Collision and beyond in survivors‘ evidences
Joseph Groves Boxhall (4th Officer)
American Inquiry, Day 3 (April 22nd, 1912)
Senator SMITH.
Did you spend all of that time that night at your post, on duty?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Were you on the bridge all that time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What proportion of that time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Most of the time I was on the bridge.
Senator SMITH.
Most of the time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The greater part of the watch.
[…]
Mr. BOXHALL.
I did not notice them [additional lookouts at the bow of the ship]. I was in the chart room working out positions, most of the evening – working navigation.
Senator SMITH.
Sunday night?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Sunday night.
Senator SMITH.
But you said you were frequently at the bridge that night.
Mr. BOXHALL.
Just so.
[…]
Senator SMITH.
You do not know of your own knowledge how cold it was?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; I do not.
Senator SMITH.
But you are willing to say it was a very cold night?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Oh, yes; it was very cold.
[…]
Senator SMITH.
Where were you when the collision took place?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I was just approaching the bridge.
Senator SMITH.
On the port or the starboard side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Starboard side.
Senator SMITH.
Did the collision occur on the port or the starboard side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
On the starboard side, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And you were on deck at that time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
On the deck, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Approaching the bridge?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Just approaching the bridge.
Senator SMITH.
Could you see what had occurred?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; I could not see what had occurred.
Senator SMITH.
Did you know what had occurred?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, not at all. I heard the sixth officer say what it was.
Senator SMITH.
What did he say that it was?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He said we had struck an iceberg.
[…]
Senator SMITH.
Did you continue to go toward the bridge after the impact?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How far did you go?
Mr. BOXHALL.
At the time of the impact I was just coming along the deck and almost abreast of the captain’s quarters, and I heard the report of three bells.
Senator SMITH.
What kind of a report? Describe it.
Mr. BOXHALL.
The lookout’s report.
Senator SMITH.
What was said?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Three bells were struck.
Senator SMITH.
Three bells?
Mr. BOXHALL.
That signifies something has been seen ahead. Almost at the same time I heard the first officer give the order „Hard astarboard,“ and the engine telegraph rang.
Senator SMITH.
What did the order mean?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Ordering the ship’s head to port.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see this iceberg at that time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Not at that time.
Senator SMITH.
Did it extend above the deck that you were on?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Oh, no, sir, it did not extend there.
Senator SMITH.
A little lower?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know whether it struck the bow squarely?
Mr. BOXHALL.
It seemed to me to strike the bluff of the bow.
Senator SMITH.
Describe that.
Mr. BOXHALL.
It is in the forward part of the ship, but almost on the side.
Senator SMITH.
On which side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
It is just where the ship begins to widen out on the starboard side.
Senator SMITH.
How far would that be from the front of the ship?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not know.
Senator SMITH.
About how far?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I could not say in feet.
Senator SMITH.
How far would it be from the eyes?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not know. I could not say.
Senator SMITH.
You could not describe that?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; you could measure it on the plans, though.
Senator SMITH.
About how far?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I could not say how many feet. I have no idea of the number of feet.
Senator SMITH.
But it was not a square blow on the bow of the ship?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
In ordinary parlance, would it be a glancing blow?
Mr. BOXHALL.
A glancing blow.
Senator SMITH.
Was the blow felt immediately?
Mr. BOXHALL.
A slight impact.
Senator SMITH.
How slight?
Mr. BOXHALL.
It did not seem to me to be very serious. I did not take it seriously.
Senator SMITH.
Slight enough to stop you in your walk to the bridge?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Oh, no, no, no.
Senator SMITH.
Heavy enough to stop you, I mean?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
So slight that you did not regard it as serious?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I did not think it was serious.
Senator SMITH.
Did you proceed to the bridge?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Whom did you find there?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I found the sixth officer and the first officer and captain.
Senator SMITH.
The sixth officer, the first officer and the captain?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
All on the bridge together?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What, if anything, was said by the captain?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir. The captain said, „What have we struck?“ Mr. Murdock [sic!], the first officer, said, „We have struck an iceberg.“
Senator SMITH.
Then what was said?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He followed on to say – Mr. Murdock [sic!] followed on to say, „I put her hard astarboard and run the engines full astern, but it was too close; she hit it.“
Senator FLETCHER.
That was before she struck?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; after.
Senator SMITH.
That was after she struck?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
He said that he put her hard astarboard?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
But it was too late?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And he hit it?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did the captain say?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Mr. Murdock [sic!] also said, „I intended to port around it.“
Senator SMITH.
„I intended to port around it“?
Mr. BOXHALL.
„But she hit before I could do any more.“
Senator SMITH.
Did he say anything more?
Mr. BOXHALL.
„The watertight doors are closed, sir.“
Senator SMITH.
What did the captain say?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Mr. Murdock [sic!] continued to say, „The watertight doors are closed, sir.“
Senator SMITH.
Mr. Murdoch continued to say, „Are they closed“?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; „They are closed.“
Senator SMITH.
„The watertight doors are closed“?
Mr. BOXHALL.
„Are closed.“
Senator SMITH.
Do you understand by that that he had applied the –
Mr. BOXHALL. (interrupting)
I saw him close them.
Senator SMITH.
He had applied the electricity?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And by that had closed the watertight compartments?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir; and the captain asked him if he had rung the warning bell.
Senator SMITH.
What did he say?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He said, „Yes, sir.“
Senator SMITH.
What is the warning bell?
Mr. BOXHALL.
It is a small electric bell which rings at every watertight door.
Senator SMITH.
And he said that that had been done?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What else did he say?
Mr. BOXHALL.
We all walked out to the corner of the bridge then to look at the iceberg.
Senator SMITH.
The captain?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The captain, first officer, and myself.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see it?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I was not very sure of seeing it. It seemed to me to be just a small black mass not rising very high out of the water, just a little on the starboard quarter,
Senator SMITH.
How far out of the water should you judge?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I could not judge the size of it, but it seemed to me to be very, very low lying.
Senator SMITH.
Did it extend up to B deck?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Oh, no; the ship was past it then. It looked to me to be very, very low in the water.
Senator FLETCHER.
Give us an idea; do not leave it there.
Senator SMITH.
How far do you think it was above the water?
Mr. BOXHALL.
That is hard to say. In my own opinion I do not think the thing extended above the ship’s rail.
Senator SMITH.
Above the ship’s rail?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No.
Senator SMITH.
And how far was this rail above the water’s edge?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Probably about 30 feet.
Senator SMITH.
About 30 feet?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; hardly 30 feet.
Senator SMITH.
The distance from the water’s edge to the boat deck was how far?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I could get that measurement from the plan.
Senator SMITH.
About 70 feet, was it not?
Mr. BOXHALL.
From the boat deck it was about 70 feet to the water’s edge. The boat deck is one deck above A. This rail I mean is on the C deck.
Senator SMITH.
You say this looked like a black object?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Were the stars shining that night?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The stars were shining,
Senator SMITH.
And the moon?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No moon.
Senator SMITH.
No moon?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Was it clear?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Clear.
Senator SMITH.
And yet you wish to be understood as saying that, standing in the bow of the ship as far forward as you could get, and looking over directly at this obstacle, you were unable to determine exactly what it was?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I was not standing in the bow of the ship, sir; I was standing on the bridge.
Senator SMITH.
On the bridge?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
But you could see this object, could you?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I am not sure of seeing it; that is what I say, I would not swear to seeing it. But I fancied seeing this long-lying growler.
Senator SMITH.
And that it looked dark?
Mr. BOXHALL.
It looked to me as if it was very, very low.
Senator SMITH.
And dark?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did the captain seem to know what you had struck?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Did Mr. Murdock [sic!]?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Mr. Murdoch [sic!] saw it when we struck it.
Senator SMITH.
Did he say what it was?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did he say it was?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He said it was an iceberg.
Senator SMITH.
After these signals were turned in, what was done?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not know what was done, because I left the bridge then.
Senator SMITH.
Where did you go?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I went right down below, in the lowest steerage, as far as I could possibly get without going into the cargo portion of the ship, and inspected all the decks as I came up, in the vicinity of where I thought she had struck.
Senator SMITH.
What did you find?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I found no damage. I found no indications to show that the ship had damaged herself.
Senator SMITH.
On the inside?
Mr. BOXHALL.
On the inside.
Senator SMITH.
Did you say you went to the steerage?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I went down to the steerage.
Senator SMITH.
But found no evidence of injury there?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Then where did you go?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Then I went on the bridge and reported to the captain that I could not see any damage.
Senator SMITH.
One moment. Did you look farther, beyond the steerage?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I looked in all the decks. I worked my way up to the top deck.
Senator SMITH.
Looking at all of them in the forward part?
Mr. BOXHALL.
In the forward part of the ship; that is, abreast of No. 2 and 3 hatches.
Senator SMITH.
Then what did you do?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I came right up to the bridge and reported that I could find no damage.
Senator SMITH.
What did the captain say?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He said, „Go down and find the carpenter and get him to sound the ship.“
Senator SMITH.
Did you do so?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I was proceeding down, but I met the carpenter.
Senator SMITH.
What did you say to him?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I said, „The captain wants you to sound the ship.“ He said, „The ship is making water,“ and he went on the bridge to the captain, and I thought I would go down forward again and investigate; and then I met a mail clerk, a man named Smith, and he asked where the captain was. I said, „He is on the bridge.“ He said, „The mail hold is full“ or „filling rapidly.“ I said, „Well, you go and report it to the captain and I will go down and see,“ and I proceeded right down into the mail room.
Senator SMITH.
What did you find there?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I went down as far as the sorting room deck and found mail clerks down there working.
Senator SMITH.
Doing what?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Taking letters out of the racks, they seemed to me to be doing.
Senator SMITH.
Taking letters out of the racks and putting them into pouches?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I could not see what they were putting them in.
Senator SMITH.
You could not see what disposition they were making of them?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I looked through an open door and saw these men working at the racks, and directly beneath me was the mail hold, and the water seemed to be then within 2 feet of the deck we were standing on.
Senator SMITH.
What did you do in that situation?
Mr. BOXHALL. (continuing)
And bags of mail floating about. I went right on the bridge again and reported to the captain what I had seen.
Senator SMITH.
What did he say?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He said all right, and then the order came out for the boats.
Senator SMITH.
You mean the order was given to man or lower the lifeboats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
To clear the lifeboats.
[…]
American Inquiry, Day 10 (April 29th, 1912)
Senator FLETCHER.
Mr. Boxhall, do you know whether the air ports on the Titanic were closed at the time of the collision, or before or just afterwards?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The air ports? I do not know what the air ports are.
Senator FLETCHER.
The port holes.
Mr. BOXHALL.
Oh, the port holes? No; I could not say about that, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
You gave no order to have them closed?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I did not hear any orders.
Senator FLETCHER.
You do not know whether they were closed or not?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
If they were not closed –
Mr. BOXHALL.
The ports I saw down below in the steerage, when I first visited down there a few moments after the ship struck, to the best of my memory were closed. That was in the fore part of the ship, between the forecastle head and the bridge. Those ports, to the best of my memory, were closed.
Senator FLETCHER.
You did not have occasion to observe them anywhere else?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir
Senator FLETCHER.
What was the custom or practice on the ship as to leaving them open in calm weather?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I could not say about that, but in foggy weather it had to be reported on the bridge whether they were open or closed, and in bad weather, of course, if there was any sea at all running, we knew then about the ports, and the orders were given from the bridge. But in calm weather, I am at a loss to remember what was done about them.
[…]
Senator SMITH.
Mr. Boxhall, you seem to be the one upon whom we must rely to give the difference between ship’s time and New York time; or, rather, to give ship’s time and give the New York time when this accident occurred.
Mr. BOXHALL.
At 11.46 p.m., ship’s time, it was 10.13 Washington time, or New York time. [please note: The time difference between Titanic’s ship time and New York time was not 1h 33min as indicated by Boxhall in this evidence. Modern research proves that the time difference between Titanic’s ship time and New York time was 2h 2min thus the collision took place 9.44 p.m. New York time when Boxhall’s 11.46 p.m. is taken as the time of the accident.]
Senator SMITH.
And that was the time of the impact?
Mr. BOXHALL.
There is a question about that. Some say 11.45, some say 11.43. I myself did not note it exactly, but that is as near as I can tell I reckoned it was about 11.45.
American Inquiry, Day 10, Additional evidence (April 29th, 1912)
Senator BURTON.
What did Murdock [sic!] mean by the expression „I intended to port around it?“ What is the meaning of that expression?
Mr. BOXHALL.
That is easier described than explained. (Mr. Boxhall explained on a diagram the meaning of the term referred to.)
British Inquiry, Day 13 (May 22nd, 1912)
15342. Was the first intimation that there was ice about the striking of the three bells, so far as you were concerned?
– No, when we struck the berg; that was the first.
15343. Do you mean you felt the shock before you heard the bells?
– No, I heard the bells first.
15344. Where were you at that time?
– Just coming out of the Officers quarters.
15345. How soon after you heard the bells did you feel the shock?
– Only a moment or two after that.
15346. Did you hear an order given by the first Officer?
– I heard the first Officer give the order, „Hard-a-starboard,“ and I heard the engine room telegraph bells ringing.
15347. Was that before you felt the shock, or afterwards?
– Just a moment before.
15348. (The Commissioner.) Let us be clear about that. The order, „Hard-a-starboard,“ came between the sound of the bells and the collision?
– The impact, yes.
15349. (Mr. Raymond Asquith.) Did you go on to the bridge immediately after the impact?
– I was almost on the bridge when she struck.
15350. Did you notice what the telegraphs indicated with regard to the engines?
– „Full speed astern,“ both.
15351. Was that immediately after the impact?
– Yes.
15352. Did you see anything done with regard to the watertight doors?
– I saw Mr. Murdoch closing them then, pulling the lever.
15353. And did the Captain then come out on to the bridge?
– The Captain was alongside of me when I turned round.
15354. Did you hear him say something to the first Officer?
– Yes, he asked him what we had struck.
15355. What conversation took place between them?
– The first Officer said, „An iceberg, Sir. I hard-a-starboarded and reversed the engines, and I was going to hard-a-port round it but she was too close. I could not do any more. I have closed the watertight doors.“ The Commander asked him if he had rung the warning bell, and he said „Yes.“
15356. Did the Captain and the first Officer go to the starboard side of the bridge to see if they could see the iceberg?
– Yes.
15357. Did you see it yourself?
– I was not too sure of seeing it. I had just come out of the light, and my eyes were not accustomed to the darkness.
15358. What did you do next – did you leave the deck?
– Yes, I went down forward, down into the third class accommodation, right forward on to the lowest deck of all with passenger accommodation, and walked along these looking for damage.
15359. That would be f deck, would it not?
– Yes, F deck. I walked along there for a little distance just about where I thought she had struck.
15360. Did you find any signs of damage?
– No, I did not.
[…]
15367. Did you then go and report to the Captain?
– I went on to the bridge and reported to the Captain and First Officer that I had seen no damage whatever.
15368. Did the Captain then tell you to find the carpenter?
– Yes, I think we stayed on the bridge just for a moment or two, probably a couple of minutes, and then he told me to find the carpenter and tell him to sound the ship forward.
15369. Did you find the carpenter?
– I met the carpenter. I think it would be on the ladder leading from the bridge down to A deck, and he wanted to know where the Captain was. I told him he was on the bridge.
15370. Did the carpenter tell you anything about there being water?
– Yes, he did; he said the ship was making water fast, and he passed it on to the bridge.
15371. What did you do?
– I continued with the intention of finding out where the water was coming in, and I met one of the mail clerks, a man of the name of Smith.
15372. Did he say something?
– He also asked for the Captain, and said the mail hold was filling. I told him where he could find the Captain and I went down to the mail room. I went down the same way as I did when I visited the third class accommodation previously. I went down as far as E deck and went to the starboard alleyway on E deck and the watertight door stopped me getting through.
15373. The watertight door on E deck was closed?
– Yes. Then I crossed over and went into the working alleyway and so into the mail room.
15374. What did you find in the mail room?
– I went down in the mail room and found the water was within a couple of feet of G deck, the deck I was standing on.
15375. The mail room is between the Orlop deck and G deck?
– Yes, that is the mail hold.
15376. Was the water rising or stationary?
– It was rising rapidly up the ladder and I could hear it rushing in.
15377. Did you go back and report that to the Captain on the bridge?
– I stayed there just for a minute or two and had a look. I saw mail-bags floating around on deck. I saw it was no use trying to get them out so I went back again to the bridge. I met the second Steward, Mr. Dodd, on my way to the bridge – as a matter of fact in the saloon companion way – and he asked me about sending men down below for those mails. I said „You had better wait till I go to the bridge and find what we can do.“ I went to the bridge and reported to the Captain.
15378. We have been told that at some time you called the other Officers; both Mr. Lightoller and Mr. Pitman said you called them?
– I did. That was after I reported to the Captain about the mail room.
15379. Could you form any opinion as to how long that was after the impact?
– No, but as near as I could judge; I have tried to place the time for it, and the nearest I can get to it is approximately 20 minutes to half-an-hour.
15380. I think those are the times which are given by Mr. Pitman and Mr. Lightoller. After calling those Officers did you go on to the bridge again?
– Yes, I think I went towards the bridge, I am not sure whether it was then that I heard the order given to clear the boats or unlace the covers. I might have been on the bridge for a few minutes and then heard this order given.
[…]
15496. After the collision I understand that you and some other Officers went on the bridge to look at the iceberg. Is that so?
– That is so. Yes.
15497. And you saw the iceberg?
– Well, I was not quite sure of seeing it.
15498. What length of time was this after the collision?
– Only a couple of minutes afterwards.
15499. What distance from you did the iceberg appear to be then?
– I do not think it would be a couple of minutes afterwards. It appeared to me, what I fancy I saw, about a ship’s length away from the ship’s bridge.
15500. Now, you were examined in America in regard to the appearance which the iceberg presented at that distance?
– Yes.
15501. Would you give your impression of it to my Lord?
– Yes, I said I fancied I saw a black mass, a low-lying black mass on the quarter.
15502. Was it difficult to discern what the object was even at that short distance, a ship’s length?
– That is only an approximate distance you understand; it might have been more.
15503. It might have been three ship’s lengths?
– It might have been three ship’s lengths.
15504. Would that be the outside – three ship’s lengths?
– No, I am not sure. You must understand I had just come out of the light into the darkness and my eyes were not accustomed to it.
15505. I also recollect that we have been told in the evidence that after the collision you went astern?
– The engines were going full speed astern for quite a little time.
15506. Did you go forward after that?
– Not that I know of.
15507. So that from the place where the collision occurred you had not moved much up to the time you went on the bridge to look for this iceberg?
– No, I do not think the ship could have gone so very far.
15508. So that you were within a few ships‘ lengths of her probably?
– Yes.
[…]
15511. (Mr. Scanlan.) Yes, My Lord. (To the witness.) Besides you who else were on the bridge?
– Mr. Murdoch and Captain Smith.
15512. They had not been in the lighted chart room up to that time?
– Not that I know of. Mr. Murdoch and Captain Smith were on the bridge as far as I know when I went there.
15513. Was Mr. Murdoch standing with you while you were observing the iceberg?
– Yes, he pointed at it – like that.
15514. How long were you watching it?
– That I cannot say. It was not very long because I went down below into the passengers‘ accommodation.
15515. A couple of minutes?
– I am not going to stick to minutes; I do not know what it was.
[…]
15566. Just tell me about a few matters, if you can. When you came from where you had been making those observations, you heard the order „Hard-a-starboard,“ and you felt the shock of the collision?
– Yes; there was not much of a shock to feel.
15567. But you felt the collision?
– Yes.
15568. And you knew the engines were reversed, full speed astern?
– I heard the bells ring, but I did not know what the movement was until I got to the bridge.
15569. And then you knew that the collision bulkheads were closed because you heard the bell ring?
– No, I did not hear the bell ring; I saw Mr. Murdoch pulling the lever.
15570. I thought you told my Lord that you heard the warning bell ring?
– No.
15571. You heard the Captain ask?
– I heard the Captain ask.
15572. Whether the warning bell had been rung?
– Yes.
15573. You had already got that knowledge. Now you left the bridge to go down below to see what damage was done?
– To see if I could find any damage.
15574. When you left do you know if the engines were still reversing or had they stopped?
– I cannot say.
15575. Perhaps you can tell us in this way. Was steam blowing off then?
– No, I cannot tell you that either.
15576. When you came back was steam blowing off?
– Yes, it was when I came back.
15577. How long were you away, do you think?
– I could not say.
15578. A quarter of an hour or 20 minutes?
– Oh, no.
15579. Less? You can give us an idea – ten minutes?
– I do not think I should be ten minutes.
15580. Something less than ten minutes; five minutes?
– Somewhere between five and ten minutes.
15581. Now, having come back, then you were on the bridge obeying orders and letting off rockets?
– I went down to the mail room after that.
15582. Yes, you went down again?
– Yes.
15583. How long before you went down to the mail room again, 5 or 10 minutes?
– Almost immediately.
15584. And then you came up again on to the bridge?
– Yes.
15585. Not having been away very long, I suppose?
– No, I had not been down in the mail room very long. I spent a little more time there than when I went down the first time.
15586. And then you came up and reported to the Commander?
– Yes.
15587. What did he say?
– He walked away and left me. He went off the bridge, as far as I remember.
15588. He did not say anything to you that was fixed in your memory?
– No.
15589. Now do you know if anything was done in regard to the collision bulkheads after that?
– No, the last movement that I saw was the first Officer closing them.
[…]
15610. Did you hear the Captain say anything to anybody about the ship being doomed?
– The Captain did remark something to me in the earlier part of the evening after the order had been given to clear the boats. I encountered him when reporting something to him, or something, and he was inquiring about the men going on with the work, and I said, „Yes, they are carrying on all right.“ I said, „Is it really serious?“ He said, „Mr. Andrews tells me he gives her from an hour to an hour and a half.“ That must have been some little time afterwards. Evidently Mr. Andrews had been down.
15611. Can you tell us how long it was after the collision that the Captain said that?
– No, I have not the slightest idea.
15612. Did you say as a matter of fact in America that it was about 20 minutes after the collision?
– No, I do not think so.
15613. You could not fix the time?
– I cannot fix the time; I have tried, but I cannot.