Page 5 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 32 - 36

perfectly well,” and so he did. The most striking point of abnormality was the one of which they were not aware until the boats reached the water. Then there is a longish extract read by Mr. Scanlan, in a passage which your Lordship will recollect. Mr. Scanlan goes on: “At other points of his evidence also, my Lord, this point is brought out. Of course, he does state, in spite of that, that it was easy to see; but what I suggest is that this statement from Mr. Lightoller, taken in conjunction with the evidence of the three men who have spoken to a haze, shows that it was very difficult to see that night. (Sir Robert Finlay.) I must point out that Mr. Lightoller is there speaking by the light of what he knew. (The Commissioner.) I know. As I understand Mr. Lightoller, if you had put 50 men on the look-out in those peculiar abnormal conditions that he talks about, this berg would not have been seen. (The Attorney-General.) That is so, my Lord. (The Commissioner.) That is right, is it not? (Mr. Scanlan.) I do not think it is, my Lord. (The Commissioner.) Well, two could not see it - three could not see it, because there was a man on the bridge - and according to him they could not see it because it could not be seen; therefore, it seems to me to follow that if you put 50 men on the look-out they would not have seen it. (Mr. Scanlan.) I wish to recall this to your Lordship’s recollection. One man saw it - that is the man in the crow’s-nest, Fleet. (The Commissioner.) He saw it when it was too late. (Mr. Scanlan.) He stated to your Lordship that if he had had glasses he could have seen it in sufficient time to have made the difference.” That point has now gone. That is really all in Mr. Ismay’s evidence on that point. Then Mr. Sanderson is asked about the practice at page 485, Question 19946. “(Q.) Does it suggest itself to you as a reasonable thing, that at nights the look-out should be increased? - (A.) At nights, ordinarily, no. (Q.) At nights when ice is expected? - (A.) If it is clear I should think two men would see the ice as well as six. (Q.) Now, I want to put this to you: Do you think, with your knowledge and experience, which, of course, is very extensive, that it would be advantageous when running at night in a region where ice is expected to station a look-out man at the stem head in addition to the look-out men in the crow’s-nest? - (A.) Reasonable - if the Commander thought it would help him, he would do it undoubtedly, but as to whether it is reasonable or not I cannot say. There could be no harm in it, certainly - (Q.) Do you think it is a desirable thing to do? - (A.) I really do not think so. I think two men on the look-out in clear weather are sufficient for any purpose, whether it is for ships or ice or anything else, but perhaps when it was hazy it would be advisable. (Q.) Do you think, for the purpose of detecting ice, that it is not desirable to have always a man stationed at the stem head at night? - (A.) The term “desirable” bothers me. If you say “desirable” it might be desirable to have a score of people there, but I do not think it is necessary. (Q.) Do you think, as a practical man, that it should be done? - (A.) No.” Then there is a question on sight tests for the look-out men. Mr. Sanderson says they have such tests. “I am informed that they have experienced difficulty in Southampton in getting men with sight certificates, but it is our wish that it should be done as far as possible. (Q.) And that only men with sight certificates should be got for this purpose? - (A.) Yes, that is right.” Then Captain Bartlett, at page 566, says he thinks it is not necessary to have a man on the stem. At Question 21723 Mr. Scanlan asks: “A suggestion has been made that for the discovery of ice the best position for the look-out man is at the stem head. Do you agree? - (A.) In hazy weather, yes. (Q.) And at night when ice is expected? - (A.) Not a clear night, no. (Q.) On a night when it is difficult to see? - (A.) It is hard to see how that can be if it is clear.” Then Captain Hayes, the Captain of the “Adriatic,” at page 569, Question 21808, is asked by the Attorney-General, “When you are approaching an ice region, that is to say, the position in which ice has been reported to you, do you take any precautions? - (A.) I take precautions according to the weather. (Q.) Supposing the weather is clear? - (A.) We keep an ordinary look- out, which is always an excellent one. (Q.) Do you mean the ordinary look-out in the crow’s-