Collision and beyond in survivors‘ evidences

Herbert John Pitman (3rd Officer)

American Inquiry, Day 4 (April 24th, 1912)

Senator SMITH.
And when did you next appear outside of your berth?

Mr. PITMAN.
About 10 minutes to 12, or a quarter to 12, sir.

Senator SMITH.
What occasion was there for rising at that time?

Mr. PITMAN.
Well, the collision woke me up.

Senator SMITH.
Was there any special impact to awaken you?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; there was a sound that I thought seemed like the ship coming to an anchor – the chain running out over the windlass.

Senator SMITH.
Did this impact jar the ship?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; it gave just a little vibration. I was about half awake and about half asleep. It did not quite awaken me.

Senator SMITH.
Did you arouse yourself?

Mr. PITMAN.
I did, after a little thinking, wondering where we were anchoring.

Senator SMITH.
You lay in bed a while after the impact?

Mr. PITMAN.
Oh, yes.

Senator SMITH.
How long?

Mr. PITMAN.
Maybe three or four minutes.

Senator SMITH.
Then did you get up and dress?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I got up and walked on deck without dressing.

Senator SMITH.
How far on deck?

Mr. PITMAN.
Just went outside of our quarters, had a look around, and could not see anyone.

Senator SMITH.
Where were your quarters; on what deck?

Mr. PITMAN.
On the boat deck, close to the bridge.

Senator SMITH.
Close to the bridge?

Mr. PITMAN.
Close to the bridge.

Senator SMITH.
Forward?

Mr. PITMAN.
Forward, yes.

Senator SMITH.
How far did you walk?

Mr. PITMAN.
Just outside the door, I should say 3 or 4 paces across the deck.

Senator SMITH.
What did you do when you got out there; look around?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes. I can describe to you what I did.

Senator SMITH.
Do so, please.

Mr. PITMAN.
I had a look around, and I could not see anything, and could not hear any noise, so I went back to the room and sat down and lit my pipe. I thought that nothing had really happened, that perhaps it might have been a dream, or something like that. A few minutes afterwards I thought I had better start dressing, as it was near my watch, so I started dressing, and when I was partly dressed Mr. Boxhall came in and said the mail room – there was water in the mail room. I said, „What happened?“ He said, „We struck an iceberg.“ So I put a coat on and went on deck, and saw the men uncovering the boats and clearing them away. I walked along to the after-end of the boat deck, and met Mr. Moody, the sixth officer. I asked him if he had seen the iceberg. He said no; but he said, „There is some ice on the forward well deck.“ So, to satisfy my curiosity, I went down there myself.

Senator SMITH.
How far down?

Mr. PITMAN.
On the well deck. So I saw a little ice there. I went further, to the forecastle head, to see if there was any damage there. I could not see any at all. On my return, before emerging from under the forecastle head, I saw a crowd of firemen coming out with their bags, bags of clothing. I said, „What is the matter?“ They said, „The water is coming in our place.“ I said, „That is funny.“ I looked down No. 1 hatch, then, and saw the water flowing over the hatch. I then immediately went to the boat deck, and assisted in getting boats uncovered and ready for swinging out. I stood by No. 5 boat. They would not allow the sailors to get anything, as they thought we should get it again in the morning. In the act of clearing away this boat a man said to me, that was dressed in a dressing gown, with slippers on, he said to me very quietly, „There is no time to waste.“ I thought he did not know anything about it at all. So we carried on our work in the usual way.

Senator SMITH.
Do you know who that was?

Mr. PITMAN.
I did not then.

Senator SMITH.
Do you now?

Mr. PITMAN.
I do now.

Senator SMITH.
Who was it?

Mr. PITMAN.
Mr. Ismay. I did not know who it was then; I had never seen the man in my life before. So I continued on getting this boat uncovered and swinging out. It struck me at the time the easy way the boat went out, the great improvement the modern davits were on the old-fashioned davits. I had about five or six men there, and the boat was out in about two minutes.

British Inquiry, Day 13 (May 22nd, 1912)

14930. As you have said, you were turned in at the time the vessel struck the iceberg, and, I believe, asleep?
– Yes.

14931. You were aroused and at first did you think much had happened?
– No, I did not.

14932. What was it aroused you; was it a noise, or a jar, or what?
– A noise; I thought the ship was coming to anchor.

14933. Did you lie on in your bunk for some few minutes?
– I did.

14934. At the end of those few minutes did you do anything?
– Yes. I went on deck.

14935. Was that curiosity; or what took you there?
– Yes, I suppose it was.

14936. Getting on deck, what did you see or hear?
– I saw nothing and heard nothing.

14937. Did you go to the forward part of the navigation bridge?
– No, I only just went outside the quarters.

14938. The Officers‘ quarters?
– That is all.

14939. As it were, put your head out and saw nothing?
– No, I went on deck.

14940. Seeing and hearing nothing, what did you do then?
– I went back inside again.

14941. And turned in again?
– No, I met Mr. Lightoller first of all, and I asked him what had happened, if we had hit something, and he said, „Yes, evidently.“

14942. He said „Evidently“?
– Yes, evidently something had happened.

14943. After you had received that information what did you do?
– I went to bed.

14944. How long did you remain in bed?
– It may have been five minutes.

14945. And at the end of five minutes what did you do?
– I thought I might as well get up, as it was no use trying to go to sleep again, as I was due on watch in a few minutes.

14946. Your watch was the middle watch, from 12 to 4?
– That night, yes.

14947. Did you get up and proceed to dress?
– Yes.

14948. While you were dressing did you receive any information?
– Mr. Boxhall came to my room and said the mail room was afloat.

14949. How long do you think had elapsed between the time you were aroused and Mr. Boxhall coming and telling you this?
– I should think it must be 20 minutes.

14950. Did he give you any information as to what had caused the mail room to be afloat?
– Yes; I asked him what we had struck, and he said an iceberg.

14951. After that did you quickly proceed with your dressing?
– Yes, I put my coat on and went on deck.