British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry
Day 26
[Counsel Present]
WITNESS.
Alexander Boyle - Engineer Surveyor in Chief - Board of Trade.
Testimony
The Commissioner:
Have you considered, or has anybody considered, the desirability of contrivances for the application of compressed air to a breach of the ship's side?
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
No, My Lord, that has not been considered by any of us.
The Commissioner:
I wish you would think about it.
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
Yes, certainly, My Lord, it will receive consideration.
The Commissioner:
It is a suggestion that I make. You may think there is nothing in it, but just think about it.
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
Yes, My Lord. Would your Lordship develop it a little?
The Commissioner:
Salvage.
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
I thought that was what your Lordship had in your mind.
The Commissioner:
Yes.
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
Putting a pad, as it were.
The Commissioner:
Yes, I will tell you what the suggestion is - making the deck above the leak watertight and then working compressed air into the place where the water is, and so forcing the water out, and by means of the compressed air keeping the water out.
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
That will receive consideration.
The Commissioner:
Have you ever heard of such a thing.
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
Personally I never have.
Sir Robert Finlay:
I am told it has been used in salvage operations sometimes under special circumstances.
The Commissioner:
Is it done for the purpose of enabling the salvers to work?
Sir Robert Finlay:
It is used for that purpose, My Lord, and also for the purposes of flotation.
The Commissioner:
Lifting the ship?
Sir Robert Finlay:
Yes.
The Commissioner:
What you mean to say is, it is used only in connection with a ship that is sunk?
Sir Robert Finlay:
I believe so, My Lord.
The Commissioner:
Not in connection with a ship that is still afloat?
Sir Robert Finlay:
That is my understanding.
The Commissioner:
Well, it may be, but I wish you would think about it.
Sir Robert Finlay:
Yes, My Lord.
WITNESSES.
Eber Sharpe - Board of Trade surveyor - Queenstown.
Testimony
Joseph Massey Harvey - Principal Examiner of Masters and Mates - Board of Trade.
Testimony
The Commissioner:
Who is the next witness?
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
I am in a little difficulty.
The Commissioner:
You have no other Witness?
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
Yes, I have, but I act under directions, and I am not even second in command here.
The Commissioner:
Are not you Chief Officer?
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
No, I am the first Officer, I believe he comes third.
Sir Robert Finlay:
I think my friend is now in full control, as he is alone.
The Commissioner:
I have been reading this morning in bed some sailing directions issued by the P. and O. Company, and I find that the Officer in charge for the time being has to take full responsibility.
Mr. Butler Aspinall:
Oh, I have to do that.
Mr. Edwards:
This might be a convenient time, so as to avoid your reading them in bed tomorrow, if the sailing Directions were put in.
The Commissioner:
I always read in bed. What is it you want?
Mr. Edwards:
I suggest, so that you should avoid having to read Sailing Directions in bed, that this might be a convenient moment for the sailing Directions of the Dominion Line with regard to ice, being put in.
The Commissioner:
By all means.
WITNESSES.
Sir Norman Hill - Chairman of the merchant Shipping Advisory Committee.
Testimony
Guglielmo Marconi - Chairman - International Marconi Company.
Testimony
The Commissioner:
Is there any other Witness?
The Attorney-General:
There is the Captain of the "Baltic"; I will call him at once - Captain Ranson.
WITNESS.
John Barlow Ranson - Captain - ss "Baltic."
Testimony
Sir Robert Finlay:
The message from the "Caronia" was sent on the morning of the 14th, and it was this: "West-bound steamers report bergs, growlers, and field ice in 42º N, 49° 51' W., April 12th."
The Commissioner:
Yes, I remember that. What occurs to me is this, that if they were there on April 12th, one might not unreasonably expect them to be there, not the identical icebergs, but others, on the 14th.
Sir Robert Finlay:
That might or might not be.
The Commissioner:
It occurs to me that a man reading that telegram would say: "They were here on the 12th, others may be here on the 14th."
Sir Robert Finlay:
However, that is rather a matter of comment, My Lord.
The Commissioner:
It is a matter of argument afterwards.
WITNESS.
Sir Ernest Shackleton - Explorer.
Testimony
The Attorney-General:
There is a very short witness I should like to take. It is not relevant to any issue which is before you except in answer to one question but it is very desirable he should state what he has to say in order to allay a considerable amount of feeling with regard to three persons whose bodies were found and it was said they had died from starvation. I only want that point cleared up.
The Commissioner:
Is that something we have seen in the newspapers?
The Attorney-General:
There has been a good deal said about it. I should like to call a Witness on this matter.
WITNESS.
Dr. Riversdale Samson French - Surgeon - ss "Oceanic."
Testimony
Mr. Laing:
Your Lordship asked Mr. Wilding yesterday to get some correspondence from Belfast, and he has done so. It is here.
The Commissioner:
Very well, you can hand it to Mr. Scanlan.
Mr. Laing:
I think it was Mr. Edwards.
Mr. Scanlan:
I think it was Mr. Edwards who asked for it.
The Commissioner:
It was your desire to have this correspondence, Mr. Edwards?
Mr. Edwards:
I should like to look through it.
The Commissioner:
Very well; I think you might trust it to the custody of Mr. Edwards, and he can take it home and read it.
(The correspondence was handed to the learned Counsel.)
(Adjourned to tomorrow, at 10.30 o'clock.)
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