Page 153 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 32 - 36

The Commissioner: I have read all you want to read on the subject: “Mr. Andrews tells me he gives her from an hour to an hour and a half” to live. The Attorney-General: Yes, that is the passage I was going to refer to. I do not think it is worth calling your Lordship’s attention to what another witness said because I am taking the longest time. You will remember one witness said Mr. Andrews only gave it half an hour. That was Hemming. The Commissioner: On what page is that? The Attorney-General: It is at the bottom of page 421. The actual passage is on 422, at Questions 17738 to 17741.It starts at the bottom of page 421. “Shortly after that, did you” that is Hemming, the lamp trimmer - “see the boatswain? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) What did he say to you? - (A.) 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. (Q.) I did not hear what you said about Mr. Andrews? - (A.) 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. (The Commissioner.) When was this; how long after the jar which you heard? - (A.) About 10 minutes, I should say.” The Commissioner: That brings it nearer to what you were saying; I said 20 minutes. The Attorney-General: Yes, I think 10 minutes is the time, on the evidence. One may say within 10 minutes they knew it. Then there is Mr. Lowe at page 366, Questions 15791 to 15794. This concludes the evidence of the officers upon this point, I think: “(Q.) Just tell us what woke you up? - (A.) I was half awakened by hearing voices in our quarters, because it is an unusual thing, and it woke me up. I suppose I lay down there for a little while until I fully realised, and then I jumped out of bed and opened my door a bit, and looked out, and I saw ladies in our quarters with lifebelts on. (Q.) When you first looked out people had got their lifebelts on? - (A.) They had. (Q.) Do you know the time? - (A.) I do not. I have not the remotest idea of the time right throughout. (Q.) Were the boats being attended to?” - this marks the time - “(A.) As soon as I looked out through the door I jumped back and got dressed and went out on deck, and the boats were being cleared.” Now, I have exhausted the officers’ evidence upon it, and at page 442 you find the passage I recalled to your Lordship’s recollection in Mr. Ismay’s evidence, Question 18513 - Captain Smith was there - “Did you ask him anything further” - he is dealing there with Captain Smith. Perhaps your Lordship will look at 18509. - “(A.) I went back to my room and I put a coat on, and I went up on to the bridge. (Q.) Was Captain Smith there? - (A.) He was. (Q.) Then did you ask him what had happened? - (A.) I did. (Q.) And what did he tell you? - (A.) He told me we had struck ice. (Q.) Did you ask him anything further? - (A.) I asked him whether he thought the damage was serious, and he said he thought it was. (Q.) What did you do then? - (A.) I then went downstairs again - down below. (Q.) Did you meet Mr. Bell, the Chief Engineer? - (A.) I met the Chief Engineer at the top of the staircase. (Q.) Did you have some conversation with him? Will you tell us what it was? - (A.) I asked him whether he thought the ship was seriously damaged and he said he thought she was, but, as far as I remember, he thought the pumps would control the water.” Then I read to him the question and the answer which he had given in the American evidence: “‘(A.) He said he thought the damage was serious, but that he hoped the pumps would be able to control the water? - (A.) I do not know whether he said ‘he hoped’ or ‘he thought'; it is to the best of my recollection. I cannot remember every word he said.’” That is how it stands. Now, of course, there is some importance to be attributed to that from two aspects. The one is as to what steps were taken by those on board and the time that it took them to get the boats away with the passengers on board; and the other is because of some criticism which has been directed to the omission of the Captain and officers to inform the passengers that the danger was so serious. I mean, there are those aspects upon which this evidence is material.