Page 58 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 27 - 31

told us once that he could not. (Mr. Scanlan.) He was asked, I think, how long after he came on the watch. (The Commissioner.) He was asked by the Attorney-General, and he told us that he could not; and as I myself have very grave doubts about there being a haze at all, I can understand his having a difficulty in saying how long before the collision it was that he saw it.” Then your Lordship is referred to the evidence of other Witnesses. Then at Question 17395 I quoted some evidence: “Would you describe it as a very clear night? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) With stars? - (A.) Yes”; and asked: “Do you agree with this description of the night - ‘fine night, rather hazy; if anything a little hazy on the horizon.’ (To the Witness.) Not when I went on the look-out; it was not hazy.” The Commissioner: But it occurs in Question 17394: “Pretty clear, Sir, a fine night, rather hazy; if anything a little hazy on the horizon, but nothing to speak of.” Mr. Scanlan: Yes. Then the next Question is “(Mr. Scanlan.) ‘Would you describe it as a very clear night? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) With stars? - (A.) Yes.’ Do you agree with this description of the night - ‘fine night, rather hazy; if anything a little hazy on the horizon?’ (The Witness.) Not when I went on the look-out; it was not hazy. (Q.) But when the haze did come on was it like that? - (A.) A slight haze. (Q.) And did it extend right round the horizon? - (A.) No. (Q.) It did not extend all round? - (A.) No. (Q.) Was it right in front of you? - (A.) Right in front. (The Commissioner.) I understand you to say two points on each bow. - (A.) Two points on each bow; that is in front.” Then he is asked a question about binoculars, which I need not trouble your Lordship with. Then will your Lordship look at the evidence of Alfred Shiers, at page 111, he was a fireman on the “Titanic,” and is being cross-examined by Mr. Aspinall. He was not on watch at the time the collision occurred, and the effect of his evidence - I do not wish to read it all - is that he left his quarters and came up on deck almost immediately after the collision occurred, and he is one of the two or three people who have given evidence who have been able to say that they saw the actual berg after the collision occurred. The evidence he gives as to the haze is at Question 4700, on page 113. He describes how he went on to the fore-well deck and looked aft on the starboard side, and he describes the berg, and he is asked, at Question 4699: “Could you get a good view of it from where you were standing? - (A.) No, only dim.” Then Question 4700: “Was there a haze at the time; was the air clear, or was there a haze? - (A.) It was hazy. When I saw that berg it was hazy. The berg was in a haze.” It might appear that he was being led at that time - that was part of my examination - but I think if your Lordship reads his evidence in the second column on page 111, it will be seen that what he said in his first examination by Mr. Aspinall is quite consistent with this: “How soon after you felt the striking of the iceberg did you see it away on your quarter? - (A.) About four or five minutes. (Q.) Tell me what you did, that will give me an idea. Did you get up at once? - (A.) Yes, I was reading in my bunk at the time. (Q.) You got up at once? - (A.) I went up on the forecastle. (Q.) Did you run up? - (A.) I walked up; our forecastle is only outside the companion ladder. (Q.) Did you see the berg then? - (A.) No, not then. (Q.) What did you do before you saw it? - (A.) Looked towards the window underneath the forecastle head to see if there was anything there. (Q.) That took a short time, I suppose? - (A.) It is only just a walk round from our room. (Q.) What did you do next? - (A.) Came out on the deck; on the starboard side of the deck. (Q.) Was it then you saw the berg? - (A.) I saw the ice then, and then the berg when I looked over the side. (Q.) And then the berg was away on the starboard quarter? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) About how far off? - (A.) I could not say; it was very dim then; I could just see it. (Q.) It was a dark night? - (A.) Yes, a starry night. (Q.) Starry, but dark. When you saw the berg could you judge whether your ship was stopped or going ahead? - (A.) When I looked over the side there was a slight way on her; she was moving, but not much.” It is of some importance in this connection to remember that according to all the evidence, the “Titanic” must have proceeded a very, very short distance after the collision with the iceberg.