Page 206 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 6 - 9

10184. And, knowing from him that there must have been an accident, and that he considered the accident was of such a character that these people should be roused, you went round among them, and tried to assure them that the vessel was not hurt? - In the first place. 10185. Why did you do that? - Because it was my instructions to. The Commissioner: Why? - To keep them quiet; it is quite obvious. 10186. (Mr. Harbinson.) I put it to you that it was as a result of these assurances of yours that the people refused to go up on deck? - You put it to me as such? 10187. I put it to you that as a result of these assurances given to the people they refused to leave their berths? - I do not take it as such. 10188. Was it so? - It was not so. If you will pay a little attention you will find that some people were taken to the boat deck. 10189. Please do not be impertinent? - I do not wish to be impertinent. 10190. I suggest to you that it was as a result of these assurances given by you that they were declining to leave their berths? - You take it as such. 10191. I ask you, is that so? - I do not know. 10192. You do not know? - I do not think so. 10193. How many women refused to leave their berths? - Several. 10194. Could you give us any estimate? - I might if I think. The Commissioner: His estimate in such circumstances is, to my mind, of no value at all. 10195. (Mr. Harbinson.) Were there half-a-dozen out of the 58? - I take it there was. 10196. You do not know? - I could not vouch for the number. 10197. Was it a small number compared with the number who came up with you? - Oh, yes. 10198. A very small number? - Yes. 10199. So that I am right in assuming that all except a small number responded to your warnings? - That I can account for myself in my own part of the ship. 10200. That it was only a small number who refused to leave? - It was only a small number who refused to leave. 10201. You have told us, I think, that there were sixty third class stewards? - Yes. 10202. How many of those sixty were in the afterpart of the ship? - None. 10203. Can you tell us how many were in the after, and how many were in the forward part? - No. 10204. You have no means of telling? - I could not tell you. 10205. Could you give us any estimate of the number of women and children who were in the afterpart of the ship - third class men, women and children? - No. 10206. You cannot? - No. 10207. Who will be able to tell me that? - No doubt the White Star Line can tell you. The single men were all berthed in the fore part of the ship. 10208. You can give us no estimate of the numbers of the third class passengers who were in the after portion? - No. 10209. And therefore you cannot tell me how many stewards were allotted to look after the third class passengers? - In the afterpart of the ship, I can. 10210. That is what I am asking you? - Eight. 10211. Eight stewards to look after all the third class passengers in that portion? - That is for the sleeping accommodation. 10212. It is a considerable distance, is it not, from the aft part of the ship to the boat deck? - Yes. 10213. You have told us that you saw a number of stewards placed at various portions to direct the third class passengers how they were to go? - Yes. 10214. About how many stewards were so placed? - I passed about five or six on the starboard