Page 119 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 6 - 9

8093. Have you found it? - No. 8094. You know the “Titanic” was there? - Yes. 8095. (Mr. Robertson Dunlop.) And there was another steamer which you say was there the next morning? - I saw three steamers the next morning. 8096. You said there was a steamer heading the same way as you were. How many funnels or masts had the steamer which you saw the next morning? - I could not see anything about her, except her two masthead lights. 8097. Had the steamer which you have referred to, whose lights you saw, one masthead light or two? - The first steamer I saw had one masthead light. 8098-9. If she had had a second masthead light could you have failed to see it? - I think not; I was bound to have seen it. 8100. For how long had you this vessel’s stern light under observation? - From just about 1 o’clock to the time I lost her, I should say. The last light I saw must have been her stern light. It may have been the light at the end of an alleyway, or some bright light on deck. 8101. About how long do you think she was showing her stern light? - About an hour. 8102. When you saw she was altering her bearing, was she also altering her distance? - She appeared to be gradually getting further away from us. 8103. And what was the furthest she got away from you before you lost her lights? - I could not say; it would depend upon the height of her lights above the waterline. 8104. Have you any idea how far away she was when you last saw her stern light? - It is a very hard thing to say; I have no idea. Re-examined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL. 8105. (The Solicitor-General.) May I ask one question, my Lord? (To the Witness.) Do you suggest there was any time when you saw nothing but the stern light and the masthead light of this steamer without any other lights from her deck? - No, I suggest no such thing. 8106. You do not suggest that? - No. The Commissioner: I thought he did. 8107. (The Solicitor-General.) It is clear now he does not. (To the Witness.) And when you say you saw the light which you call her stern light, you mean you saw a number of lights at the afterend of her and you supposed one was the stern light? - I took the brightest one to be the stern light. 8108. You have been asked questions how far the ship was away. Do you know any means on a dark night at sea by which you can see whether a light is a very powerful light some way off or a less powerful light not so far off? - Yes. 8109. How would you do it? - A powerful light generally throws a glow around it, into the surrounding atmosphere. The more moisture there is in the air the greater the glow you will see around this light. 8110. How much glow was there round these lights? - Very little. (The Witness withdrew.) The Commissioner: I do not propose to begin a new witness to-night. Mr. Robertson Dunlop: May the captain go, my Lord? The Commissioner: I would rather he did not go to-night. Wait till tomorrow till we have finished with these witnesses. (Adjourned until tomorrow 10. 30 o’clock.)