Senator SMITH.
Evans, I think you told me you had served nine years in the Royal Navy?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Where were you in the lifeboat -
Mr. EVANS. (interrupting)
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
One moment, now. Where were you in the lifeboat when lifeboat No. 14, in charge of Officer Lowe, was tied up to your boat?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir; he was not tied up to us. He came over to us.
Senator SMITH.
Where were you when he came over to you?
Mr. EVANS.
In the bow of No. 10 boat.
Senator SMITH.
You got out of No. 10 boat and got into No. 14 boat with Officer Lowe?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; by his orders, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You said you heard Officer Lowe fire four shots from a revolver?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Where were you at that time?
Mr. EVANS.
Going to the assistance of the collapsible boat that was swamped.
Senator SMITH.
On the way from the place where you joined Officer Lowe, in boat 14, to the collapsible boat that was being swamped and filled with passengers, men and women -
Mr. EVANS. (interrupting)
One woman, sir. [Rhoda Abbott]
Senator SMITH.
They were up to their ankles in water?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; the boat was swamped within about 5 or 6 inches of the gunwale, the top of the boat, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You heard Officer Lowe and saw him fire his revolver several times?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
In what direction did he point the revolver?
Mr. EVANS.
In the air, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you ask him why he fired?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did he tell you why he fired?
Mr. EVANS.
He told people in this boat it was to warn them not to rush our boat when we got alongside.
Senator SMITH.
How many people did you have in your boat, No. 14, with Lowe?
Mr. EVANS.
We had one dead and three alive, that we picked up off the wreckage. This man died on the way from the wreckage, sir.
Senator SMITH.
This man was a large man? [William Hoyt]
Mr. EVANS.
A very stout man, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know his name?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Was it Mr. Hoyt?
Mr. EVANS.
I could not say; I do not know his name.
Senator SMITH.
Did you unfasten his collar?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir; some of the stewards did, sir.
Senator SMITH.
In the end of your boat?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
In order that he might breathe?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; in order that he might breathe.
Senator SMITH.
Were those all the persons in lifeboat No. 14 at that moment?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; besides the crew.
Senator SMITH.
And of how many did the crew consist?
Mr. EVANS.
I should say about eight or nine, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Then, in your boat at that time was a crew of eight or nine, which included yourself?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Including Officer Lowe?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir
Senator SMITH.
This Mr. Hoyt, whom you picked up out of the water alive, was there?
Mr. EVANS.
He was alive when we got him over the side of the boat, into the boat.
Senator SMITH.
You picked him up out of the water alive?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And two other persons?
Mr. EVANS.
Three others, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Who were these three other persons?
Mr. EVANS.
I did not recognize two of them, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you recognize one?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; the steward, young Stewart.
Senator SMITH.
Were the others stewards?
Mr. EVANS.
I could not say, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Or firemen?
Mr. EVANS.
I could not say, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Or stokers?
Mr. EVANS.
I could not say, sir, which. I did not know them, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You do not know whether they were part of the crew or not?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How far was this swamped collapsible lifeboat from lifeboat No. 14 when you started to it?
Mr. EVANS.
About a mile and a half, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How near were you to the swamped boat when Lowe fired those shots?
Mr. EVANS.
About 150 yards, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Going toward it?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; about 150 yards, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did he say anything at the time he did it?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir; he just mentioned the fact that they must not rush the boat, as it was liable to capsize her.
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear Lowe fire three shots when he was lowering from the ship's deck to the water in his lifeboat?
Mr. EVANS.
I never seen him, sir, when his boat was being lowered, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did your lifeboat pick up the lamp trimmer?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
At the time Lowe fired these shots were there many floating bodies about your boat?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir; no floating bodies, sir. We had come away from them.
Senator SMITH.
You had come away from them?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir. They were around the wreck.
Senator SMITH.
How many?
Mr. EVANS.
I should think between 150 and 200. We had great difficulty in getting through them to get to the wreck.
Senator SMITH.
The collapsible boat, according to this evidence, was from the Titanic and had been in the water from about 12 o'clock, or half-past 12, that night, until daylight?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; it was daylight when we seen it, sir.
Senator SMITH.
At daylight this man saw about 20 people standing upon what he supposed to be floating ice, and in company with Officer Lowe, in lifeboat No. 14, went in that direction .When they got within 150 yards of it Officer Lowe fired these shots. They went up to the boat and took therefrom about 25 passengers?
Mr. EVANS.
Between 20 and 25. We left 3 dead ones.
Senator SMITH.
About 25 passengers living, including one woman, and you left 3 dead bodies in the swamped boat. While you were standing beside your boat, which was, I believe, No. 12, on the port side, with Officer Murdoch, you saw him load that lifeboat?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes; sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did I understand you correctly last night when you told me that the lifeboat was about 2 1/2 to 3 feet from the ship's side?
Mr. EVANS.
That was No. 10 lifeboat, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And that women hesitated to get into it at the command of Mr. Murdoch, because they could not reach it safely?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
That one woman, in attempting to jump into it, had gone over the side?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; and her foot caught on the rail, and she was suspended in the air.
Senator SMITH.
And little children were thrown into it?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Were pitched into it?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes. They had them in their arms, chucking them in.
Senator BOURNE.
They were chucked in?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And No.10 was not filled, was it?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; full to its capacity. [Boat 10 was actually launched with about half it's capacity - 30 to 32 people.]
Senator SMITH.
But you had some difficulty about getting the people to get in in that way?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Who caught the children as they were thrown into the boat?
Mr. EVANS.
The first child was passed over, sir, and I caught it by the dress. It was dangling. I had to swing it, and a woman caught it. The remainder of the children - there was a fireman there and with the assistance of a young woman they caught the children as they were dropped into the boat. There were none of the children hurt. That was the only accident, with this woman. She seemed a bit nervous. She did not like to jump, at first, and then when she did jump she did not go far enough, and the consequence was she went between the ship and the boat.
Senator BOURNE.
She fell into the water?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir; she did not fall into the water. Her foot caught on the rail on the next deck and she was pulled in by some men underneath. This woman went up again on the boat deck and took another jump and landed safely in the boat.
Senator BOURNE.
Do you know who she was?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir; I do not know her name.
Senator FLETCHER.
Which was the last lifeboat to leave the ship?
Mr. EVANS.
The last lifeboat was No. 10. That was the last boat to leave the ship, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
Edward John Buley was on that boat - an able seaman?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; my mate.
Senator FLETCHER.
You were both ordered into the boat?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes; by Chief Officer Murdoch.
Senator FLETCHER.
How many men were in that boat?
Mr. EVANS.
There were me, and Buley, a fireman, a steward, and one foreigner. The reminder was all women and children.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did you have enough men in to row it, to take care of it?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
Were the men all ordered in?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; they were ordered in by Chief Officer Murdoch.
Senator FLETCHER.
Which was the next boat to this one to leave the ship?
Mr. EVANS.
I could not tell you, sir. I went away in No. 10, and that was the last boat. That was a big lifeboat.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did you help to load No. 12 and No. 14?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir. I was on the starboard side, then.
Senator FLETCHER.
The boat that preceded No. 10 was what number?
Mr. EVANS.
I could not tell you, sir. No. 10 was the last boat, the big boat.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did you see the Titanic after you rowed away from where she was?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
How far did you go away?
Mr. EVANS.
About 200 yards.
Senator FLETCHER.
How much of the bow was under the water when you left?
Mr. EVANS.
She was about 10 feet from the port bow light, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
How far did your boat have to go to get to the water?
Mr. EVANS.
It would be guesswork if I told you.
Senator FLETCHER.
As near as you can tell.
Mr. EVANS.
I should say about 50 feet. I could not tell. I was paying so much attention -
Senator SMITH.
Could you see the boat well after you pulled away from her?
Mr. EVANS.
You could see her when the lights were clear, and then until she gave the final plunge.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did the boat go to pieces or come in two?
Mr. EVANS.
She parted between the third and fourth funnels.
Senator FLETCHER.
What makes you say that?
Mr. EVANS.
The foremost part was gone, and it seemed as if the engines were all gone out.
Senator FLETCHER.
You could see the forepart was all gone and you could see the stern come up horizontally?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
After the forepart had disappeared the stern came up and was horizontal with the surface of the water?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
And how much of the stern; up to what part of the ship; to the funnels?
Mr. EVANS.
From the after funnel to the ensign mast.
Senator FLETCHER.
About how much of the ship was afloat then, after the forepart had gone down?
Mr. EVANS.
I should say about 200 feet was afloat; that is, of the stern part.
Senator FLETCHER.
Could you see that clearly in the outline?
Mr. EVANS.
You could see that in the outline. Then she made a sudden plunge, and the stern went right up.
Senator FLETCHER.
Then she plunged forward and went right down?
Mr. EVANS.
Plunged forward, perpendicular, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
How long was the stern afloat in that horizontal position?
Mr. EVANS.
About four or five minutes, I should judge.
Senator FLETCHER.
You were too far away to see whether there were any passengers on the stern?
Mr. EVANS.
Yes, sir; I was too far away to see that.
Senator FLETCHER.
Was there any light in this boat, No. 10?
Mr. EVANS.
No, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
No lantern?
Mr. EVANS.
No lantern at all.
Senator FLETCHER.
Was there any in No. 12, do you know?
Mr. EVANS.
I could not say about No. 12.
Senator FLETCHER.
Were there any other supplies in No. 10?
Mr. EVANS.
In No. 10, yes, sir; there was in the tank forward, and the aft one was loaded with biscuits and kegs of water, with a small drinking cup.
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}