert Finlay.) And he certainly never did it? - Never. 24997. And none of the officers were ever so irregular as to consult him? - No. 24998. Now you have told us about the speed which was kept if ice was reported. Did you keep your course as well as your speed? - Yes, I always keep my course whether ice is reported or not, on the track. 24999. (The Commissioner.) You know what the messages were - take only the “Baltic” and the “Caronia” - that were received by Captain Smith? - Yes, I know some of them. 25000. I am taking those two, the “Baltic” and the “Caronia”; they indicated icebergs in the region through which he was travelling. Now, was it a proper thing, in your opinion, for him to leave the bridge, knowing that he was going through that region? - Well, if it was a perfectly clear night, my Lord, I think it would be perfectly right as long as he did not go too far away from the bridge. On a perfectly clear night I should certainly say it was all right. Certainly not if there was any doubt about the weather at all, as to coming on thick. The evidence, as I remember it, is that before going into his own room, he said to the officer on the bridge, “If there is any change let me know at once” - I think something to that effect. The Attorney-General: Yes. 25001. (The Commissioner.) Do you think it was a seamanlike thing for him to go away from the bridge, merely leaving that message behind him? - Well, if he only went to his room, I think so, it is not very far away - the chart room is right on the bridge - he can be called immediately. The night was clear. I would do it myself. The Commissioner: Was it into the chart room he went? 25002. (The Attorney-General.) Yes. The Witness: It is on the bridge. Sir Robert Finlay: He was absolutely close at hand, my Lord. The Attorney-General: Oh, yes.