Page 54 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 32 - 36

some of the foreigners quiet.” At Question 10076, at the bottom of the same page, the Solicitor-General says this: “Lord Mersey has just pointed out that you told us, on the boat deck where the boat left there were some women and their husbands. How was it they did not get into the boats? - (A.) Because the cry was for the women and children, and the boat at that time was practically full of women and children, and these women would not leave their husbands. (Q.) That is what I wanted, that was the impression you got, was it? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) Did you hear any of them say so on the boat deck? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) You did? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) You have told us that you were one of a number of some 60 third class stewards? - (A.) Yes.” Then he is asked how many were saved. Hart’s evidence ranges over the greater part of the boats because his first lot of passengers was taken to No. 8, the second on the port side to leave. This second lot was taken to No. 15, which was the last lifeboat to leave on the starboard side. So that his evidence covers a very wide range. The last witness I am going to cite on this point, by way of supplementing Captain Rostron’s general statement and the effect of what he heard, is Mr. Lowe, one of the officers at page 369. Mr. Harbinson is examining (Question 15931): “Did it take half an hour to launch these boats? - (A.) I do not know. It was not the launching of the boats that took the time. We got the whole boat out and in the water in less than 10 minutes. It was getting the people together that took the time. (Q.) Did you hear any orders given to the people brought up to the boat deck? - (A.) Yes, I forget now who I heard, but I heard the order given, anyhow: ‘Everybody on the boat deck.’ (Q.) Do you think there were sufficient seamen on board the “Titanic” adequately to carry out the operation of launching the boats? - (A.) Certainly, they did so. (Q.) Did they do it? - (A.) Yes. (Q.) Did they take what you consider a normal time or an abnormal time to do it? - (A.) It depends upon what you mean by an ‘abnormal time,’ less time or more time? (Q.) Do you think it would have been done quicker if there had been more men? - (A.) No. The thing was done as I do not suppose any other ship could do it. (Q.) In the same time? - (A.) No ship could have done it in better time, and better in all respects - in every respect.” All the evidence is the same way, and, therefore, I do not propose further to elaborate this point. I therefore submit that all the work that the officers and crew had to do was excellently done, and could not have been done better. I quite agree that more frequent boat drills than have been usual on any vessel of this type may be desirable, but the absence of such boat drill had nothing to do with any of the loss of life that took place on this occasion. The boat drills might have come in as being of importance if the sea had been rough, and you wanted to have a full complement of A.B.’s on board the boat in order to keep her in safety in a rough sea. But that was not the condition, and my submission is that, however desirable it may be that in the future there should be more frequent boat drills, which, of course, is closely connected with that continuity of service of which your Lordship was speaking just now, however desirable that may be, the absence of such drill had nothing to do with the loss of life which took place on this occasion. With regard to the boat lists, your Lordship will recollect how it was proved by Mr. Sanderson that all the boat lists were stuck up - each department had them posted. I am speaking now of the information given to the men. On page 496, Question 19716, Mr. Sanderson was asked: “Now, with regard to another matter as to the boat drill. Are these the lists which you have - three of them, I think; one for the sailing department, one for the engine department, and one for the victualling department - the stewards, I suppose, with reference to the boats? - (A.) Those are what are put up in the different departments. (Q.) These are documents? - (A.) Yes, they are.” Those documents were handed to the Witness and your Lordship has them. “(Q.) Perhaps you will keep them for one moment. In addition to those, is there the general boat list? - (A.) There is a general boat list subdivided into these. (Q.) Are these put up or framed, or stuck up anywhere? - (A.) They are put up in the different departments. I am not sure where the general one goes; I