British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry
Day 15
[Counsel Present]
WITNESSES.
Harold Thomas Cottam - Marconi Officer - ss "Carpathia."
Testimony - Biography
Frederick Fleet - Lookout - ss "Titanic."
Testimony - Biography
The Attorney-General:
I have been looking to see what this eyesight test was that has been spoken of. There is none obligatory on the men, but under the regulations relating to the examination of masters and mates in the marine under the Board of Trade. There is a Rule which says that any person serving or intending to serve in the mercantile marine, if desirous of undergoing an examination for form vision or colour vision must make application, and he pays a fee of one shilling, and then he can be examined and get a certificate. It is purely voluntary.
The Commissioner:
Is that what you were referring to?
Mr. Scanlan:
Yes, My Lord. I am informed that the Rule is not carried out.
The Attorney-General:
It is not obligatory; it has nothing whatever to do with the men, but it is a test imposed upon masters and mates, and there is a superintendent who applies a test for that purpose.
The Commissioner:
It seems to me very desirable that there should be some test for a look-out man.
Mr. Scanlan:
What I have been instructed to apply for is that such a test be made obligatory with regard to look-out men.
The Commissioner:
That will come at the proper time.
The Attorney-General:
You agree it is not obligatory at the present time, Mr. Scanlan?
Mr. Scanlan:
Yes.
WITNESSES.
George Alfred Hogg – Look-out - ss "Titanic."
Testimony - Biography
George Thomas Rowe - Quartermaster - ss "Titanic."
Testimony - Biography
The Commissioner:
How many more witnesses from the ship do you require.
The Attorney-General:
I think after this Witness is called there are three or four with reference to other boats which you have not yet had evidence about. It will necessarily be short in view of what you have said. It is merely to prove they were in the boat, and who were in it.
WITNESSES.
Samuel Hemming - Lamp-Trimmer - ss "Titanic."
Testimony - Biography
Wilfrid Seward - Second Class Pantry Steward - ss "Titanic."
Testimony - Biography
The Attorney-General:
That, My Lord, subject to evidence as to boats 8, 10, and 16, will be all the evidence of the Officers and crew on board the vessel. I propose, when we resume - we have not been able to get the witnesses here today - to call one man only from each of those three boats to identify the boats, and tell us how many passengers there were, and to subdivide them as far as we can in the way we have done. With that exception that will exhaust all the evidence with reference to the ship. I do not know whether your Lordship would find it convenient that we should adjourn now and not start a new matter.
The Commissioner:
Very well.
The Attorney-General:
I propose also, if it meets with your Lordship's approval, to let all the witnesses from the ship, that is all the crew who have been detained in this country, go, and go about their business. I do not propose to detain them any longer.
The Commissioner:
So far as I am concerned I do not want them kept. I do not know whether any of the gentlemen here desire any of them.
Sir Robert Finlay:
I think not, My Lord.
(Adjourned to Tuesday, 4th June, at 10.30 o'clock.)
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