United States Senate Inquiry

Day 7

Testimony of George A. Hogg

(Mr. Hogg was sworn by Senator Perkins.)

Senator PERKINS.
Where is your home port?

Mr. HOGG.
Hull, near Yorkshire.

Senator PERKINS.
How long have you followed the sea?

Mr. HOGG.
About 13 years, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
In what capacity?

Mr. HOGG.
As a sailorman.

Senator PERKINS.
Have you ever been quartermaster or boatswain?

Mr. HOGG.
I have been quartermaster in six boats. I was mate on the White Star Line; lookout man, boatswain's mate.

Senator PERKINS.
Were you on the ship's articles as the lookout man in this case?

Mr. HOGG.
Yes, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
What watch were you on?

Mr. HOGG.
My watch was from 12 to 2, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
Were you in the crow's nest when the vessel struck the iceberg?

Mr. HOGG.
No, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
What time did she strike this iceberg?

Mr. HOGG.
I woke up about 20 minutes to 12.

Senator PERKINS.
Were you in your bunk at that time?

Mr. HOGG.
Yes, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
Did you turn out?

Mr. HOGG.
I turned out, with the confusion in the forecastle.

Senator PERKINS.
What boat were you assigned to?

Mr. HOGG.
No. 6 was my boat.

Senator PERKINS.
By the way, I will ask you this first: After leaving Southampton you were divided into watch and watch; and then the detail of the lookouts was also made, was it not?

Mr. HOGG.
I signed on the ship as a lookout man.

Senator PERKINS.
You did?

Mr. HOGG.
Yes, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
You received £5 a month and 10 shillings extra?

Mr. HOGG.
Five pounds a month and 5 shillings extra, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
And 5 shillings extra, for a lookout man?

Mr. HOGG.
Yes, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
Tell us, in your own way, what happened next, after the ship collided with the iceberg.

Mr. HOGG.
I waked up, at 20 minutes to 12, with the confusion in the forecastle. I rushed up on the deck, and I saw there was not much confusion on deck, and I went below again, with some of my shipmates.

I asked the time, then, of my mate Evans, and he said, "It is a quarter to 12. We will get dressed and get ready to go on the lookout."

Senator PERKINS.
Go on and tell us, in your own way, just what happened.

Mr. HOGG.
Very good, sir. I have started it, right now.

I dressed myself, and we relieved the lookout at 12 o'clock, me and my mate Evans.

We stopped about 20 minutes, and lifted up the back cover of the nest, the weather cover, and I saw people running about with lifebelts on.

I went to the telephone then, to try to ring up on the bridge and ask whether I was wanted in the nest, when I saw this. I could get no answer on the telephone. Also my mate --

Senator PERKINS.
Who was your shipmate?

Mr. HOGG.
My shipmate was a man by the name of Evans, sir. He has gone home.

Senator PERKINS.
Go ahead; continue to tell your story, as to what boat you went to, and what happened.

Mr. HOGG.
Yes, sir.

I went straight to the boat deck. I assisted in starting to uncover the boats. Then I was sent for a Jacob's ladder.

Senator PERKINS.
You have not said to what particular boat you were assigned?

Mr. HOGG.
No. 6 was my proper boat; what I signed for.

Senator PERKINS.
As to this Jacob's ladder: Did you put it over the side and go down that?

Mr. HOGG.
No, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
Who sent you for the Jacob's ladder?

Mr. HOGG.
The boatswain. I was told to drop it. As I got past the No. 7 boat on the starboard side, Mr. Murdoch, chief officer, said: "See that those plugs are in that boat." I put the plugs in, and I said: "The plugs are all correct," and I jumped out again.

Senator PERKINS.
Who lowered away at the falls?

Mr. HOGG.
I jumped out to assist with the falls; and he said: "You step in that boat." I said, "Very good, sir." Mr. Murdoch lowered one end, and I am trying to think of the man that lowered the other end. Evans lowered the other end.

Senator PERKINS.
How many people were in this other boat at this time, when it was hanging in the davits?

Mr. HOGG.
As soon as I unhooked her, I mustered her people to see how many I had. I must have had 42.

Senator PERKINS.
While she was hanging in the davits?

Mr. HOGG.
No, sir; when I shoved away.

Senator PERKINS.
When you shoved her from the ship's side?

Mr. HOGG.
Yes, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
This was on the port side?

Mr. HOGG.
On the starboard side, sir. I asked a lady if she could steer, and she said she could. I said: "You may sit here and do this for me, and I will take the stroke oar."

I pulled a little way from the ship, about a quarter of a mile, I should think, sir. I went alongside another boat - I can not think of the number of the boat now, sir - and they transferred some of the passengers to my boat.

Senator PERKINS.
You had how many, all told, then?

Mr. HOGG.
I think they transferred four ladies and a baby and one gentleman - I think it was - as I wanted an extra gentleman for oar pulling.

Senator PERKINS.
That made, all told, how many?

Mr. HOGG.
About 47, and the ladies objected to having those men.

Senator PERKINS.
This was one of the lifeboats, was it?

Mr. HOGG.
It was one of the big ones; yes.

Senator PERKINS.
She is measured to carry 65 people, is she not?

Mr. HOGG.
I could not answer that, sir. I did not know at the time what they were capable of carrying.

Senator PERKINS.
She rode the sea cleverly? It was smooth, though.

Mr. HOGG.
It was very, very smooth, sir. The sea was very smooth.

Senator PERKINS.
Of your own judgment as a sailor man, would you have permitted any more people to get into the boat if they had been alongside of you?

Mr. HOGG.
Yes, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
You were ordered to pull away from the ship?

Mr. HOGG.
Yes, sir; I was ordered to pull away from the ship for safety, for the time being. One lady said I should not take any more in that boat. I said: "I will take all I can get."

Senator PERKINS.
Go on with your story. Tell us the balance of that.

Mr. HOGG.
I stopped alongside those two. As soon as she went down, I went to try to assist them in picking up anybody if I could.

I met another boat on my way, and they said to pull away. They said: "We have done all in our power and we can not do any more." I can not remember the number of the boat or who the man was who spoke to me. I laid off, then, until I saw the lights of the Carpathia.

Senator PERKINS.
But you pulled around in search of other people?

Mr. HOGG.
I pulled around in search of other people before I could pull to the wreck. One man said: "We have done our best. There are no more people around. We have pulled all around." I said: "Very good. We will get away now."

Senator PERKINS.
And you were then within about half a mile of the Titanic?

Mr. HOGG.
About that, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
From what quarter was the wind drawing then?

Mr. HOGG.
I did not exactly take notice, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
Was it cold?

Mr. HOGG.
It was bitter cold.

Senator PERKINS.
There was quite a ripple on the water?

Mr. HOGG.
Not a ripple on the water, sir. It was as smooth as glass.

Senator PERKINS.
After that, what did you do?

Mr. HOGG.
I saw the lights of the Carpathia. I said: "It is all right, now, ladies. Do not grieve. We are picked up. Now, gentlemen, see what you can do in pulling these oars for this light." It was practically daylight then. Then the passengers could see for themselves that there was a ship there. I pulled up and went alongside, and I assisted in putting a bowline around all the ladies, to haul them up aboard. After I saw all aboard the boat, me and my friend went aboard, and I put some blankets around myself and went to sleep.

Senator PERKINS.
After this accident happened, you pulled away, and did all you could to save life?

Mr. HOGG.
I thought of suction, first.

Senator PERKINS.
Yes. I understand that you did not think the ship was mortally hurt?

Mr. HOGG.
I did not think so at the time, sir, or I should not have remained in the position I was in.

Senator PERKINS.
Did you see the Titanic disappear?

Mr. HOGG.
Yes, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
What was her position when she went down?

Mr. HOGG.
She seemed to go down by the head, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
At an angle of how many degrees?

Mr. HOGG.
Oh, her stern was well up in the air as she went down.

Senator PERKINS.
You are a sailor man of a great deal of experience. In your opinion was everything done that could have been done to save life and property for the officers and men on that ship?

Mr. HOGG.
Everything was done, as far as I can see, sir. Everybody did their best, ladies and gentlemen and sailormen.

Senator PERKINS.
Was there any other incident that you can think of that would be of interest to the public?

Mr. HOGG.
No, sir.

(Witness Excused.)