Page 220 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 6 - 9

picked them up; what was it? 10582. (Mr. Butler Aspinall.) Boat 14. (To the Witness.) You were picked up by boat 14? - Yes. 10583. And we have heard it was the Fifth Officer, Mr. Lowe, who was in charge of that boat? - Yes. The Solicitor-General: That boat is the one that Scarrott and Morris have given evidence about already. 10584. (Mr. Butler Aspinall.) Do you know if on your collapsible boat there was a man - a cook I think he was - from the cook’s department by the name of Maynard? - No. He was on the upturned collapsible boat. 10585. That clears it up. Then you were taken on board the “Carpathia.” I want you to tell me these two other matters which I think you can speak about. Whilst you were working down the last collapsible boat from the top of the officer’s quarters to the deck, did you notice Captain Smith? - Yes, the Captain came past us while we were trying to get this boat away with a megaphone in his hand, and he spoke to us. 10586. What did he say? - He said, “Well, boys, do your best for the women and children, and look out for yourselves.” He walked on the bridge. 10587. He returned then to the bridge? - Yes. 10588. And about that moment of time the ship took her last plunge? - Yes, a very few seconds after that. 10589. There is one other matter I want you to tell us about as you were on the ship to the end. Do you know what the Band were doing at the last? - I do not remember hearing the band stop playing. They were playing for a long time, but I do not remember hearing them stop. 10590. Where would the band be gathered; where would they play, do you know? - Right on the forward companion on the very top - on the boat deck forward companion. The Solicitor-General: Between the first and second funnels. 10591. (Mr. Butler Aspinall.) Were they playing at the time when you were dealing with this collapsible boat from the top of the officers’ quarters? - Yes. 10592. Up to as late as that your memory serves you? - Yes, they were playing then. 10593. (The Commissioner.) Do you mean up to the time when the Captain called out to you to look after the women and children? - Yes, they were playing a few seconds before that, Sir. 10594. (Mr. Butler Aspinall.) Just in order to get the names, if I can, of some of the people in your collapsible boat, do you know the names of any member of the crew that was in that collapsible boat? - Two besides myself. 10595. You know the names of two? - Yes. 10596. Will you give me their names? - Gus Whiteman, [August Weikman] the Chief Barber, the First class Barber, and W. Lucas, a First class Steward. 10597. (The Attorney-General.) You say Lucas was a steward? - Yes, a first class steward. (After a short adjournment.) Examined by Mr. SCANLAN. 10598. I believe that this collapsible boat which you failed to get into the water was practically a new collapsible boat the same as the others? - Yes, as far as I know, it was. 10599. And would have been serviceable if you had succeeded in getting it launched? - Yes. 10600. Did the fact that this boat was on the top of the officers’ quarters make it difficult to get her near the davits? - No, Sir; not if the ship had been on an even keel; but when we got it down on to the boat deck the ship had a list to port.