(Mr. Symons was sworn by Senator Perkins.)
Senator PERKINS.
Where is your home port?
Mr. SYMONS.
Weymouth.
Senator PERKINS.
Weymouth, England?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
Were you a sailor on the steamer Titanic that went down?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
How long have you followed the sea?
Mr. SYMONS.
Eight and a half years.
Senator PERKINS.
As a sailor man?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
Tell me, in a general way, what happened when the ship went down, and when she was struck?
Mr. SYMONS.
I was on the watch below at the time. I was asleep at the time the Titanic was struck.
Senator PERKINS.
It was your watch hour below?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir. I came on deck and I saw the ice, and then I dressed myself and waited.
Senator PERKINS.
Which watch were you in on the ship?
Mr. SYMONS.
I was on the lookout from the 8 to 10 watch. I came off at 10 o'clock.
Senator PERKINS.
Were you one of the six lookout men?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
After she struck the iceberg you were in the bunk below?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
Was there much vibration to the ship?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir; nothing to speak of, I thought. It was only a slight jar; a grinding noise.
Senator PERKINS.
You state that when you came on deck there was ice on the forecastle of the Titanic?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir; on the starboard side.
Senator PERKINS.
Was there any quantity of it?
Mr. SYMONS.
Not such a great quantity, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
You did not think any serious injury had occurred to the ship?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
After that, what did you do?
Mr. SYMONS.
I was ordered up to the boats by the boatswain.
Senator PERKINS.
You were ordered up to which boats?
Mr. SYMONS.
To the starboard boats. I went to No. 3 first. From there we unstripped the covers right down through.
Senator PERKINS.
Who had charge of the boat?
Mr. SYMONS.
No. 3?
Senator PERKINS.
Yes.
Mr. SYMONS.
I could not say.
Senator PERKINS.
Was it one of the quartermasters?
Mr. SYMONS.
I believe it was, sir. I would not say for certain. I do not know.
Senator PERKINS.
Did you stay by the boat and go in her?
Mr. SYMONS.
I stayed by the boats. I helped lower No. 3. From there I was sent down to No. 5.
Senator PERKINS.
How many were in the boat when she was lowered?
Mr. SYMONS.
I could not say for certain.
Senator PERKINS.
Approximately, how many? Were there 10 or 20?
Mr. SYMONS.
I should say, roughly, about 40, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
There were 40 in the boat when she was swinging in the davits?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir; when she was hanging in the davits.
Senator PERKINS.
Who handled the falls of the boat?
Mr. SYMONS.
I handled the forward fall. I could not say who handled the after fall.
Senator PERKINS.
How were those boats detached from your tackle? Did you have a patent hook on your boat?
Mr. SYMONS.
We had the patent levers; one in the bow and one in the stern.
Senator PERKINS.
Yes. Did they work simultaneously?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes; they worked together.
Senator PERKINS.
Were you in your boat?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir; I just helped lower it.
Senator PERKINS.
Then you went to what other boat?
Mr. SYMONS.
I was sent to No. 5, and assisted there. I cleared the fall.
Senator PERKINS.
Did you get in her?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
What boat did you go from the ship in?
Mr. SYMONS.
No. 1.
Senator PERKINS.
Who was in command of her?
Mr. SYMONS.
I was.
Senator PERKINS.
How many passengers did you have on her?
Mr. SYMONS.
From 14 to 20.
Senator PERKINS.
Were they passengers or crew?
Mr. SYMONS.
They were passengers. At first they put in seven of the crew. There were seven men ordered in; two seamen and five firemen. They were ordered in by Mr. Murdoch.
Senator PERKINS.
How many did they boat carry?
Mr. SYMONS.
I could not say for certain. It was one of the small accident boats.
Senator PERKINS.
After she got into the water, would she take any more?
Mr. SYMONS.
She would have taken more.
Senator PERKINS.
How many did you have, all told?
Mr. SYMONS.
I would not say for certain. It was 14 or 20. Then we were ordered away.
Senator PERKINS.
You did not return to the ship again?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes; we came back after the ship was gone, and we saw nothing.
Senator PERKINS.
Did you rescue anyone that was in the water?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir; we saw nothing when we came back.
Senator PERKINS.
Was there any confusion or excitement among the passengers?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir; nothing whatever. It was just the same as if it was an every-day affair.
Senator PERKINS.
Was there any rush to get into either one of these boats?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir; I never saw it. I never saw any rush whatsoever.
Senator PERKINS.
Did you hear any cries of people in the water?
Mr. SYMONS.
Oh, yes, sir; I heard the cries.
Senator PERKINS.
Did you say your boat could take more? Did you make any effort to get them?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes; we came back; but when we came back we did not see anybody nor hear anybody.
Senator PERKINS.
Then what did you do after that?
Mr. SYMONS.
After we rowed around, we rowed around and picked up with another boat, and both stuck together; one boat with a lot of people.
Senator PERKINS.
Did you pass a painter from one boat to another?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir; we went close to her. They did not want any assistance, as the women were pulling. I asked if they wanted any assistance, and they would not take it. They said they could pull through.
Senator PERKINS.
Your boat could have accommodated more?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
How many more, probably?
Mr. SYMONS.
I should say that she could have accommodated, easily, 10 more.
Senator PERKINS.
And you made no effort to fill her; and you were in charge of her?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir; I was. I was ordered away by Mr. Murdoch, the first officer. He ordered the boat to be lowered.
Senator PERKINS.
But you did not pull back to the ship again?
Mr. SYMONS.
Not until she went down, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
Then you went and pulled over to the ship. Where did you go after that?
Mr. SYMONS.
After she got down, I went around to one of the other boats, and found she never had a sailor in her, and I accompanied that boat.
Senator PERKINS.
How many sailormen did you have in your boat?
Mr. SYMONS.
Two.
Senator PERKINS.
And no others of the crew; no firemen or stewards?
Mr. SYMONS.
No stewards whatever, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
And no firemen or coal passers?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir; five firemen. They were put in by Mr. Murdoch.
Senator PERKINS.
Before she was lowered from the davits?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
When were you on the lookout?
Mr. SYMONS.
From 8 to 10, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
Did you discover any icebergs?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir; we had the order at 9.30 from Mr. Lightoller to keep a sharp lookout for ice, and we passed it on at 10 o'clock.
Senator PERKINS.
Were you in the crow's nest?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes.
Senator PERKINS.
It was a perfectly starlight night, and clear?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes; it was a very clear night.
Senator PERKINS.
How was the sea?
Mr. SYMONS.
It was calm, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
You went from the crow's nest, after you struck the iceberg, and went down and reported to Mr. Murdoch.
Mr. SYMONS.
When I came from the crow's nest I went to my bunk and turned in, because it was my watch below from 10 to 2.
Senator PERKINS.
Where were you when she struck the iceberg?
Mr. SYMONS.
I was asleep, sir.
Senator PERKINS.
You came on deck immediately?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes.
Senator PERKINS.
Then were you assigned to any particular boat?
Mr. SYMONS.
My name was put in for No. 1. I went into No. 1, and from there I went to the other boats.
Senator PERKINS.
After the lowering; when you had assisted in lowering the other boats?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes, sir; after I had assisted in lowering the other boats, then I was ordered in my own boat.
Senator PERKINS.
You say you made no attempt to save any other people after you were ordered to pull away from the ship by Mr. Murdoch?
Mr. SYMONS.
I pulled off, and then came back after the ship had gone down.
Senator PERKINS.
And then there were no people there?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir; I never saw any.
Senator PERKINS.
Is there any other incident that you wish to state that would be of interest to the public?
Mr. SYMONS.
No, sir; not that I know of.
Senator PERKINS.
I would rather you would make the statement without any particular questions. You say there was no confusion, no excitement?
Mr. SYMONS.
None whatever, sir; it was just the same as if it was an everyday occurrence.
Senator PERKINS.
Where was the captain at this time?
Mr. SYMONS.
The last I saw of him he was on the bridge, sir. That was just before I went away in boat No. 1.
Senator PERKINS.
Mr. Murdoch was the first officer?
Mr. SYMONS.
Yes; he was in charge of the lowering of the boat.
Senator PERKINS.
The captain was on the bridge?
Mr. SYMONS.
The last I saw of him; yes, sir.
(Witness Excused.)
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