Collision and beyond in survivors‘ evidences

Robert Hichens (Quartermaster)

American Inquiry, Day 5 (April 24th, 1912)

Senator SMITH.
Were you at your post of duty the night of the collision?

Mr. HICHENS.
Yes.

Senator SMITH.
What was your post of duty; where was it?

Mr. HICHENS.
At the time of the collision I was at the wheel, sir, steering the ship.

Senator SMITH.
How long had you been at the wheel when the collision occurred?

Mr. HICHENS.
One hour and forty minutes, sir.

Senator SMITH.
How long a watch did you have?

Mr. HICHENS.
We would have four hours watch; two hours standby and two hours at the wheel.

Senator SMITH.
I wish you would tell now, in your own way, what occurred that night from the time you went on watch until the collision occurred.

Mr. HICHENS.
I went on watch at 8 o’clock. The officers on the watch were the second officer, Mr. Lightoller, senior in command; the fourth officer, Mr. Boxhall; and the sixth officer, Mr. Moody. My first orders when I got on the bridge was to take the second officer’s compliments down to the ship’s carpenter and inform him to look to his fresh water; that it was about to freeze. I did so. On the return to the bridge, I had been on the bridge about a couple of minutes when the carpenter came back and reported the duty carried out. Standing by waiting for another message – it is the duty of the quartermaster to strike the bell every half hour – as the stand-by quarter- master, sir, I heard the second officer repeat to Mr. Moody, the sixth officer, to speak through the telephone, warning the lookout men in the crow’s nest to keep a sharp lookout for small ice until daylight and pass the word along to the other lookout men. The next order I received from the second officer was to go and find the deck engineer and bring him up with a key to open the heaters up in the corridor of the officers quarters, also the wheelhouse and the chart room, on account of the intense cold. At a quarter to 10 I called the first officer, Mr. Murdock [sic!], to let him know it was one bell, which is part of our duty; also took the thermometer and barometer, the temperature of the water, and the log. At 10 o’clock I went to the wheel, sir. Mr. Murdock [sic!] come up to relieve Mr. Lightoller. I had the course given me from the other quartermaster, north 71 west, which I repeated to him, and he went and reported it to the first officer or the second officer in charge, which he repeated back – the course, sir. All went along very well until 20 minutes to 12, when three gongs came from the lookout, and immediately afterwards a report on the telephone, „Iceberg right ahead.“ The chief officer rushed from the wing to the bridge, or I imagine so, sir. Certainly I am inclosed in the wheelhouse, and I can not see, only my compass. He rushed to the engines. I heard the telegraph bell ring; also give the order „Hard astarboard,“ with the sixth officer standing by me to see the duty carried out and the quartermaster standing by my left side. Repeated the order, „Hard astarboard. The helm is hard over, sir.“

Senator SMITH.
Who gave the first order?

Mr. HICHENS.
Mr. Murdock [sic!], the first officer, sir; the officer in charge. The sixth officer repeated the order, „The helm is hard astarboard, sir.“ But, during the time, she was crushing the ice, or we could hear the grinding noise along the ship’s bottom. I heard the telegraph ring, sir. The skipper came rushing out of his room – Capt. Smith – and asked, „What is that?“ Mr. Murdock [sic!] said, „An iceberg.“ He said, „Close the emergency doors.“

Senator SMITH.
Who said that, the captain?

Mr. HICHENS.
Capt. Smith, sir, to Mr. Murdock [sic!]; „Close the emergency doors.“ Mr. Murdock [sic!] replied, „The doors are already closed.“ The captain sent then for the carpenter to sound the ship. He also came back to the wheelhouse and looked at the commutator in front of the compass, which is a little instrument like a clock to tell you how the ship is listing. The ship had a list of 5′ to the starboard.

Senator SMITH.
How long after the impact, or collision?

Mr. HICHENS.
I could hardly tell you, sir. Judging roughly, about 5 minutes; about 5 to 10 minutes. I stayed to the wheel, then, sir, until 23 minutes past 12. I do not know whether they put the clock back or not. The clock was to go back that night 47 minutes, 23 minutes in one watch and 24 in the other.

Senator SMITH.
Had the clock been set back up to the time you left the wheel?

Mr. HICHENS.
I do not know, sir. I did not notice it.

Senator SMITH.
When do you say you left the wheel, at 20 minutes after 12?

Mr. HICHENS.
I left the wheel at 23 minutes past 12, sir. I was relieved by Quartermaster Perkis. He relieved me at 23 minutes past 12. I think the first officer, or one of the officers said, „That will do with the wheel; get the boats out.“ I went out to get the boats out on the port side. I think I got in No. 6 boat, sir; put in charge of her by the second officer, Mr. Lightoller. We lowered away from the ship, sir, and were told to „Pull toward that light,“ which we started to do, to pull for that light. I had 38 women in the boat, sir, 1 seaman and myself, with 2 male passengers, 1 Italian boy and a Canadian major who testified here yesterday.

[…]

Senator SMITH.
(…)
I want you to tell the committee, if you can, why you put the ship to starboard, which I believe you said you did, just before the collision with the iceberg?

Mr. HICHENS.
I do not quite understand you, sir.

Senator SMITH.
You said that when you were first apprised of the iceberg, you did what?

Mr. HICHENS.
Put the helm to starboard, sir. That is the order I received from the sixth officer.

Senator SMITH.
What was the effect of that?

Mr. HICHENS.
The ship minding the helm as I put her to starboard.

Senator SMITH.
But suppose you had gone bows on against that object?

Mr. HICHENS.
I don’t know nothing about that. I am in the wheelhouse, and, of course, I couldn’t see nothing.

Senator SMITH.
You could not see where you were going?

Mr. HICHENS.
No, sir; I might as well be packed in ice. The only thing I could see was my compass.

Senator SMITH.
The officer gave you the necessary order?

Mr. HICHENS.
Gave me the order, „Hard a’starboard.“

Senator SMITH.
Hard a’starboard?

Mr. HICHENS.
Yes, sir.

Senator SMITH.
You carried it out immediately?

Mr. HICHENS.
Yes, sir; immediately, with the sixth officer behind my back, with the junior officer behind my back, to see whether I carried it out – one of the junior officers.

Senator SMITH.
Is that the only order you received before the collision, or impact?

Mr. HICHENS.
That is all, sir. Then the first officer told the other quartermaster standing by to take the time, and told one of the junior officers to make a note of that in the logbook. That was at 20 minutes of 12; sir.

British Inquiry, Day 3 (May 7th, 1912)

948. Had you had any instructions before she struck? Had you been told to do anything with your helm before she struck?
– Just as she struck I had the order „Hard-a-starboard“ when she struck.

949. Just as she struck, is that what you said?
– Not immediately as she struck; the ship was swinging. We had the order, „Hard-a-starboard,“ and she just swung about two points when she struck.

950. You got the order, „Hard-a-starboard“?
– Yes.

951. Had you time to get the helm hard a starboard before she struck?
– No, she was crashing then.

952. Did you begin to get the helm over?
– Yes, the helm was barely over when she struck. The ship had swung about two points.

953. She had swung two points?
– Yes.

954. (The Commissioner.) Do let me understand; had she swung two points before the crash came?
– Yes, my Lord.

955. (The Attorney-General.) I am not quite sure that I understand what you had done to the helm before this. You had got an order, „Hard-a-starboard“?
-„Hard-a-starboard,“ yes.

956. You proceeded at once to put the wheel hard-a-starboard?
– Immediately, yes.

957. Before the vessel struck had you had time to get the wheel right over?
– The wheel was over then, hard over.

958. (The Commissioner.) Before she struck?
– Oh yes, hard over before she struck.

The Attorney-General:
I rather understood him to say the opposite before. I do not think he understood.

The Commissioner:
Let me see if I understand it. Someone gave an order, „Hard-a-starboard“?

The Attorney-General:
Yes.

The Commissioner:
This was before she struck?

The Attorney-General:
Yes.

The Commissioner:
He put the wheel hard over?

The Attorney-General:
Yes; and got it hard over.

The Commissioner:
And got it hard over. The ship moved two points?

The Attorney-General:
That is right.

The Commissioner:
She did not move any more, because, as I understand, the crash came?

959. (The Attorney-General.) Exactly; that is the story. (To the Witness.) Who gave the order „hard-a-starboard“? – Mr. Murdoch, the First Officer.

960. When had he come on the bridge?
– He relieved Mr. Lightoller on the bridge at ten o’clock.

961. Did the Fourth and Sixth Officers, Mr. Boxhall and Mr. Moody, remain?
– Mr. Moody was standing behind me when the order was given.

962. And was Mr. Boxhall on the bridge?
– From what I am given to understand, Mr. Boxhall was approaching the bridge.

963. Was Captain Smith on the bridge?
– No, Sir.

964. Do you know where he was?
– Yes, Sir; in his room.

[…]

967. (The Commissioner.) Was the speed altered before the collision?
– Well, the crash came immediately.

968. I know it did. Had the speed been altered before?
– No, I could not say, my Lord, because I could not see the Officer on the bridge. I am in the wheelhouse. I cannot see anything only my compass.

969. (The Attorney-General.) I think we can get at it in this way. What was the first notice to you that there was something ahead?
– Three gongs from the crow’s-nest, Sir.

970. That you would hear in the wheelhouse, would you?
– Certainly.

971. And you knew what that meant?
– Certainly, Sir.

972. That meant something ahead?
– Yes.

973. How long was that before the order came „Hard-a-starboard“?
– Well, as near as I can tell you, about half a minute.

[…]

978. Then there is the telephone. What was the telephone message? Did you hear any?
– I did not hear the message, but I heard the reply.

979. What was the reply?
– „Thank you.“

980. Who gave it?
– Mr. Moody.

981. Then it means this, that Mr. Moody, the Sixth Officer, got a telephone message after the three bells had been struck?
– Immediately after.

982. You did not hear what was said to Mr. Moody, but you heard him acknowledge the message, and say „Thank you“?
– Yes. I heard Mr. Moody repeat, „Iceberg right ahead.“

983. To whom did he repeat that?
– To Mr. Murdoch, the First Officer.

984. „Iceberg right ahead“; is that what he said?
– Yes.

985. Repeating what he had heard from the telephone message?
– Yes.

986. And then what happened?
– I heard Mr. Murdoch rush to the telegraph and give the order, „Hard-a-starboard.“

987. When you say he rushed to the telegraph, is that the telegraph to the engine room you are speaking of?
– Yes.

988. The order, „Hard-a-starboard,“ was to you?
– Yes.

The Commissioner:
What order did he give to the engine room?

989. (The Attorney-General.) I do not think he knows. (To the Witness.) Do you know what order it was that was telegraphed down to the engine room?
– No.

990. I think your Lordship will hear that it was, „Stop: full speed astern.“ Now just for a minute give me your attention on the point of speed. You have told us according to the log that the speed was 45 knots in two hours?
– Yes.

991. Up to the time of hearing the three bells struck, was there any change of the speed at which the vessel was proceeding?
– No, none whatever.

992. And the order, if any, that was given with regard to the speed would be the order by telegraph to the engine room, which you have told us you do not know?
– I do not quite understand you.

993. You have told us what happened; first of all, the signal of the three bells, then the telephone message, then it was repeated to the First Officer, „Iceberg right ahead“; then the First Officer went to the telegraph to give an order to the engine room and gave you the order, „Hard-a-starboard“?
– Yes.

994. At any rate up to his going to the telegraph as I follow you, there was no change of speed? – No, Sir.

995. What that order was you do not know?
– No, Sir.

996. Then „Hard-a-starboard,“ and you immediately put up your helm?
– Hard-a-starboard.

997. Right over?
– Yes.

998. What is it, 35 degrees?
– Forty degrees.

999. Then you got the helm right over?
– Right over, Sir.

1000. Then she comes round two points and then strikes. Is that right?
– The vessel veered off two points; she went to the southward of west.

1001. And then struck? – Yes.

1002. Were there blinds in the wheelhouse?
– Yes.

1003. They were all closed?
– Always closed just after sunset.

1004. And no lights were in the wheelhouse at all except the compass light?
– And the small light.

1005. And the small light on the course board?
– Yes.

[…]

1015. (The Attorney-General.) It is only because you cannot fix the time except by seeing exactly what happened. That is the point of it. The estimate of time is of very little value, but if you can get what happened you can form an estimate. So that he had reported, and then it was after that that she strikes, is that right?
– She struck almost at the same time.

1016. Almost as he reported it?
– Yes.

[…]

1019. After she struck, did you notice at all what happened?
– No.

1020. Did you notice whether the ship had stopped?
– Oh, yes, the ship had stopped.

1021. Can you tell us how long it was after the collision that you noticed that the ship had stopped? – Immediately.

1022. While you were remaining at the wheel until 12.23, could you see what was going on on board the vessel?
– I could not see anything.

1023. You remained at your post?
– Yes.

1024. I suppose you heard something of what was going on?
– I heard a few words of command, that was all.

1025. Tell us what you heard in the way of command?
– Just about a minute, I suppose, after the collision, the Captain rushed out of his room and asked Mr. Murdoch what was that, and he said, „An iceberg, Sir,“ and he said, „Close the watertight door.“

The Commissioner:
Wait a minute. A minute after the collision, Captain Smith –

1026. (The Attorney-General.) Came out of his room on to the bridge do you mean?
– Yes, Sir; he passed through the wheelhouse on to the bridge.

1027. He rushed out of his room through the wheelhouse on to the bridge?
– Yes.

1028. And asked Murdoch, „What is that?“ – Yes.

1029. And Murdoch said, „An iceberg.“ Is that right?
– Yes.

1030. Mr. Murdoch said „An iceberg,“ and then?
– The Captain immediately gave him orders to close the watertight doors. He said, „They are already closed.“ He immediately then sent for the carpenter to sound the ship.

1039. Do you know whether the ship’s carpenter was sent for?
– I do not know; I only heard the order given.

1040. Did you hear any other order?
– No other order after that. That was the last order I heard with the exception of the boats.

1041. What was that you heard about the boats?
– I heard the Captain say „Get all the boats out and serve out the belts.“ That was after 12.

1042. I am rather anxious to get the time if I can?
– I could not barely tell you the time.

1043. That is enough – as near as you can; it was after 12?
– Yes, the Captain then looked at the commutator and he found that the ship was carrying a list to starboard.

1044. And were those all the orders you heard until you were relieved from the wheel?
– Yes.

1045. When the vessel struck, did you feel any shock?
– Yes. I felt the ship tremble, and I felt rather a grinding nature along the ship’s bottom.

1046. While you were in the wheelhouse you had the compass in front of you?
– Yes.

1047. Could you see ahead at all through the wheelhouse?
– I could not see anything.

1048. You would not be able to see the iceberg even if it had been quite clear. Is that what you mean?
– No, I could not see it, on no account whatever could I see it.

1049. You said that the Captain rushed out of his room through the wheelhouse to the bridge?
– Yes.

[…]

1314. You were given the order to hard-a-starboard?
– Yes.

1315. Was that the only order you had as to the helm?
– Yes.

Mr. Holmes:
Because, if your Lordship will remember, the evidence of the Witness Scarrott on Friday was quite the contrary, when he came up on deck.

The Commissioner:
What did he say?

Mr. Holmes:
He said that the ship appeared to be under a port helm, and appeared to be going around the iceberg towards the starboard side.

The Commissioner:
Did he say so?

The Attorney-General:
Yes, I think so.

1316. (Mr. Holmes.) It is Question 354. (To the Witness.) She never was under a port helm?
– She did not come on the port helm, Sir – on the starboard helm.