Page 30 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 32 - 36

began at 8.30? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) When did he finish? - (A.) I should estimate he could not have finished before 9 anyhow from the batch he had,” that is the messages to be sent from the “Titanic” I infer. “But I could not give you any idea as to when he did actually finish. (Q.) I think you saw Phillips about 10 minutes before the collision, did you not? - (A.) No, after the collision. (Q.) I want to ask you about what you said in America before the Committee of the Senate on this point. Were you asked this question, and did you give this answer: “Were you working with Cape Race, or was Phillips, to your knowledge, just before the collision with the iceberg? - (A.) As far as I recollect, Phillips had finished working with Cape Race ten minutes before the collision with the iceberg. He made mention of the fact when I turned out. (Q.) Did you say that, and is that true? - (A.) I said that, but I could not remember what he said now. (Q.) But did you say that? - (A.) I said that to Senator Smith, but I could not recollect now what Phillips told me after I had turned out.” The Commissioner: His recollection was probably better when he was talking to Senator Smith than it was some weeks afterwards when he was talking to you. Sir Robert Finlay: Yes. The next question was this: “16698. Was what you said to Senator Smith true? - (A.) Well, I was on oath at the time.” The Commissioner: What does he mean by that. Does he mean it was true or it was not true? Sir Robert Finlay: I think he means that it must have been true. The Commissioner: The next question answered it: “I presume what you said was true? - (A.) Yes.” Sir Robert Finlay: “16700. (The Commissioner.) Then what you stated just now must be a mistake? - (A.) What was that? (Q.) That this man had finished his work about 9 o’clock. - (A.) I said he could not have finished sending the batch of telegrams before 9. At the same time Cape Race would have a number of telegrams to transmit to him, as was proved by the “Californian.” The “Californian” said she heard Cape Race sending him telegrams. (Sir Robert Finlay.) You know Phillips was engaged in communicating with Cape Race right on from half-past 8 to 10 minutes before the collision.” The Commissioner: That is what I want. Sir Robert Finlay: “(A.) Apparently so, yes. (Q.) Well, have you any doubt about it? - (A.) No, I do not think so. I am judging by the amount of work that was got through. (Q.) He was engaged during these hours from half-past 8 to 10 minutes before the collision in communicating with Cape Race these trade and private messages? - (A.) Yes.” With regard to the evidence as to the “Mesaba” message, we have got simply the proof of the sending of the acknowledgment by the operator. The Commissioner: Can you tell me this: How, if at all, was the “Californian’s” message acknowledged? Sir Robert Finlay: The first message, my Lord, was acknowledged by the operator. The Commissioner: And in any other way? Sir Robert Finlay: In no other way. The second message was recognised by saying: “Keep out.” He may or may not have recognised what the message was, but what he said was “Keep out.” That means, my Lord, “You are interrupting me in my communication with Cape Race.” And then he said to Cape Race: “Very sorry, jammed. I have been interrupted by somebody else”; and he goes on with his communications with Cape Race till ten minutes before the collision. The Commissioner: The “Baltic’s” telegram and the “Caronia’s” telegram were both acknowledged in the name of Captain Smith were not they. Sir Robert Finlay: Yes, my Lord, and “thanks.” I think there was a message of “kind regards,” or something of that kind. The Commissioner: But the word “Smith” was included.