Page 84 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 6 - 9

7172c. To detect danger ahead? - Yes. 7172d. Do you not think that the responsibility of that position would be better satisfied if a junior officer was also posted in the crow’s-nest along with the able-bodied seamen? - Do you mean in my own ship? 7172e. In any ship. I ask you now from your general experience as a captain and a seagoing man? - No. If you have an officer on the bridge, I think that is quite sufficient. The Commissioner: Now that is not the answer you wanted. He is giving you an answer that you did not want, and I respectfully submit you may leave him alone now. Examined by Mr. CLEMENT EDWARDS. 7173. I think you said that you did not give any instructions to the Marconi operator to try and ascertain the name of this vessel? - No; I did at 11 o’clock. 7174. Not after 11 o’clock? - Not after 11 o’clock. 7175. You have given evidence, I believe, before the American Court of Enquiry? - I have. 7176. Did you at that Inquiry, in reply to a question, say “about 1 o’clock I told the operator to call the ship again”? - No. 7177. So that if you are so reported, it is untrue? - It is. 7178. You said, I think, that when the lad came you have a faint recollection - The Commissioner: Have you got the print of the shorthand note of the evidence of this witness in America? Mr. Clement Edwards: I have not, my Lord, but I have what purports to be a verbatim question and answer given by this witness before the American Enquiry. The Commissioner: Where does it come from? Mr. Clement Edwards: Reuter’s Agency, my Lord. The Commissioner: Was it telegraphed to this country verbatim? Mr. Clement Edwards: Yes, my Lord. The Commissioner: Well, read it to him. Put it to him specifically. The Attorney-General: I have it, my Lord; I cannot say I have read it. The Commissioner: Put it specifically to him. Mr. Clement Edwards: There are certain matters into which this witness has given testimony this morning, and it would be more convenient, if I may respectfully suggest it, if I put to him certain quite specific questions. The Commissioner: Follow your own course. 7179. (Mr. Clement Edwards - To the Witness.) You said, I think, that you have no recollection of the lad Gibson saying anything when he came to the chart room in the morning? - No, I have no recollection. 7180. Did you. tell the American Court of Enquiry - The Commissioner: I understood you to say something different from that; I understood you to say that the boy said nothing. Mr. Clement Edwards: That is what I understood the witness to say now. The Commissioner: Oh, no; now he says that he does not remember that he said anything. I understood him first to say that the boy came in and shut the door, that he then said to the boy, “What is it?” and that the boy behaved in a most extraordinary manner by shutting the door and going away. 7181. (Mr. Clement Edwards - To the Witness.) What do you say? - Do you remember the lad saying anything or not? - I do not remember him saying anything. 7182. (The Commissioner.) Do you remember that he said nothing? - He did not say anything to me as far as I know.