Examined by Mr. COTTER.
486. Did you go to the portside of the ship at all?
- Yes, first.
487. What was the position of the boats there?
- Swinging in board against the ship's side.
488. Were there any passengers in them?
- None that I saw. They were all empty.
489. Were there any members of the crew trying to launch any of them?
- No.
490. You never saw any?
- No, not on that deck.
491. The Commissioner: Could you have lowered those boats?
- No, my Lord. It was impossible.
492. Mr. Cotter: Evidence will be produced to show that two boats were lowered and that one got down to the water?
- They were lowered before I got there then.
493. Were there not two boats actually gone?
- I did not notice them.
494. No. 13 boat is nearly amidships?
- Yes.
495. Had you any difficulty in lowering it?
- None at all.
496. Had the passengers any difficulty in getting into it?
- A slight difficulty, but it was easier to get into that boat than any of the others because there was a beam they could step on.
497. What boat did you go to after you left No. 13 boat?
- No. 11.
498. What was the position of the ship then as to list?
- She was listing very heavily then. It was swinging far from the ship's side.
499. Can you give us the distance?
- I could not judge it. It was a long jump for ladies.
500. Could you tell us approximately?
- About six feet as far as I could judge.
501. At that time was the ship going down by the head? -Yes, the bulkhead was completely under then on the starboard side.
502. So that the boats would be swung out about six feet and swinging forward?
- Yes, slightly.
503. How would you get the passengers into those boats?
- They jumped, most of them.
504. It is a big jump, is it not - six feet?
- Well, they would do that in a case like that.
505. Were the crew assisting the women and children into the boats?
- Yes.
506. How were you getting the women into the boats. Had you any means by which you could put them in?
- I think jumping or going down the davit was the only means.
507. In regard to the torpedo, did you follow the course of the white streak that you saw until the torpedo struck the ship?
- Yes.
508. Can you tell us where the torpedo struck the ship?
- Between No. 2 and 3 funnels, the first one, and just by No. 3, the second, as far as I can remember.
509. That would be absolutely amidships?
- Yes, almost.
510. The second one struck near where?
- No. 3 funnel
511. That would be near the mail room?
- Yes.
512. And near to the turbines?
- Yes.
513. Did you see any of the crew giving lifebelts out to the passengers?
- Yes, several of them.
514. Did you hear any orders being given to the crew what to do?
- Only to assist the women and children into the boats.
515. You do not know who was giving those orders?
- The officers were; those who were about the deck.
516. Calling out? They were simply calling out; you do not know who they were, but you heard the orders given?
- I heard the orders given.
517. Were the passengers helping you with the boats?
- Some of them were.
518. Were any of them interfering with the boats?
- Yes, I think some of them.
519. And you had to get them out of the road I suppose?
- As well as we could.
Examined by Mr. G.A. SCOTT.
520. Did you know any of the passengers by name?
- Not at the time the torpedo struck the ship. I did afterwards.
521. Did you happen to know Mr. Vanderbilt?
- No, I did not.
Examined by Mr. THOMAS PRIEST.
522. When you megaphoned your message was it acknowledged?
- I did not hear the answer.
523. And immediately you gave the message you went down to your boat station?
- I went to call my brother.
524. Then you went to your boat station No. 13?
- Yes.
525. Did you hear the first order given by the officer?
- I heard the order when I got to the boat deck. I cannot say whether it was the first order.
526. Did you hear any subsequent order ordering anyone out of the boats?
- No.
527. Did you hear any order given varying the first order at all by anyone?
- No.
528. Were you told to fetch anyone out of your boats?
- No, we were told to lower away and get them clear.
529. You did not see Captain Turner between the time you took to your own boat and the time you saw him going down?
- No.
530. Did you hear any orders given by him at all?
- I heard a voice off the bridge shouting about getting women and children in first, but I did not see the speaker.
Examined by Mr. DONALD MACMASTER.
531. Were you on the look out when you saw he streak?
- Extra look out.
532. What was the name of the other seaman who was with you at the time?
- Arthur Graham Elliot.
533. Has he survived?
- He was lost.
Examined by Mr. BUTLER ASPINALL.
534. You told me you were 18 years of age?
- Yes.
535. Was this your first voyage on the " Lusitania?" - Yes.
536. Do you mean that you shipped at New York?
- I did.
537. What had you been before that?
- An apprentice for 4 years on the "J. B. Walmsley."
538. Is that the Prince Line?
- No, it is a sailing ship.
539. Apparently you, with the assistance of this man Parry, saved some 70 to 80 lives?
- We saved some first and as they came in they assisted us as well.
540. But you and Parry both being in the boat in the water, got into the collapsible boat, ripped the cover off, and you and Parry filled it with how many passengers?
- Between 50 and 60.
541. And those passengers you put on to a smack?
- Yes.
542. Then with the assistance of some other sailors you dropped astern and picked up some 20 or 30 more?
- Out of a lifeboat which was sinking.
543. I congratulate you. With regard to what you did before you got into the water you at once went to your proper boat No. 13?
- Yes.
544. Then you saw that boat was filled and some gentlemen asked you if some women were ordered out of the boat. Did you and another sailor give up your places in that boat?
- We did in several boats. I think most of them were doing that.
545. Were the sailors doing that?
- Yes, all of them.
546. The passengers came first, did they?
- Yes in every case.
547. The Commissioner: You said there was a smack about 5 miles away?
- Yes.
548. Was that smack in sight at the time the torpedo struck the ship?
- There was like a black speck on the horizon.
549. It was only like a speck?
- Yes.
550. Were there any other specks?
- Not at the time the torpedo struck the ship.
551. As far as you know there was only this one smack in sight?
- That is all.
(The witness withdrew.)