Mr. BRIDE.
He came around to the cabin to tell us.
Senator SMITH.
He came around to the cabin?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Was there anyone else on the deck?
Mr. BRIDE.
Oh, there were other people on the deck.
Senator SMITH.
With you?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes; they were running around all over the place.
Senator SMITH.
How running around?
Mr. BRIDE.
Several people looking for life belts and looking for refreshments.
Senator SMITH.
I want to locate exactly the position of this operating room of yours with reference to the boat deck or upper deck. Is it at the rear of the A or B deck?
Mr. BRIDE.
I believe on the Titanic, sir, the boat deck was called A deck. There was no deck above that, with the exception of a little deck which covered the roofs of the houses that were on A deck.
Senator SMITH.
These people that you say were running around were running around these decks, all of them?
Mr. BRIDE.
The officers' quarters were situated together with the Marconi cabin, the officers' rooms, and other places, and the people were running around through these cabins. We had a woman in our cabin who had fainted.
Senator SMITH.
A woman in your cabin who had fainted?
Mr. BRIDE.
And we were giving her a glass of water there and a chair. We set her down on a chair, which she wanted badly, and then her husband took her away again.
Senator SMITH.
You gave her a glass of water and revived her, and her husband took her away?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did they have on life preservers?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
But some of these passengers or person were without lifebelts at that time, and were looking for them?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You and your assistant had on lifebelts, and after this final message, C.Q.D. and M.G.Y., that was the last you saw of the wireless apparatus?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see any lifeboats after that?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know whether there was any on the ship at that time?
Mr. BRIDE.
There were no big lifeboats on the ship at that time. There was a collapsible boat on the top deck at the side of the forward funnel.
Senator SMITH.
You mean over the officers' quarters?
Mr. BRIDE.
Over the officers' cabin, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know what was done with that?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What was done with it?
Mr. BRIDE.
It was pushed over on to the boat deck.
Senator SMITH.
What was done then with it?
Mr. BRIDE.
Went over the side.
Senator SMITH.
You never saw it?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes; I went over with it.
Mr. BURLINGHAM.
He says it went over the side.
Senator SMITH.
I understand what the second officer said about it. I want to know whether you saw it again?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir, it went over the side of the ship. It was washed off by a wave.
Senator SMITH.
It was washed over the side of the ship by a wave?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And fell into the water?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Bottom side upward?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And how far were you from the water when you saw this boat fall?
Mr. BRIDE.
I was in the boat.
Senator SMITH.
You were in the boat?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
It fell, the bottom side upward?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What became of you?
Mr. BRIDE.
I was inside the boat.
Senator SMITH.
You were under the boat?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
How long did you remain in the boat?
Mr. BRIDE.
I could not tell you.
Senator SMITH.
About how long?
Mr. BRIDE.
It seemed a lifetime to me, really.
Senator SMITH.
I understand, but I would like to know, if possible, if at any time you got on top of the boat?
Mr. BRIDE.
I got on top of the boat eventually.
Senator SMITH.
Eventually?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Before anyone else got on top of it?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Who was on top of the boat when you got on?
Mr. BRIDE.
There was a big crowd on top when I got on. I had to get away from under the bottom.
Senator SMITH.
You remained under the boat how long?
Mr. BRIDE.
I should say about three-quarters of an hour, or a half.
Senator SMITH.
Was there breathing space under the boat when it was turned over in that way?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
So that you got away from it as quickly as you could?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You got out free from it, or did you cling to it, pulling yourself up to the side?
Mr. BRIDE.
I freed myself from it and cleared out of it.
Senator SMITH.
How did you get back to it, then?
Mr. BRIDE.
Swam back, eventually.
Senator SMITH.
Which side of the boat was that on, port or starboard?
Mr. BRIDE.
On the port side of the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear the second officer yesterday say that that boat came around from the starboard to the port side?
Mr. BRIDE.
I was not here yesterday.
Senator SMITH.
You can not say as to that?
Mr. BRIDE.
It went straight over the port side, sir.
Senator SMITH.
It went straight over the port side?
Mr. BRIDE.
It was on the port side of the forward funnel. We pushed it on the port side of the boat deck, and it went over the port side of the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
Did it at any time get on the starboard side?
Mr. BRIDE.
Not to my knowledge.
Senator SMITH.
You say there were a number of people on the boat, on the bottom of the boat that was bottom-up when you got there?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know any of them?
Mr. BRIDE.
I heard afterwards that the senior operator was on board.
Senator SMITH.
Mr. Phillips?
Mr. BRIDE.
Mr. Phillips.
Senator SMITH.
Was on the boat?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes; I heard so afterwards.
Senator SMITH.
He did not survive, however?
Mr. BRIDE.
He did not survive.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know whether he died going from the Titanic to the Carpathia?
Mr. BRIDE.
He died on the way; yes. He died on board the upturned boat.
Senator SMITH.
What became of his body?
Mr. BRIDE.
As far as I know, it was taken on board the Carpathia and buried from the Carpathia.
Senator SMITH.
Buried at sea?
Mr. BRIDE.
Buried from the Carpathia.
Senator SMITH.
Did any one else die on that boat between the wreck and the Carpathia?
Mr. BRIDE.
There was a man lying aft that they said was dead when they took him onto the ship's boat.
Senator SMITH.
What did they do with his body?
Mr. BRIDE.
He was taken on board the Carpathia, as far as I know.
Senator SMITH.
They took his body to the Carpathia?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
How many people were on that boat?
Mr. BRIDE.
It was estimated between 30 and 40.
Senator SMITH.
Were there any women on the boat?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How many people were in the boat or on the boat when it fell from the upper deck on to the lower deck?
Mr. BRIDE.
There was not anybody in it. It was pushed over intentionally.
Senator SMITH.
Was it fastened to the boat davits?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir; it was resting on a proper bed there for it.
Senator SMITH.
How did you get in it?
Mr. BRIDE.
When it was pushed over on to the A deck, we all scrambled down on to A deck again. [Bride is referring to the boat deck]
Senator SMITH.
You all scrambled in?
Mr. BRIDE.
We did not scramble in. We scrambled down on to A deck and were going to launch it properly.
Senator SMITH.
Then what happened?
Mr. BRIDE.
It was washed overboard before we had time to launch it.
Senator SMITH.
The boat was washed over?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You then went down with it?
Mr. BRIDE.
I happened to be nearest it and I grabbed it.
Senator SMITH.
You grabbed it and went down with it?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did anyone else grab it?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You went down with it alone?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
It fell in such shape that you were under it?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You say there were no women on that boat?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
When it reached the Carpathia or at any other time?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And there were about 35 or 40 people all together?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know any of the people that were on that boat besides Mr. Phillips and yourself?
Mr. BRIDE.
There was an officer [Lightoller], I believe, on the boat.
Senator SMITH.
An officer?
Mr. BRIDE.
And there was a passenger; I could not see whether he was first, second, or third.
Senator SMITH.
What kind of a looking man?
Mr. BRIDE.
I could not say, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Have you learned who it was?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir; I heard him say at the time he was a passenger.
Senator SMITH.
Was it Col. Gracie?
Mr. BRIDE.
I could not say. He merely said he was a passenger.
Senator SMITH.
Where did he get on?
Mr. BRIDE.
I could not say. I was the last man they invited on board.
Senator SMITH.
Were there others struggling to get on?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How many?
Mr. BRIDE.
Dozens.
Senator SMITH.
Dozens. In the water?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
With life preservers on?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Was this one man the only passenger?
Mr. BRIDE.
I could not say.
Senator SMITH.
Did anyone say to you that anyone else was a passenger?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir, we did not have much to say to each other.
Senator SMITH.
You did not talk to one another?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know whether the other occupants of that boat were officers or seamen or stewards or employees?
Mr. BRIDE.
I should judge they were all employees. They were all part of the boat's crews.
Senator SMITH.
They were all in the water?
Mr. BRIDE.
They had all been in the water some time or other.
Senator SMITH.
They had been in the water at some time when they got onto the upturned boat?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
When did you last see the captain? When he told you to take care of yourself?
Mr. BRIDE.
The last I saw of the captain he went overboard from the bridge, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see the Titanic sink?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And the captain was at that time on the bridge?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What do you mean by overboard?
Mr. BRIDE.
He jumped overboard from the bridge. He jumped overboard from the bridge when we were launching the collapsible lifeboat.
Senator SMITH.
I should judge from what you have said that this was about three or four minutes before the boat sank?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes. It would be just about five minutes before the boat sank.
Senator SMITH.
About five minutes?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know whether the captain had a lifebelt on?
Mr. BRIDE.
He had not when I last saw him.
Senator SMITH.
He had not?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did the bridge go under water at about the same time?
Mr. BRIDE.
Yes, sir. The whole of the ship was practically under water to the forward funnel, and when I saw her go down the stern came out of the water and she slid down fore and aft.
Senator SMITH.
The captain at no time went over until the vessel sank?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
He went with the vessel?
Mr. BRIDE.
Practically speaking; yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
I would like to ask you, before I forget it, whether as this vessel went down there was much suction there?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
There was not?
Mr. BRIDE.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
The fact that so few of the passengers and crew were picked up by the Carpathia with life preservers on would seem to indicate that they were sucked under these waves or this water as the ship disappeared. What is your judgment about that?
Mr. BRIDE.
I estimate I was within 150 feet of the Titanic; I was swimming when she went down, and I felt practically no suction at all.
Senator SMITH.
Mr. Bride, I appreciate the fact that you are not well. I want to thank you very much for your uncomplaining kindly attitude. I will not press you any farther today, but I wish you would hold yourself subject to the call of the committee and be ready to respond if we should want you again.
May I have this understanding, Mr. Marconi?
Mr. MARCONI.
All right.
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