Senator BURTON.
Mr. Fleet, while you were acting as lookout man were your eyes examined?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
How frequently?
Mr. FLEET.
We are supposed to have them examined every year, or every two years.
Senator BURTON.
How long before you sailed on the Titanic were yours examined?
Mr. FLEET.
About a year ago.
Senator BURTON.
What was the nature of the test?
Mr. FLEET.
As to color, and looking at a distance.
Senator BURTON.
That is, you would look at some point on or near the sea, and your eyes were tested to see how you could descry objects on the sea?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
What color can you distinguish most easily, green, red, or white?
Mr. FLEET.
The whole lot, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Equally well?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
That is, red -
Mr. FLEET. (interrupting)
Green -
Senator BURTON.
Green as readily as white?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
You say you had had glasses until this trip?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
On every trip on any boat of the White Star Line?
Mr. FLEET.
It is only the Oceanic I have been lookout on.
Senator BURTON.
Did you have the same glasses for night and for day?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
And the glasses that are useful for day are also useful for night?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Equally useful?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
When you use the glasses you look straight ahead only, at a part of the course before you, do you not?
Mr. FLEET.
We look all over the horizon.
Senator BURTON.
That is, you look around in every direction?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
And until this trip you had the use of glasses?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
You were not using them on this trip. Who conducted these tests as to your eyesight?
Mr. FLEET.
What do you mean, Senator?
Senator BURTON.
When you were examined as to your eyes, as to what you could see who examined you?
Mr. FLEET.
The Board of Trade.
Senator BURTON.
An officer of the Board of Trade?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Were there any examinations by the officers of the ship?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir; they just asked us if we had eyesight tests.
Senator BURTON.
You saw some light on the horizon that night?
Mr. FLEET.
Not on the lookout, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Not on the lookout?
Mr. FLEET.
The only thing we saw was the iceberg. We had no light on that watch.
Senator BURTON.
You did not see this light of which mention has been made until you got into the lifeboat?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
What was it?
Mr. FLEET.
A bright light on the port bow, sir.
Senator BURTON.
On the port bow?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes.
Senator BURTON.
Was it moving, or was it stationary?
Mr. FLEET.
It did not seem to be moving at all.
Senator BURTON.
Are you sure it was a light?
Mr. FLEET.
It was a light, all right, because Mr. Lightoller, when I got into the boat made us pull straight for it.
Senator BURTON.
What did you think it was?
Mr. FLEET.
It might have been a fisher sail, or something; it was only just one bright light. I could not say what it was.
Senator BURTON.
You were in the boat with Mr. Hichens and this gentleman who was on the stand yesterday?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Mr. Hichens thought it was a light on a boat, did he?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes. Mr. Lightoller made us pull toward it. He seen at as well as us.
Senator BURTON.
You saw it before you got off the Titanic?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
What became of that light?
Mr. FLEET.
We did not know. We pulled for it, but we did not seem to get any nearer to it.
Senator BURTON.
Did it finally disappear?
Mr. FLEET.
No. Well, it disappeared by daybreak.
Senator BURTON.
That is all on that?
You did not get any nearer to it? It was not any more visible; that is, any plainer to you; you could not see it any more plainly?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir; you could just see the light.
Senator BURTON.
You say when you first saw that iceberg that it was about the size of these two tables, apparently? That is the way it looked to you?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Was it a mile away, or how far away was it?
Mr. FLEET.
I can not say.
Senator BURTON.
Can you not give any estimate?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Was it half a mile away?
Mr. FLEET.
I can not say. It was impossible to tell.
Senator BURTON.
Was it as far away as the boat's length?
Mr. FLEET.
I could not say.
Senator BURTON.
Can you not say anything about it?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Immediately when you saw it, you sounded the three gongs, did you?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes.
Senator BURTON.
Did you, then, immediately after that, pick up the telephone?
Mr. FLEET.
I went up to the telephone as soon as ever I struck three bells.
Senator BURTON.
And telephoned to the bridge?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
And you got an answer immediately, did you?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you notice how quickly they turned the course of the boat after you sounded the gongs?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir; they did not do it until I went to the telephone. While I was at the telephone the ship started to move.
Senator BURTON.
You saw this, then, before or just after seven bells?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Was it just before or just after?
Mr. FLEET.
I do not think we struck seven bells. I believe it was just after seven bells.
Senator BURTON.
You said you did not believe that they struck seven bells, and then you said it was just after.
Mr. FLEET.
It may have been just after. We never, generally, ring bells up in the crow's nest every half hour; we generally miss it.
Senator BURTON.
Then it was just after half-past 11 o'clock that you saw it?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you send another message to the bridge after that?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Could they have heard you on the bridge if you had cried out?
Mr. FLEET.
I dare say they could.
Senator BURTON.
How soon after you telephoned to the bridge did you strike the berg?
Mr. FLEET.
I do not know.
Senator BURTON.
Was it one minute or two?
Mr. FLEET.
I could not tell you.
Senator BURTON.
What did you do in the meanwhile?
Mr. FLEET.
We just kept a lookout.
Senator BURTON.
You came nearer and nearer to it?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you notice that the boat was bearing out to the left from the berg, or was it going right ahead toward it?
Mr. FLEET.
It was going right ahead, as far we knew; but when I was at the phone it was going to port.
Senator BURTON.
You could see that, yourself?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir; after I got up from the phone.
Senator BURTON.
You say it struck the port bow, 50 feet from the bow?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
And it was not up as far as the crow's nest, where you were?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
It was about 50 or 60 feet high?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes.
Senator BURTON.
That is right?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
It was about 50 or 60 feet high?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes.
Senator BURTON.
Did the pieces of ice come over into the crow's nest, where you were?
Mr. FLEET.
Oh, no; just on the forecastle head, on the well deck.
Senator BURTON.
I think that is all I care to ask him, Mr. Chairman.
Senator SMITH.
Senator Newlands, do you wish to ask the witness any questions?
Senator BURTON.
I shall ask to be excused for awhile.
Senator SMITH.
For how long, Senator?
Senator BURTON.
Probably during the morning period.
Senator NEWLANDS.
I shall ask to be excused, also.
Senator SMITH.
Do you care to ask any questions first?
Senator NEWLANDS.
Not just at this time.
Senator BURTON.
There is one question that I would like to ask this man in addition to what I have already asked him: When you use the glasses or have the glasses to use, what part of the time do you have the glasses to your eyes and what part of the time do you depend on your naked eyesight?
Mr. FLEET.
I do not know what you mean, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Suppose you had those glasses; would you have them to your eyes most of the time, using them?
Mr. FLEET.
No; no.
Senator BURTON.
What part of the time?
Mr. FLEET.
If we fancied we saw anything on the horizon, then we would have the glasses to make sure.
Senator BURTON.
That is, if you saw anything on the horizon with the naked eye? You understand what I mean by that, do you not?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
That is, you would use the glasses -
Mr. FLEET.
You would use the glasses to make sure, before you reported.
Senator BURTON.
Then you depend on your eyesight to see; before you use the glasses?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes.
Senator BURTON.
And if you have any doubt about it you use the glasses, then?
Mr. FLEET.
That is it.
Senator BURTON.
That is all I have to ask, Mr. Chairman.
Senator SMITH.
Senator Fletcher, do you wish to interrogate the witness?
Senator FLETCHER.
You say that you were told by the men that you relieved on the lookout, to watch out for small ice?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
Was that the language, "small ice?"
Mr. FLEET.
"Small ice" yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
What did that mean to you?
Mr. FLEET.
Growlers - what they call growlers; just this low lying ice.
Senator SMITH.
You understood that to mean floating ice that was not dangerous, as well as growlers and icebergs?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
What do seven bells indicate?
Mr. FLEET.
What do seven bells indicate?
Senator FLETCHER.
Yes.
Mr. FLEET.
Half-past 11.
Senator FLETCHER.
It was, then, just about that time when you gave the warning of the iceberg ahead?
Mr. FLEET.
Just a little after that.
Senator FLETCHER.
What does three bells mean?
Mr. FLEET.
Three bells?
Senator FLETCHER.
Yes.
Mr. FLEET.
It is all according to the time we are up on the lookout.
Senator FLETCHER.
You say that you gave three bells.
Mr. FLEET.
Oh, three bells: That means a vessel, or whatever it is, right ahead. It indicates anything right ahead; any object.
Senator FLETCHER.
It indicates that there is some object right ahead? Is it a warning to people on the bridge that there is danger ahead?
Mr. FLEET.
No; not always; just to let them know that there is some object ahead.
Senator FLETCHER.
Yes. When you gave the three bells did you immediately turn to the telephone?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
How long were you at the telephone?
Mr. FLEET.
I suppose half a minute.
Senator FLETCHER.
When you turned from the telephone and observed the course of the ship, you saw she had turned to port?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did she turn immediately and suddenly, or gradually, to port?
Mr. FLEET.
Just started to go as I looked up.
Senator FLETCHER.
Just started to go to port?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
To what extent did she change her course from the direct line?
Mr. FLEET.
You mean how far did she go?
Senator FLETCHER.
Yes.
Mr. FLEET.
A little over a point, or two points.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did she seem to respond readily to the wheel?
Mr. FLEET.
Well, we do not know that. We only know she went.
Senator FLETCHER.
You could see she was going?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
And did she continue to bear to port?
Mr. FLEET.
Until the iceberg was alongside of her.
Senator FLETCHER.
Could you tell whether or not the iceberg was moving; and if so, to what extent?
Mr. FLEET.
I could not say.
Senator FLETCHER.
You could not say?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
It was the submerged portion of the iceberg that did the damage to the ship, was it not?
Mr. FLEET.
I suppose so.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did the ship strike the portion above the water?
Mr. FLEET.
I could not say. I know when we got up to it, it struck our bow - a little of our bow.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did it strike the bow or just back of the bow?
Mr. FLEET.
Just about in front of the foremast.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did it tilt the ship to any extent?
Mr. FLEET.
She listed to port right afterwards.
Senator FLETCHER.
To what extent?
Mr. FLEET.
I could not say; a slight list.
Senator FLETCHER.
Just immediately on striking the berg?
Mr. FLEET.
Just afterwards.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did it seem that the blow came beneath the surface of the water and caused her to shift?
Mr. FLEET.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
You say the berg was some 50 feet above the surface, some 50 feet in height. Did you get an idea of the dimensions of that berg, as to its length and width?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
Even when you hit against it?
Mr. FLEET.
No, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
Why not?
Mr. FLEET.
I am not a good judge of distance; I could not say.
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