Senator SMITH.
And you assisted the passengers to that ladder?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, put the rope over their heads; put their arms through a rope, and then assisted them up in that way.
Senator SMITH.
Did you land all the passengers in your boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, everyone.
Senator SMITH.
Aboard the Carpathia?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Can you give the hour when you went alongside?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir. They told me on board the Carpathia afterwards that it was about 10 minutes after 4, approximately.
Senator SMITH.
Had you been rowing or lying on your oars from the time you left the Titanic until -
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I had been showing green lights most of the time. I had been showing pyrotechnic lights on the boat.
Senator SMITH.
Your boat was equipped with lights?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Were any of the other lifeboats so equipped, or did you see any lights of that character on the other boats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Not of that character; no, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Between the time you left the Titanic and the time you reached the Carpathia, I mean?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Then you could not tell exactly when your lifeboat was lowered?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What is the full complement of a lifeboat of the size you were in, when lowered and fitted for an emergency - the official complement?
Mr. BOXHALL.
You do not mean for "Man overboard," or anything like that?
Senator SMITH.
No; what is the rule with reference to manning the lifeboats, how many sailors or seamen or officers are ordinarily required to take charge of a lifeboat in such an emergency?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Well, you want at least two men.
Senator SMITH.
At least two?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Two men who understand orders in a boat to do the pulling, and one man to give the orders and do the steering.
Senator SMITH.
And how many were there in your boat - four?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I had three men pulling, and myself.
Senator SMITH.
And yourself signaling; and the male passenger?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Well, the male passenger did not do much.
Senator SMITH.
He could not?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He did not.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know of your own knowledge how many men Mr. Lightoller put into the first boat he lowered on the port side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; I do not.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see the Titanic sink?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I can not say that I saw her sink. I saw the lights go out, and I looked two or three minutes afterward and it was 25 minutes past 2. So I took it that when she sank would be about 20 minutes after 2.
Senator SMITH.
How far were you from her then?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I would say we were then about three-fourths of a mile from her.
Senator SMITH.
So you are unable to tell what scenes were then transpiring on the Titanic?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you have any conversation with Mr. Ismay that night?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Where?
Mr. BOXHALL.
On board of the ship.
Senator SMITH.
At what time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
On the bridge, probably about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour before I came away in the boat.
Senator SMITH.
On the bridge, about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour before you went down over the side in the lifeboat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you know him personally?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How long had you known him?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I had known him by sight for about three years. He has crossed before in some ships I have been in.
Senator SMITH.
What did he say to you?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He asked me why I did not get the people in the boat and get away?
Senator SMITH.
What did you say to him?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I told him the boat's crew were ready, and the boat was ready to be put away when the captain's order was given.
Senator SMITH.
And the order had not yet been given?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Was that all that was said?
Mr. BOXHALL.
That is all.
Senator SMITH.
Did he say anything about himself?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; he passed on, then.
Senator SMITH.
Who was with him at that time?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He was standing alone at that time.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see him on the boat deck or on the bridge when you entered the lifeboat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I cannot say that I did.
Senator SMITH.
On which side was the lifeboat that you were on?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The port side.
Senator SMITH.
Was Mr. Lightoller there?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I did not see Mr. Lightoller.
Senator SMITH.
Was he on the port side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes. I think most of the time that I saw Mr. Lightoller he was working on that side, but in the latter part I did not see him.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know whether he had charge of that side in loading the lifeboats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Well, I do not know that he had charge when the chief officer was there; the chief officer, I mean, who was there when my boat was sent away.
Senator SMITH.
Do you refer to the captain when you say the chief officer?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I refer to the chief officer, Mr. Wilde.
Senator SMITH.
The captain was there also?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; but Mr. Wilde superintended the loading of the boats.
Senator SMITH.
Mr. Wilde superintended lowering the boats on the port side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not say the boats on the port side; I say he superintended the boat I was on.
Senator SMITH.
That boat was on the port side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
That was on the port side.
Senator SMITH.
So if Mr. Lightoller took charge of the port side in lowering these lifeboats he did so after you left?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He was working down the port side most of the time right from the first. I never saw Mr. Lightoller on the starboard side. Whenever I did see him it was on the port side.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see Mr. Murdoch?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
On the starboard side?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I saw Mr. Murdoch on the port side at times.
Senator SMITH.
But you do not know whether he had charge of the lifeboats on the starboard side or not?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I do not know.
Senator SMITH.
You say you did not see Mr. Ismay after you saw him on the bridge and before the order had been given to clear the lifeboats or lower the lifeboats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I did not see him; no, sir.
Senator SMITH.
When did you next see him?
Mr. BOXHALL.
When he came alongside in the collapsible boat outside of the Carpathia.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know what boat that was?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not know any number; it was a collapsible boat.
Senator SMITH.
How soon after you reached there did it appear at the side of the Carpathia?
Mr. BOXHALL.
It was one of the last boats that came.
Senator SMITH.
And it was a collapsible boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; it was a collapsible boat.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know the number?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not know any number for it.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know who was in it?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Mr. Carter was in it. I saw Mr. Carter.
Senator SMITH.
Who was Mr. Carter?
Mr. BOXHALL.
A passenger.
Senator SMITH.
Where does he reside?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I have not the slightest idea.
Senator SMITH.
Is he an American?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not know that, either.
Senator SMITH.
Was Mr. Carter in the same boat as Mr. Ismay?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Were there any other men in that boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; I saw some men who looked to me like Filipinos.
Senator SMITH.
Foreigners?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
How many?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I do not know whether there were three or four of them.
Senator SMITH.
Were there any women or children in the boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; it was full of them.
Senator SMITH.
How many were in the boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I will not say that it was full of women and children. Now I come to think of it, there was a foreigner there, a steerage passenger who could not speak English - a man.
Senator SMITH.
How many of these Filipinos were there?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Three or four.
Senator SMITH.
And Mr. Ismay, Mr. Carter, and this foreigner who could not speak English?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Were there any other men in there?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Not that I know of; I can not say. I did not take that much notice. One did not stop to look what men were there in the boats or who they were; it was just a case of passing them out.
Senator SMITH.
Exactly; but could you see who held the oars or who propelled the boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; I did not notice that.
Senator SMITH.
About how long was it after you arrived before the other boats arrived?
Mr. BOXHALL.
The first boat did not arrive until at least half an hour after I arrived there.
Senator SMITH.
You arrived there and had a half hour intervene?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; and then I had passed up crews from either two or three boats from the same gangway before Mr. Ismay came.
Senator SMITH.
Was it daylight?
Mr. BOXHALL.
It was quite daylight; yes.
Senator SMITH.
Was the Carpathia under way?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; not at the time.
Senator SMITH.
How far do you think she was from the place where the Titanic sank?
Mr. BOXHALL.
When was this, sir?
Senator SMITH.
When Mr. Ismay's boat appeared.
Mr. BOXHALL.
I can not say that, either, because we pulled off a little way, as the Carpathia was steaming toward our green lights.
Senator SMITH.
She saw your lights?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
As a matter of fact, were there any other lights visible on the lifeboats except those on your boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I saw some lifeboat lights, but the usual lifeboat's lights. They were very dim, small lamps.
Senator SMITH.
If all those lifeboats had been lighted, it would have impressed itself upon you, would it not?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Lighted the same -
Senator SMITH.
The same as yours?
Mr. BOXHALL.
But this was a box of green lights that happened to be thrown into the boat.
Senator SMITH.
Accidentally?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; not accidentally.
Senator SMITH.
Intentionally.
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir; because I told the man to put them in.
Senator SMITH.
Was it a part of the equipment of the boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; it was not a part of the equipment; but I told him to put them in for anybody that would happen to find them.
Senator SMITH.
I see. And after the boat was lowered you lighted them?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did they make a brilliant light?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; a very brilliant light.
Senator SMITH.
You think the Carpathia steamed toward these lights?
Mr. BOXHALL.
They did.
Senator SMITH.
And you say that is the reason they reached you first?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did you notice any lights burning on any of the other lifeboats when you had boarded the Carpathia? I assume that you were looking at these boats.
Mr. BOXHALL.
When I had boarded the Carpathia, no.
Senator SMITH.
No other lights were visible on other lifeboats?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; because it was daylight. It was daylight before I got my passengers on board the ship.
Senator SMITH.
Well, that is all right. But let us clear up the light business just a little more, so that we may have an accurate record on that point. Could you say of your own knowledge that any other lifeboat than the one you were in had lights burning on it when it came alongside or just preceding its coming alongside of the Carpathia?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I saw several of the boats - in fact all of the lifeboats - when I was in my boat, which had lighted lamps in them.
Senator SMITH.
Had lamps in them?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Had lamps in them - before I saw the Carpathia.
Senator SMITH.
Before you saw the Carpathia?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Where were those lights displayed?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I was not close enough to see.
Senator SMITH.
Where would they be displayed - on the forward end?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Usually by the man who steers the boat.
Senator SMITH.
Back of the tiller?
Mr. BOXHALL.
In the bottom of the boat, not back of the tiller.
Senator SMITH.
I do not mean back of the tiller, but back near the tiller?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Just in the bottom of the boat. I could see the reflection of the lights; I did not see the lights themselves.
Senator SMITH.
But you are not ready to say that they all had lights burning, are you?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; not that they all had lights burning, but I saw several.
Senator SMITH.
Now, Mr. Boxhall, did you personally become acquainted with any of the American passengers on that boat?
Mr. BOXHALL.
On what boat?
Senator SMITH.
On the Titanic.
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; not until after the accident. After we got on board the Carpathia I met one or two.
Senator SMITH.
But were you aware at any time between Southampton and the place of this accident of the presence on shipboard of a large number of Americans?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you at any time learn who they were?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; by glancing through the passenger list.
Senator SMITH.
Can you tell any names that you now particularly recall?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; I recall that Col. Astor and his wife were aboard.
Senator SMITH.
You recall that you saw Col. Astor's name on this list?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did you personally see him or his wife?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I have seen him walking on the top deck.
Senator SMITH.
Did you know who he was?
Mr. BOXHALL.
One of the officers - I think it was one of the officers who told me.
Senator SMITH.
Any other Americans?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I do not know any others that I could name.
Senator SMITH.
And Canadians of prominence?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Or any other passengers of prominence, or any other passenger at all whose name you remember?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; I do not remember the names of them.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see Col. Astor after this collision occurred?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Or his wife?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I never saw his wife at all.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know what part of the ship they were in?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; I have not the slightest idea.
Senator SMITH.
I mean as to their quarters.
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; I understand what you mean.
Senator SMITH.
Did you know of the presence of any other Americans than the ones you have mentioned particularly?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
About how long, if you remember, before you reached the side of the Carpathia did you see these lights extinguished on the Titanic?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Before I boarded the Carpathia, you say?
Senator SMITH.
Yes.
Mr. BOXHALL.
Before I boarded the Carpathia. Well, the Titanic's lights seem to have disappeared some considerable time before I boarded the Carpathia, because I saw the Carpathia's lights for some considerable time.
Senator SMITH.
After you boarded the Carpathia during that early morning, Monday morning, or after you left the Titanic's side, did you see any icebergs?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Not until I got within about two or three ship's lengths of the Carpathia, when I saw her engines were stopped - then I saw the icebergs; it was just breaking daylight then.
Senator SMITH.
Where were they?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Close to the Carpathia.
Senator SMITH.
How close?
Mr. BOXHALL.
He seemed to have stopped within half a mile or quarter of a mile of the berg.
Senator SMITH.
How many did you see?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Numerous bergs. As daylight broke I saw them.
Senator SMITH.
About how many?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I would not like to say.
Senator SMITH.
More than two?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Certainly more than two. Several bergs.
Senator SMITH.
That is four or five or six?
Mr. BOXHALL.
And field ice. I could see field ice then as far as the eye could see.
Senator SMITH.
How large were these icebergs?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Well, I did not see any of them that I considered large icebergs - not like one sees in the Canadian trade.
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear the captain of the Carpathia testify last Friday morning in New York?
Mr. BOXHALL.
I was up there when he started, but I did not stay in the committee room.
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear him say that he saw icebergs Monday morning, or an iceberg, nearly 200 feet high?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No, sir; I did not hear him say that.
Senator SMITH.
You say that you were within about half a mile of an iceberg and that the Carpathia was within that range of one?
Mr. BOXHALL.
Yes; I should say she would be well within half a mile of an iceberg when I boarded her.
Senator SMITH.
How did this iceberg look to you? I mean as to color?
Mr. BOXHALL.
White.
Senator SMITH.
Did they all look about the same color?
Mr. BOXHALL.
They looked white to me, in the sunlight.
Senator SMITH.
Was the sun up, then?
Mr. BOXHALL.
No; but after the sun got up they looked white.
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