Page 57 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 27 - 31

whatever, barring what the ship made herself.” And he described the conditions: “(Q.) Quite a calm sea? - (A.) Quite a calm sea. (Q.) Was it cold? - (A.) Very, freezing.” Then Question 2408: “Did you notice this haze which you said extended on the horizon when you first came on the look-out, or did it come later? - (A.) It was not so distinct then - not to be noticed. You did not really notice it then - not on going on watch, but we had all our work cut out to pierce through it just after we started. My mate happened to pass the remark to me. He said, ‘Well, if we can see through that we will be lucky.’ That was when we began to notice there was a haze on the water. There was nothing in sight.” Then there is the evidence of Fleet, at page 410, Question 17248. He is being examined by Mr. Attorney, and is asked: “Could you clearly see the horizon? - (A.) The first part of the watch we could. (Q.) The first part of the watch you could? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) After the first part of the watch what was the change, if any? - (A.) A sort of slight haze. (Q.) A slight haze? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) Was the haze on the waterline? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) It prevented you from seeing the horizon clearly? - (A.) It was nothing to talk about. (Q.) It was nothing much apparently? - (A.) No. (Q.) Was this haze ahead of you? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) Was it only ahead, did you notice? - (A.) Well, it was only about 2 points on each side.” He is asked further questions about it. The Commissioner: There is Question 17270: “You did not say anything about it to the bridge? - (A.) No.” Mr. Scanlan: He is asked a further Question, 17321, I think, by the Attorney-General, at page 411. Sir Robert Finlay: Question 17273 I think is important. Mr. Scanlan: Yes: “I understand you to say that whatever it was it made no difference to the look-out? - (A.) Yes, my Lord.” I will come to that again. On page 411, he is asked at Question 17321: “I think then Hogg and Evans relieved you. Now, will you tell me, supposing there had been a haze, would it be your duty to report it at all to the bridge? - (A.) I have never reported haze yet.” I think, my Lord, it is fair to observe at this point that there has not been a suggestion from any Captain, or any officer, that a look-out man has a duty to report haze. I made a suggestion to the first Witness who mentioned haze as to whether or not he had reported it, and I think he looked at the question as being somewhat childish; it seemed so obvious to him, as it did to everybody else, that the officers on the bridge had at least as good an opportunity of determining for themselves whether or not there was a haze as the look-out men. The evidence of the Witness, Alfred Shiers, I consider most important on this point. The Commissioner: Did this Witness contradict the evidence of the first man? The Attorney-General: There is Question 17271, on page 410. Mr. Scanlan: That question is: “I think it is necessary to direct your Lordship’s attention to Question 2408, at page 73 of Lee’s evidence. I have asked him his story in detail, but I think it is necessary to put it to him now. I will read it. (To the Witness.) Just listen to this, Fleet. This is a question put to your mate, and I will read you his answer, ‘Did you notice this haze which you said extended on the horizon when you first came on the look-out, or did it come later? - (A.) It was not so distinct then - not to be noticed. You did not really notice it then? - Not on going on watch, but we had all our work cut out to pierce through it just after we started. My mate’ - that is you - ‘happened to pass the remark to me. He said, “Well, if we can see through that we will be lucky.” That was when we began to notice there was a haze on the water. There was nothing in sight.” - (A.) Well, I never said that. (Q.) You never said it? - (A.) No.” On the question of haze he is examined somewhat further when he is being examined by myself at page 413, Question 17392: “I think you said when you were being examined that you said to your mate Lee that there was a slight haze coming? - (A.) Yes.(Q.) I want to make this perfectly clear. Is it your evidence that there was a haze that night? - (A.) No, there was not. I said there was a slight haze. (Q.) Could you recall now how long you had observed the haze before - (The Commissioner.) He