Page 143 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 6 - 9

Yes, cut it out with a knife about a quarter of an inch from where the book is sewn into the cover. 8672. (The Solicitor-General.) Why do you do that? - Because we only keep the one log. 8673. But why? - By the company’s instructions. 8674. (The Commissioner.) I never heard of this. Are you instructed by your owners to destroy the scrap log as the voyage goes along? - Yes, my Lord. 8675. (The Solicitor-General.) Day by day? - Yes. 8676. (The Commissioner.) Does your steamer belong to the same company that practically owns the “Titanic”? - We belong to the Leyland Line, my Lord. 8677. Yes, I know, but is that part and parcel of the International Marine? - A part of it, my Lord. 8678. That is to say, it belongs to the same company that the “Titanic” belonged to? - I cannot say as to that, my Lord. 8679. I daresay you do not understand the arrangements between them, but you are part and parcel of the International Marine? - Yes. 8680. And the “Titanic” was part and parcel of the International Marine? - Yes, my Lord. 8681. Am I to understand that those instructions are given to all the steamers controlled by that company, that is to say, to the White Star, the Leyland Line, and others? - I cannot say that, my Lord. 8682. (The Solicitor-General.) You are speaking of your own steamer? - Yes. 8683. Are those instructions you speak of to be found in any book? - Yes. 8684. They are, are they? - Yes. 8685. I do not suppose you have the book here? - No. 8686. Just tell us from your recollection what is it one would find in the book about this? - That the scrap log was to be put on a slate and rubbed off every day, or else in a book in which the page can be destroyed. The Solicitor-General: The owners are represented here, my Lord; no doubt they can prove it if it is so. The Commissioner: Will you inquire about that, Mr. Laing? Mr. Laing: Yes. Mr. Robertson Dunlop: I will make inquiries what the instructions are, and what the practice is with regard to these scrap logs. The Commissioner: Is there anyone here who can tell us now? Mr. Robertson Dunlop: I have no one here who can tell us now, but I will make inquiries during the Adjournment. Mr. Laing: I can tell your Lordship what the practice is. The practice, so far as the White Star vessels are concerned is that the scrap logs are not to be kept. They are torn off a block or pad day by day. What is called the chief officer’s log is kept and handed in as soon as completed, to the owners; but the scrap logs are not kept. 8687. (The Solicitor-General - To the Witness.) I clearly understand in your case you do not use a slate? - No. 8688. And you do not use a pad? - No. 8689. You use a book with a cover? - Yes. 8690. And stitched? - Yes. 8691. Have you got the cover? - I think so. 8692. And you will find it if you can. We should like to see it. Now I have here the log which you wrote up - the 13th April, the 14th of April on the next page, and the 15th. The page runs from midnight to midnight, and then the noon observations are in the middle across the page? - Yes, just the same as that. 8693. I see on the 13th April, at noon (I am taking latitudes), you were 43º 43’? - Yes.