(The Witness was sworn by Senator Burton.)
Senator BURTON.
What is your name?
Mr. ROWE.
George Thomas Rowe.
Senator BURTON.
How old are you?
Mr. ROWE.
Thirty-two.
Senator BURTON.
How long have you sailed?
Mr. ROWE.
In the merchant service 2 years;previous to that, 14 years in the Navy.
Senator BURTON.
Where were you the night ofthe collision?
Mr. ROWE.
I felt a slight jar and looked atmy watch. It was a fine night, and it was then 20 minutes to 12. I looked towardthe starboard side of the ship and saw a mass of ice. I then remained on the after bridge to await orders through the telephone. No orders came down, andI remained until 25 minutes after 12, when I saw a boat on the starboard beam.
Senator BURTON.
What was the number of theboat?
Mr. ROWE.
You could not tell the number. Itelephoned to the fore bridge to know if they knew there was a boat lowered.They replied, asking me if I was the third officer. I replied, "No; I amthe quartermaster." They told me to bring over detonators, which are usedin firing distress signals.
Senator BURTON.
What next happened?
Mr. ROWE.
I took them to the forebridge andturned them over to the fourth officer. I assisted the officer to fire them,and was firing the distress signals until about five and twenty minutes after1. At that time they were getting out the starboard collapsible boats. The chiefofficer, Wilde, wanted a sailor. I asked Capt. Smith if I should fire any more,and he said "No; get into that boat." I went to the boat. [Collapsible C] Women andchildren were being passed in. I assisted six, three women and three children.The order was then given to lower the boat. The chief officer wanted to knowif there were more women and children. There were none in the vicinity. Twogentlemen passengers got in; the boat was then lowered. When we reached thewater we steered for a light in sight, roughly 5 miles. We pulled through thenight, but seemed to get no nearer to the lights. So we altered our course backto a boat that was carrying a green light. During that time daylight broke andthe Carpathia was in sight.
Senator BURTON.
There was nothing special aboutyour getting on the Carpathia?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir. In the meantime I foundthat one of the two gentlemen was Mr. Ismay. I don't know who the other was.Thirty-nine in the boat, all told.
Senator BURTON.
You say there were 39 passengersin the boat?
Mr. ROWE.
Not all passengers, sir; 39 all told.
Senator BURTON.
How many of those were crewor sailors?
Mr. ROWE.
Myself was the only sailor, threefiremen, and one steward.
Senator BURTON.
You had no trouble in managingthe boat?
Mr. ROWE.
Not a bit.
Senator BURTON.
The passengers, aside fromyou sailors, were all women and children?
Mr. ROWE.
Except Mr. Ismay and another gentleman.When daylight broke, we found four men, Chinamen, I think they were, or Filipinos.
Senator BURTON.
Were those additional to the39?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
All the rest of the 39 werewomen and children, except two, Mr. Ismay and another gentleman?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
When day broke, you found fourChinamen or Filipinos under the seats?
Mr. ROWE.
Not under the seats then, sir. Theycame up between the seats. Ours was about the ninth boat which was unloadedupon the Carpathia. The night was very cold; but those who were in the boatwere very well wrapped up and did not suffer.
Senator BURTON.
Now, tell us the circumstancesunder which Mr. Ismay and that other gentleman got in the boat.
Mr. ROWE.
When Chief Officer Wilde asked ifthere was any more women and children there was no reply. So Mr. Ismay cameaboard the boat.
Senator BURTON.
Mr. Wilde asked were thereany more women and children. Can you say there were none?
Mr. ROWE.
I could not see; but there were noneforthcoming.
Senator BURTON.
You could see around thereon the deck, could you not?
Mr. ROWE.
I could see the fireman and stewardthat completed the boat's crew, but as regards any females I could not see any.
Senator BURTON.
Were there any men passengersbesides Mr. Ismay and the other man?
Mr. ROWE.
I did not see any, sir?
Senator BURTON.
Was it light enough so thatyou could see anyone near by?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
If I understand, there werefiremen and stokers around in that neighborhood?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
But no women and children?
Mr. ROWE.
No women or children, sir.
Senator BURTON.
And, so far as you could see,no other passengers except Mr. Ismay and this other gentleman?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes.
Senator BURTON.
Did you know Mr. Ismay at thetime?
Mr. ROWE.
I did know him, sir, because I hadseen the gentleman before.
Senator BURTON.
In going along on the water,did he give any directions?
Mr. ROWE.
I was in charge of the boat.
Senator BURTON.
You were in entire charge ofthe boat?
Mr. ROWE.
Absolute, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you see any ice when onthe watch?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir; only when we struck, whenwe passed it on the starboard side.
Senator BURTON.
About how high was that iceberg?
Mr. ROWE.
Roughly, 100 feet, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Was there anything distinctiveabout the color of that iceberg?
Mr. ROWE.
No a bit, sir; just like ordinaryice.
Senator BURTON.
You saw it as it was brushingby?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir. It was very close to theship, almost touching it.
Senator BURTON.
You do not know about how manycompartments were opened up?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir; because I never left theafterpart of this boat.
Senator BURTON.
Did you see Mr. Ismay and Mr.Carter get in the boat?
Mr. ROWE.
I saw the gentlemen get in; yes,sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you hear anyone ask themto get in?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
How were you occupied at thetime they got in?
Mr. ROWE.
I was occupied in attending the afterfall, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Were you watching Chief OfficerWilde?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you see him speak to them?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
If he had spoken to them wouldyou have known it?
Mr. ROWE.
I think so, because they got in theafterpart of the boat.
Senator BURTON.
And you were in the afterpartof the boat?
Mr. ROWE.
I was in the afterpart; yes.
Senator BURTON.
Was the helm over when youpassed the iceberg?
Mr. ROWE.
That I could not say.
Senator BURTON.
Did you hear any order to abandonthe ship, or anything like that?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you hear any general alarm?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you hear the sirens?
Mr. ROWE.
No sirens, sir; but there was anawful noise made by the escape of steam.
Senator BURTON.
Was that noise below or upat the escape pipe?
Mr. ROWE.
At the exhaust pipe.
Senator BURTON.
Were there any detonators orother signals kept aft?
Mr. ROWE.
The detonators, such as the distresssignal rockets, green lights, and blue lights.
Senator BURTON.
Were there any kept forward?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes; on the fore bridge.
Senator BURTON.
On the after bridge, too?
Mr. ROWE.
Not on the after bridge. There wasa private locker aft.
Senator BURTON.
Were you at any time on anyother deck aside from the top or bridge deck?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir; not after 8 o'clock.
Senator BURTON.
Was there any panic that yousaw?
Mr. ROWE.
Not a bit.
Senator BURTON.
Might not a number of personshave been on the lower decks?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir; undoubtedly.
Senator BURTON.
There were no staterooms onthe top deck, were there?
Mr. ROWE.
That I could not say.
Senator BURTON.
Did you hear any sign or hearany indication of an alarm to call the passengers?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Just where were you when yousaw the iceberg?
Mr. ROWE.
On the poop, sir; underneath theafter bridge.
Senator BURTON.
You were located practicallyright on the stern of the boat?
Mr. ROWE.
Right on the stern, sir; the poop.
Senator BURTON.
And the iceberg, when the boatrubbed against it, was right near, was it?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
How far, would you say?
Mr. ROWE.
It was so near that I thought itwas going to strike the bridge.
Senator BURTON.
Did it strike the bridge?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir: never.
Senator BURTON.
Only 10 or 20 feet away?
Mr. ROWE.
Not that far, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you notice the icebergwhen the boat got clear of it?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir; I went on the bridge then,to stand by the telephone.
Senator BURTON.
Could you hear the ice scrapingalong on the boat where you were?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
So you do not know whetherit was rubbing against the hull there or not?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
What is your best judgmentabout that?
Mr. ROWE.
I do not think it was.
Senator BURTON.
You are positive you heardno rubbing?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Do you not think that if thehelm had been hard astarboard the stern would have been up against the berg?
Mr. ROWE.
It stands to reason it would, sir,if the helm were hard astarboard.
Senator BURTON.
Were you able to form any judgmentas to how long that berg was?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
How near were you to the starboardside of the boat when you first noticed it rubbing?
Mr. ROWE.
About 8 or 10 feet. I went to theside.
Senator BURTON.
Did you go immediately to theside?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
What were your duties as quartermasteraft?
Mr. ROWE.
My duties were to attend the logand night signals by night, logging ensign by day, and to look out for any accidents,a man overboard or something like that.
Senator BURTON.
Were you also to keep trackof vessels that might be coming up on the side?
Mr. ROWE.
Oh, yes, sir; but that is very seldomthe case that anything like that happens.
Senator BURTON.
Were you reading the log thatnight?
Mr. ROWE.
As soon as the berg was gone I lookedat the log and it read 260 miles. The log was reset at noon. I had charge ofthe taffrail log, which was a Neptune log.
Senator BURTON.
You read the log each hour,did you not?
Mr. ROWE.
Every two hours. I read it at 10o'clock, but I do not remember what it was, now, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Do you remember what speedshe was making, or did you make any computation?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir. We read the log every twohours, and it is telephoned to the bridge and entered in the quartermaster'slog book. It is taken from there every watch and put into the ship's log.
Senator BURTON.
How soon after she struck wasit before she started to tilt or go down by the head? She did not list, didshe?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir; not at that time, I don'tthink.
Senator BURTON.
Did she at any time list overto starboard or port?
Mr. ROWE.
She did not list, so far as I know,until the time when my boat was lowered. Then she listed to port. She listedabout 5 or 6 degrees.
Senator BURTON.
To port?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
What side was your boat on?
Mr. ROWE.
The starboard side, sir. All thetime my boat was being lowered the rubbing strake kept on catching on the rivetsdown the ship's side, and it was as much as we could do to keep her off.
Senator BURTON.
What was the beam of your boat?
Mr. ROWE.
I could not say.
Senator BURTON.
Would it have more beam thana lifeboat?
Mr. ROWE.
It had more beam than what they callthe emergency boat.
Senator BURTON.
But not any more than a lifeboat?
Mr. ROWE.
No.
Senator BURTON.
You are sure you rubbed goingdown?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Was the Titanic down by thehead?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir. When we left the ship thefore-well deck was awash; that is, when we pushed off from the ship. It was1.25 when I left the bridge to get into the boat. When the boat was in the waterthe well deck was submerged. It took us a good five minutes to lower the boaton account of this rubbing going down.
Senator BURTON.
She must have sunk soon afteryou left?
Mr. ROWE.
Twenty minutes, I believe.
Senator BURTON.
Did any boats get away afteryours?
Mr. ROWE.
One boat got away after mine, onthe port side.
Senator BURTON.
How long did the rubbing orgrinding against the ice last?
Mr. ROWE.
I never heard anything except thefirst contact; the first jar was all I knew about it. I never heard any rubbingat all.
Senator BURTON.
Do you think the propellerhit the ice? Did you feel any jolt like the propeller hitting the ice?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Do you not think the propellerwould have hit the ice if the helm had been turned hard a starboard?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you hear any revolver shots?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you see the light of aboat, or anything of that kind?
Mr. ROWE.
I saw the light; that was the lightwe were pulling for when we left the ship.
Senator BURTON.
What do you conclude that lightwas?
Mr. ROWE.
A sailing ship.
Senator BURTON.
What sort of light was it?
Mr. ROWE.
A white light.
Senator BURTON.
Did you get any nearer to it?
Mr. ROWE.
We did not seem to get nearer toit.
Senator BURTON.
What did you conclude aboutit?
Mr. ROWE.
We kept on pulling for it, becauseit was the only stationary light.
Senator BURTON.
Do you think there was a sailingboat there?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
And was she going away fromyou?
Mr. ROWE.
Toward daylight the wind sprung upand she sort of hauled off from us.
Senator BURTON.
Did you see her?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you see any side lights?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir. I think there was a shipthere. Indeed, I am sure of it, and that she was a sailer.
Senator BURTON.
The light you saw was a whitelight?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
What did you judge it to be,a stern light?
Mr. ROWE.
I judged it to be a stern light:yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you see this light beforethe ship struck?
Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.
Senator BURTON.
What was its bearing with regardto the Titanic, forward or aft?
Mr. ROWE.
Right forward, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Dead ahead?
Mr. ROWE.
Not dead ahead, but just a littleon the port bow.
Senator BURTON.
That was before the ship struck?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir; because I was never on thebridge until after the ship struck.
Senator BURTON.
You did not see it when youwere aft?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
But you say you did see herbefore ever the ship stuck?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
You did not mean to say yousaw here before the ship stuck?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
When did you first see her?
Mr. ROWE.
When I was on the bridge firing therockets. I saw it myself, and I worked the Morse lamp at the port side of theship to draw her attention.
Senator BURTON.
Do you know whether the watertightdoors were closed or not?
Mr. ROWE.
I could not say.
Senator BURTON.
Did you hear any signal forthe doors to close?
Mr. ROWE.
No.
Senator BURTON.
You had a signal on the shipto ring bells before the doors closed, did you not?
Mr. ROWE.
I could not hear that on the poop.
Senator BURTON.
You could not hear the threegongs for "dead ahead" on the poop, could you?
Mr. ROWE.
No.
Senator BURTON.
Do you know whether any ofthe men were sent down below to see whether any of the doors were closed ornot?
Mr. ROWE.
I could not say.
Senator BURTON.
You would not have known ofthat, really, anyway, would you?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Was there any steam comingup through any of the hatches or ventilators?
Mr. ROWE.
No, sir. The only steam I saw wascoming out of exhaust pipes.
Senator BURTON.
Did you hear any explosions?
Mr. ROWE.
I heard one, sir, after we left theship. It was not an explosion; a sort of a rumbling.
Senator BURTON.
What do you think it was?
Mr. ROWE.
I have no idea what it was.
Senator BURTON.
Do you think it was boilersexploding?
Mr. ROWE.
It was not an ordinary explosion,you understand; more like distant thunder.
Senator BURTON.
Was that before or after theship sank?
Mr. ROWE.
Before she sank, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Were there more than one ofthose explosions?
Mr. ROWE.
I only heard the one, sir.
Senator BURTON.
How far from the ship wereyou when she went down?
Mr. ROWE.
About three-quarters of a mile, sir.
Senator BURTON.
Did you see her go down?
Mr. ROWE.
I saw her stern disappear at thefinish, sir.
Senator BURTON.
It was while she was still floating that you heard the explosions?
Mr. ROWE.
Heard this rumbling sound, sir.
Senator BURTON.
You are quite sure of that, are you?
Mr. ROWE.
Positive, sir.
G. T. ROWE
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30th day of April, A. D. 1912.
[SEAL.]
E. L. CORNELIUS
Notary.
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