Page 138 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 6 - 9

you. As you were making entries in the scrap logbook from 8 to 12 that night, do you know whether you made any entry as to any ship that you saw? - No, no entry whatsoever relating to any ship. 8551. You had gone off watch before there was any question of rockets? - Yes. 8552. You must have seen the scrap logbook the next day when you came on duty; do you know whether it contains any entry of rockets being seen? - I saw none myself. 8553. (The Commissioner.) Did you look to see if there was any reference as to rockets? - No my Lord, I did not. The Commissioner: Then you must be careful how you answer. 8554. (The Solicitor-General.) You had come on duty, in one of the watches; would you come up at 4 o’clock in the morning? - No, about 6.50. That is on the Monday morning. 8555. That is what I mean. Then when would you come on duty and be the officer on the watch and have to keep the scrap log? - It is my duty between 8 and 12 under ordinary conditions. 8556. By that time you had heard the news about the “Titanic”? - Yes. 8557. Knowing that, did not you look back in the scrap log and see what entries had been made by your colleague between midnight and 4 a.m.? - No, I did not. 8558. It would be on the very next page, would it not? You turn over the page I suppose when you get to midnight? - Yes, we finish a page when we get to midnight. 8559. You would have only to turn back one page and see the record made by the officer of the watch from midnight to 4 a.m. as to what he had seen? - Yes. 8560. And you did not do it? - No, I did not do it. The Solicitor-General: We had better get the chief officer I suppose. 8561. (The Commissioner.) Yes. If you had been on the bridge instead of from 8 to half-past 12, from 12 to 4, and had been keeping the scrap logbook and had seen a succession of white rockets with stars going up from this vessel which you speak of or from the direction of this vessel, would you in the ordinary course of things have made a record of the fact in your scrap log? - Most decidedly, that is what the logbook is for. 8562. So I should have thought. Then it would have been the business of the man who had charge of this book to record those facts? - I think so, my Lord. 8563. Who was he? - Mr. Stone was on watch. 8564. And, therefore, if Mr. Stone did what you think was his duty, this scrap logbook which was thrown away, or which, at all events, cannot be found, would contain a record of these rockets having been seen? - Yes, my Lord, but it is not my duty to criticise a senior officer, though. The Commissioner: I am asking what is the ordinary practice. Do you want any of the other officers back, Mr. Solicitor? The Solicitor-General: I have Mr. Stewart here, who is the chief officer, and the captain is here also. The Commissioner: You must exercise your own discretion. The Solicitor-General: I think I will call Mr. Stewart now. (The Witness withdrew.)