(The witness was sworn by the chairman.)
Senator SMITH.
Where do you reside?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Hull, England.
Senator SMITH.
What is your vocation?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Mariner.
Senator SMITH.
How old are you?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Twenty-eight years old.
Senator SMITH.
What experience have you had in marine employment?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Thirteen years experience at sea.
Senator SMITH.
Of what has your experience consisted?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The first four years as an apprentice and the remainder of the time as an officer.
Senator SMITH.
On what ships?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I served in William Thomas's in Liverpool, and was then an officer on the Wilson Line of Hull; and after that on the White Star Line.
Senator SMITH.
How long have you been with the White Star Line?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Five years next November.
Senator SMITH.
In what capacity have you served?
Mr. BOXHALL.
As junior officer.
Senator SMITH.
All of the time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
All of the time while on the White star Line.
Senator SMITH.
Were you especially educated in marine service before you entered the employ of the companies you have named?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes. I had 12 months training in a navigation school.
Senator SMITH.
Where?
Mr. BOXHALL.
In Hull, England.
Senator SMITH.
What did that training consist of?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Navigation and nautical astronomy.
Senator SMITH.
Please state for the information of the committee what positions you have filled on the White Star Line. Please state that again.
Mr. BOXHALL.
As junior officer, ranking fifth and sixth officer, and third officer; and then fourth officer on the last ship.
Senator SMITH.
Tell the committee, so that our records may be complete, the duties performed in each of these different employments.
Mr. BOXHALL.
To generally assist the senior officer of the watch in all cases.
Senator SMITH.
When was this duty assigned to you?
Mr. BOXHALL.
When the Titanic left Belfast Lough. His duty is assigned to a man when he is assigned to his ship, and he grows up with it. He learns the different duties he has to perform in whatever rank is on board ship.
Senator SMITH.
Did you join the ship at Belfast Lough?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; at Belfast.
Senator SMITH.
Were you with her when the training tests were made?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Can you tell the committee of what those tests consisted?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Why?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Because I do not know what those tests were for. There were the builder's men on board, and I was just there to keep lookout and do anything I was told to do.
Senator SMITH.
Were you on board during the maneuvers of this ship in Belfast Lough?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
On what deck?
Mr. BOXHALL.
On the bridge deck.
Senator SMITH.
On the bridge?
Mr. BOXHALL.
When on duty; yes.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know how much time was spent in those maneuvers, turning and in a straight course, the day these tests were made?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I can tell you, approximately.
Senator SMITH.
Do so.
Mr. BOXHALL.
We left Belfast about noon, and we steamed -
Senator SMITH.
On what day?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I have forgotten the date.
Senator SMITH.
The 4th of April or the 5th or 6th of April?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not know, sir. I would tell you if I knew.
Senator SMITH.
Or the day of the week?
Mr. BOXHALL.
It was on a Tuesday.
Senator SMITH.
Go ahead.
Mr. BOXHALL.
And we steamed until about between 7 and 8 o'clock at night. We finally left Belfast about 8 o'clock at night..
Senator SMITH.
Where were you headed for?
Mr. BOXHALL.
For Southampton.
Senator SMITH.
What time did you reach Southampton?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Thursday about midnight.
Senator SMITH.
What was the condition of the weather on your trip from Belfast to Southampton?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The weather was fine until about 2 o'clock in the morning.
Senator SMITH.
Of what day?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Thursday; I should say Wednesday morning, until about 2 o'clock. I want to correct that.
Senator SMITH.
What happened then; that is, how did you distinguish between the conditions of the weather?
Mr. BOXHALL.
When I came on duty at 4 o'clock in the morning it was foggy.
Senator SMITH.
Was there any sea?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; there was practically no sea, and little wind.
Senator SMITH.
And when you say that the weather was not good you mean that it was foggy?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
All the way?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; it cleared up about 6 o'clock in the morning.
Senator SMITH.
When you went on at 4 o'clock it was foggy?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And the fog lifted about 6 o'clock?
Mr. BOXHALL.
About 6.
Senator SMITH.
And you proceeded to Southampton without any change in the weather?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; without any change in the weather.
Senator SMITH.
And the water, the sea -
Mr. BOXHALL.
Was smooth all the way.
Senator SMITH.
What did you do when you reached Southampton?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I kept my usual watch on board the ship. I really do not remember what watch I did keep until the time of sailing.
Senator SMITH.
You did not leave the ship?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Oh yes; oh, yes.
Senator SMITH.
Where did you go when you left the ship?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Well, I went around the town. I went ashore.
Senator SMITH.
After your watch?
Mr. BOXHALL.
When my watch was over.
Senator SMITH.
And when did you return to the Titanic, with reference to the hour of her departure?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The last time I was ashore I returned the night previous to sailing, about 11 o'clock, I suppose.
Senator SMITH.
Were there others with you at the time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I do not think so.
Senator SMITH.
Other officers or crew?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No.
Senator SMITH.
In the performance of your duty while at Southampton did you have any authority over the men; and if so, over whom?
Mr. BOXHALL.
When I was on duty on board ship whilst at Southampton during the daytime there was always a senior officer along with me; so that any questions that were to be asked could be answered by him, or if anything was to be found out I would always refer to him, to the senior officer. At nighttime the two junior officers were in charge of the ship, with men on watch with them.
Senator SMITH.
You say there was always a senior officer on duty?
Mr. BOXHALL.
And a junior officer, in port.
Senator SMITH.
But you did not give any orders -
Mr. BOXHALL.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Because there were senior officers on board all the time up to the time of sailing? Who were those officers?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Sometimes the first, sometimes the chief, and sometimes the second.
Senator SMITH.
Who was the first officer?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Mr. Lightoller was the first officer until the day before the ship sailed.
Senator SMITH.
Who became first officer then?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Mr. Murdoch.
Senator SMITH.
Had he been first officer before?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; he had been chief officer.
Senator SMITH.
But, he superseded Mr. Lightoller the night before sailing?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
At the time of departure Mr. Murdoch was first officer?
Mr. BOXHALL.
That is so.
Senator SMITH.
What were his duties?
Mr. BOXHALL.
His duties were, as officer of the watch, to keep a lookout for the ship and see that the junior officers did whatever he required to carry out the captain's orders.
Senator SMITH.
Was it a part of his duty to have drills and inspections?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No. The captain arranged all the drills and inspections.
Senator SMITH.
Were there any drills or inspections to your knowledge, from the time the ship landed at Southampton until her departure?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; there were inspections and drills the morning of sailing.
Senator SMITH.
Of what did they consist?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The crew were mustered and when the names were called the boats were lowered in the presence of the Board of Trade surveyors.
Senator SMITH.
When you say "boats," you refer to lifeboats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The lifeboats were lowered in the presence of the Board of Trade surveyors.
Senator SMITH.
This occurred the day you sailed?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir; within an hour or a couple of hours of the ship's sailing.
Senator SMITH.
Can you recall just who was present at that inspection?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The captain, all the officers, the marine superintendent, and the Board of Trade surveyors, and the Board of Trade doctor.
Senator SMITH.
Was there anyone else present?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Not that I know of - not an official.
Senator SMITH.
Were any other officers or directors of the company present besides the ones you have named?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I could not say; I do not remember.
Senator SMITH.
Was Mr. Ismay present?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not remember.
Senator SMITH.
Were all the lifeboats lowered?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Why not?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Because they do not require all the boats to be lowered so far as I know.
Senator SMITH.
The regulations do not require it? How many boats were lowered?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Two boats were lowered, I believe.
Senator SMITH.
One on each side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; they could not lower them on each side. The ship was laid alongside of the quay.
Senator SMITH.
So they were lowered on one side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Which side; the starboard or the port?
Mr. BOXHALL.
On the starboard side.
Senator SMITH.
Can you give the numbers of those lifeboats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I can not.
Senator SMITH.
In lowering these lifeboats, did the gear work satisfactorily?
Mr. BOXHALL.
As far as I know. I was not there when they were lowered.
Senator SMITH.
You were not there?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, I was in another part of the ship.
Senator SMITH.
And you did not yourself see them lowered?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I saw them in the water, but I was not actually on the spot when they were lowered.
Senator SMITH.
In lowering the lifeboats, can you tell us just what was done.
Mr. BOXHALL.
First the boat had to be cleared. After the boats are cleared the chocks are knocked down, or dropped down by patent levers, and the boat is hanging free. Then the davits are screwed out and the boat is suspended over the ship's side all ready for lowering away.
Senator SMITH.
Assuming that these lifeboats are on the boat deck, how far could they be swung off the side before they reached their proper position for lowering?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Far enough to clear the ship's side, right away down, and allow the boat to touch the water.
Senator SMITH.
The boat deck or sun deck is narrower than the A deck or B deck; is it not?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; oh, no.
Senator SMITH.
No narrower?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No narrower. I never noticed it to be narrower.
Senator SMITH.
The same width?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; it all seems to me to be the same width.
Senator SMITH.
But these lifeboats are swung out -
Mr. BOXHALL.
Absolutely clear of the ship's side.
Senator SMITH.
Absolutely clear of the ship's side - how far?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I could not say how far.
Senator SMITH.
Before they are swung out, are they supposed to be occupied?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No.
Senator SMITH.
In case of trouble?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; oh, no.
Senator SMITH.
After they are swung out are they supposed to be loaded from the boat deck?
Mr. BOXHALL.
That is a matter of opinion.
Senator SMITH.
If possible and other things being equal, is that the usual course?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; I think it is.
Senator SMITH.
In other words, they are not suspended, then run to the decks below and there filled?
Mr. BOXHALL.
We always lower the boat to the level of the rail or the level of the deck, so the people can step in.
Senator SMITH.
Yes; but to the level of the deck, where it is swung out?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Where it is swung out.
Senator SMITH.
So that the upper deck or boat deck is really the loading deck for the lifeboats under ordinary circumstances?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did you say whether the lifeboats that you saw lowered were lowered promptly and without any interference?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I did not see them lowered. I saw them when they were in the water.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see them when they were brought back to the deck?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I afterwards saw them on the voyage. I was not standing there when they were raised.
Senator SMITH.
You did not see them when they were raised to the deck?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And you did not see them lowered?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I did not see them lowered.
Senator SMITH.
Who was officer of the watch that day?
Mr. BOXHALL.
All officers were on duty.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see Mr. Murdoch there at this time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; and Mr. Wilde, the chief officer.
Senator SMITH.
Were there any lifeboats on the Titanic that were not securely fastened in position to be lowered in the ordinary method of attaching that equipment?
Mr. BOXHALL.
All the boats on the Titanic seemed to me to be in a very good position to be lowered.
Senator SMITH.
How many were there?
Mr. BOXHALL.
There were 14 lifeboats, 2 sea boats, and 4 collapsible boats.
Senator SMITH.
The lifeboats were in position?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did they appear to be new?
Mr. BOXHALL.
They were new.
Senator SMITH.
Did you notice whether the name Titanic was upon every boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; on every boat. I will not swear to the collapsible boats.
Senator SMITH.
What are the three types of boat that you have just referred to?
Mr. BOXHALL.
First of all, the lifeboats; then the two sea boats -
Senator SMITH.
One moment. Take the lifeboats. Were they in good condition?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Perfectly good.
Senator SMITH.
How many people under ordinary circumstances, would a lifeboat of the size carried on the Titanic carry in such weather as you experienced?
Mr. BOXHALL.
They were supposed to carry 65 persons.
Senator SMITH.
Why do you say they were supposed to carry 65?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The Board of Trade testify to that.
Senator SMITH.
Is that a part of the certificate of the British Board of Trade?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I suppose that is a part of the regulations. The cubical capacity is on the boats.
Senator SMITH.
How many seats are there in a lifeboat of that character?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I am sure I could not say. I never have counted them.
Senator SMITH.
How many oars are there?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I really forget how many oars there were, but there are always two extra ones; there are always two extra oars in the boat.
Senator SMITH.
Can you not think how many there were?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I can not think; because I can not remember how many thole pins there were.
Senator SMITH.
Where were the oars, generally? Under the seats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
On the top of the seats.
Senator SMITH.
On top of the seats; and you say there were always two extra oars?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Always two extra oars in the boats.
Senator SMITH.
But the compliment you do not know? You can not say what that was?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I really can not.
Senator SMITH.
What else is required in those lifeboats, under the regulations of the British Board of Trade?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Boat hooks, water, water breakers, bread tanks, dippers for the water breakers, balers for the boats, mast and sail, compass. I think that is all.
Senator SMITH.
Lights?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Oh, yes; lights and a can of oil. A lamp and a can of oil.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know whether these articles required under the regulations of the British Board of Trade were in each of these lifeboats as required?
Mr. BOXHALL.
All the gear was in the boats when we left Belfast; I know that. All the gear was in the boats, because I went around -
Senator SMITH.
Provisions and water?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Everything that the Board of Trade requires was in the boats in Belfast.
Senator SMITH.
In Belfast?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know whether these provisions were in the boats when the Titanic left Southampton?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I could not say. The provisions were, I know, because the provisions are built in with the boat. They are in a tank that is built in the boat.
Senator SMITH.
You are speaking now of your own knowledge?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Were you ever in one of these lifeboats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Prior to the collision?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Not in the water in one; I was not in the water with the boats.
Senator SMITH.
Where were you in the boats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
In Belfast, going through them to see that all the equipment was complete.
Senator SMITH.
You made an inspection?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And you desire the committee to understand that all of the requirements with reference to the equipment of lifeboats were in these boats when the Titanic left Belfast?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; I do not know about when she left Belfast, but it was two or three days before we left that I went through these boats and saw all the equipment complete.
Senator SMITH.
Mr. Boxhall, you described a few moments ago the weather from Belfast to Southampton. Did the weather continue pleasant and the sea unruffled during the voyage from Southampton to the place of this catastrophe?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
In such weather how many people would a lifeboat such as you have described carry safely?
Mr. BOXHALL.
That I would not like to say.
Senator SMITH.
You would not like to say because you do not know?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; a lot depends on the people who get in the boats.
Senator SMITH.
And their condition of mind?
Mr. BOXHALL.
And their condition of mind.
Senator SMITH.
Assuming that they were in great peril and submissive to the directions of those in charge of the boats, how many would one of those lifeboats safely carry?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I should think that providing they did as they were told, they would carry the 65, the complement.
Senator SMITH.
Sixty-five comfortably?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; the complement, I said, of 65.
Senator SMITH.
What about the collapsible boats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I know very little of the collapsible boats. I do not know what they are supposed to hold.
Senator SMITH.
You have seen them?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I have seen them; yes.
Senator SMITH.
I wish you would describe, that we may have the record complete, what they are made of; how they are constructed.
Mr. BOXHALL.
The lower part of the boat is wood, and these boats when they are loaded do not seem to me to have very much freeboard except for the canvas which, is pulled up before these boats are lowered.
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