Senator FLETCHER.
What was the appearance of the cork? Did it look as if it had come from life preservers?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I was not near enough to tell that. I would not like to pass an opinion, but it looked like cork to me.
Senator FLETCHER.
You said, I believe, that there seemed to be a lack of competent sailors to take charge of the lifeboats?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I would not like to say that, sir. I said that they were not at their stations, ready to man the boats. I imagine this crew was what we would call in yachting terms a scratch crew, brought from different vessels. They might be the best, but they had not been accustomed to working together.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did you see any other boats filled - that is, loaded - and lowered?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Those were the only two I saw filled and lowered.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did you see the boats as the Carpathia reached them? Did the boats come to the Carpathia or did the Carpathia go around and pick up the boats?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I do not know whether she came to anchor; I think probably she did. However, she was in the lee of all the boats. That is, we had all come down; we were to the weather of the Carpathia, and so she stayed there until we all came down on her.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did you observe in what manner these boats reached the Carpathia? What position was your boat in, for instance, among the first or the last?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I think there were about two or three after us. We were almost the last. We were about the last, with the exception of two or three.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did you observe the condition of those boats, as to whether they were all loaded to their capacity or not at that time, at the time you saw them unloaded?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I saw some of the boats come in; one boat particularly was very full, had a large number of passengers. She seemed to be crowded right down. Whether they had taken on more in the water, I do not know.
Senator FLETCHER.
Do you know what boat that was - the number of it, or the officer in charge?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, sir; there seemed to be a lot of steerage or second class passengers on that boat; but still, I did not know them by sight.
Senator FLETCHER.
Was it a collapsible boat?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No; that was one of the regular lifeboats.
Senator FLETCHER.
The boat you were in, you say, could have carried how many more people than you had?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Well, I made inquiries, and I was told that those boats were capable of holding from 60 to 65, I suppose according to how they were stowed and how the boat was trimmed and the weight of the passengers; but I should imagine they ought to hold a good number. They seemed very solid and strong boats. I was told by the second officer, though, that they could not lower those boats filled to the full capacity. That was the capacity with them floating, according to the figures given.
Senator FLETCHER.
And the idea was to fill them after they reached the water?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
It struck me that those boats ought to have a certain capacity on the hooks, and then be loaded up to that capacity; and then they should have some means of filling them in the water.
Senator FLETCHER.
There were none attempted to be loaded except from the rail?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
That is the only place I saw any boats loaded, sir.
Senator FLETCHER.
Referring to that light that you observed, that you said you thought was a hallucination, did that disappear after awhile?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes; it disappeared; but I did not think, from my knowledge of yachting, that it was a boat light. I think it was one of those reflected lights. The northern lights were very strong that night. It might have been some reflection on ice. I was not satisfied it was the light of a steamer, by any means.
Senator FLETCHER.
You could not tell, then, of course, whether it might be a stern light or what sort of a light it might be on a steamer?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
It was a glare. It was not a distinct light, it was a glare.
Senator FLETCHER.
Did Mr. Ismay give any directions or orders on the boat, so far as you know?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
On which boat, sir?
Senator FLETCHER.
On the ship. You say you saw him there.
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Only standing there. He did not in my presence.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Major, you say this was a clear night?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
A clear night; yes.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Was it as clear while you were on the water in this boat as it was prior to the catastrophe?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes; it was a beautiful night. It was a dark night, but starlight. We could see some distance. We could see another boat without a light, some distance away, by the shadow.
Senator NEWLANDS.
You were how many hours on the water, do you think?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I think we were rather late in getting to the Carpathia. I imagine that we were at least eight hours on the water.
Senator NEWLANDS.
About what time did you get on the Carpathia?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
It was after 8 o'clock that I looked at my watch; it was something after 8 o'clock that we got on.
Senator NEWLANDS.
What time did the dawn come?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
We could just commence to distinguish light, I think, about near 4 o'clock.
Senator NEWLANDS.
What was that answer?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
About 4 o'clock.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Prior to 4 o'clock, while you were drifting in the water, did you see any icebergs?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, we did not drift near anything; we saw -
Senator NEWLANDS.
When the dawn came, did you find yourself near icebergs?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
We found that there was a sort of a field of icebergs. There were icebergs in one direction, probably a mile away, and another iceberg in another direction, probably half a mile away, and another iceberg over here, probably 5 miles away.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Were there any ice fields?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I did not notice any in the morning. I was busy rowing, because I rowed all the time. But when we started to steam away on the Carpathia, I could see this ice field 4 miles long.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Did you observe any of these ice fields before you got on the Carpathia?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, I did not. Well, I could see something like an island at a distance, but not as clear as when we got on the Carpathia.
Senator NEWLANDS.
But you think when the dawn came the nearest iceberg was about half a mile away?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
It was farther than that. In rowing the boat I know we thought at first we would have to row close to the iceberg, and we were then about 5 miles off, at least. It was a question whether we were going to get very close to this island of ice or not. The iceberg was between our boat and the Carpathia.
Senator NEWLANDS.
All the icebergs were not between you and the Carpathia?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No; this was the only one.
Senator NEWLANDS.
And the others were in different directions?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes.
Senator NEWLANDS.
At all points of the compass?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes.
Senator NEWLANDS.
How do you account for the fact that you were not able to see any of these icebergs when you were in the water before the dawn and you were able to see a boat?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Well, they were a little farther away than the boat; but we picked these icebergs out pretty early in the morning, before dawn. They were dark objects; in fact, we did not know what they were at that time.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Is it your observation that on a night of that kind glasses enable one to get a wider range of vision?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes; we use glasses at night, especially when the night is bright. There is such a difference in the human eye. Take 12 men on a yacht and one man will see twice as far as another.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Without glasses?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes, sir.
Senator NEWLANDS.
I mean at night, such a night as you had that night, would glasses add very much to the range of your vision?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I think they would. I can see better with glasses at night than I can with my naked eye.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Have you any idea how much they add to the range?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
For instance, if you look at the moon at night with a glass you can see everything distinctly, and with the naked eye you can not.
Senator NEWLANDS.
How is it with reference to objects on the sea?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I think glasses assist you, provided it is bright enough.
Senator NEWLANDS.
And you think that night was bright enough?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I think it would assist. I really think if we had had a searchlight, though, we would have saved the ship.
Senator SMITH.
You say the second officer told you that he could not lower the lifeboats safely if they were filled to their capacity?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
The second officer [James Bisset] sent for me on board the Carpathia, as he had heard some complaints from the ladies about this quartermaster [Hichens], and while there I asked him regarding the loading of these boats, and he stated that those boats were filled just nicely for lowering from the height of the deck.
Senator NEWLANDS.
He told you this after the Titanic had gone down?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes. I can not understand why they have such very heavy block and tackle, if they can only put in such a small number of people, because the tonnage of 24 people is only about a ton and a half, English tons.
Senator SMITH.
Well, Major, some of these boats contained many more people than were in your boat?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes; but whether they were picked up afterwards or not, I do not know.
Senator SMITH.
Or whether they were lowered from the Titanic, you do not know?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You heard nothing of that kind while these two boats were being lowered?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Heard what?
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear the second officer say that they could only be partially filled and lowered with safety?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No; he made no remark of that kind, sir. I think it was a case that we had no more ladies to put in there.
Senator SMITH.
You had no more ladies to put in, and they were to be lowered without being filled?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I do not know exactly what "filled" means in that sense - filled from the deck. I spoke to the officer about it a couple of days afterwards, and he told me that was the reason they were not filled, that they were just comfortably filled for lowering that distance.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see any rockets fired on the Titanic during the 15 or 20 or 30 minutes before her sinking?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I do not know as to that time before sinking, but while we were lowering the boat they were sending up rockets.
Senator SMITH.
Sending them from your deck?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
From the bridge, I should say.
Senator SMITH.
What colored rockets-red and all colors?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
A good deal like an ordinary skyrocket, going up and breaking, and the different colors flying down.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know why they were being exploded?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Because we wanted assistance.
Senator SMITH.
Did you know that any assistance was available?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No. I think if there was any assistance available we should have been told of it when we left the boat. We were rowing around there, and if we had known that some ship was coming we would not have started off rowing for an imaginary light, trying to make a great many miles. I do not know whether they had that information or not.
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear the testimony that there was a light sighted, or a boat sighted about 5 miles ahead of the Titanic, after the collision?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I read in the morning paper that some evidence was given yesterday in regard to that.
Senator SMITH.
But you did not hear anything about that on the Carpathia?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No; and I did not see it.
Senator SMITH.
When you and Mr. Hays went forward to look at the ice, how much of it could you see?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I should think about 4 1/2 feet of ice, probably 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick. That is, it would be thicker on the rail than it would be on the bow, I heard the men walking over it, and it would crunch under their feet.
Senator SMITH.
Do you mean to be understood as saying that you saw that part of the berg that was sloughed off by the impact?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes; sort of shaken off. As we went past, this would scrape off.
Senator SMITH.
Did you look at the iceberg itself?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Oh, I did not see that; it had passed.
Senator SMITH.
You did not see that?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You could not describe its color or how it appeared?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you talk with Mr. Fleet, the man in the lookout, who was in your lifeboat?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
About this iceberg ?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes. I spoke to him about it.
Senator SMITH.
What did you say to him about it?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I was interested when I found he was in the crow's nest, and I said, "What occurred?" In the conversation he said he rang three bells, and then he signaled to the bridge.
Senator SMITH.
Did he say how far off the iceberg was when he first sighted it?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No; he did not tell me that.
Senator SMITH.
Did he say what it looked like when he first saw it?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No; he did not go into that. The only thing he said was that he did not get any reply from the bridge.
Senator SMITH.
From the telephone?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I heard afterwards that really the officers were not required to reply.
Senator SMITH.
That is, the information is imparted from the crow's nest to the officer at the bridge, and that is the end of that information?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I spoke to the second officer [Lightoller] on the boat regarding the conversation; and he told me it is simply a matter of whether the officer wishes to reply or not. He gets the information, probably, and acts right on it without attempting to reply to the crow's nest.
Senator SMITH.
Did he tell you anything more about the iceberg and the collision than you have stated?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
That is all. They had some conversation - the quartermaster was asking them who was on the bridge and they were calling over, and they did not know which officer was on the bridge, and the quartermaster called out to another boat, to the quartermaster or whoever was in charge of the other boat.
Senator SMITH.
Another lifeboat?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
From your boat?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes, sir; they were not far off.
Senator SMITH.
What did he say?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I did not catch the answer.
Senator SMITH.
No; I mean what did the quartermaster say?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
He said, "You know one officer was on duty on the bridge at the time we struck." So far as I could gather, the officer was in command of the other boat. He did not know; he might not have been on duty.
Senator SMITH.
And the lookout in the crow's nest did not seem to know?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No.
Senator SMITH.
I would like to ask whether, from what you observed, in your opinion, there was proper discipline on the part of the crew in loading the lifeboats?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
You wish to know whether there was discipline in loading the lifeboats by the crew?
Senator SMITH.
Yes; whether there was any order or discipline about it, whether they were loaded systematically and with care, and with consideration for the lives of the passengers, and considering the peril in which they were placed?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Among those of the crew that I saw working, such as loading the boats, lowering the boats, and filling the boats, the discipline could not have been better.
Senator SMITH.
The discipline could not have been better?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, sir; but there were too few.
Senator SMITH.
Too few of them?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Too few, yes. That is, I am only speaking now of the port side of the boat, where I happened to be. I can not speak of all over the boat.
Senator SMITH.
No. I said from your observation.
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes, just from that. I was surprised not to see more sailors at their stations. I was also surprised that the boats were not filled with more people.
Senator SMITH.
Each boat constitutes a station?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes, that is what I understand.
Senator SMITH.
Each lifeboat?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And from your observation, do I understand you to say that there was not a sailor at each station?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Oh, I do not say that there was not a sailor at each station, but there was not a full complement.
Senator SMITH.
There was not the full complement?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, sir. From what I gathered I understand that these men had been told off; that is, that each man had been assigned to his station, but they had had no practice, from what I learned from talking with the crew.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see any drill yourself?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Oh, no; there was no drill. As a rule Sunday is the day they do some drilling; but I did not see any drilling on Sunday.
Senator SMITH.
Would you have been likely to see it if it had occurred?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes. It is very interesting and I always like to see it. There is always the bugle sounding the call. I have seen it, crossing, many times, the fire drill and the boat drill.
Senator SMITH.
You saw no drill from the time you left Southampton until the time this accident occurred?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you, before or after the Titanic struck, learn that it was officially known to the ship, on Sunday, that there were icebergs on or near her track?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I heard it afterwards, but not before.
Senator SMITH.
Not before Sunday?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I heard, on the Carpathia, that they were expecting icebergs or ice.
Senator SMITH.
From whom did you hear it?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I heard the third officer [Pitman] just mention it, casually, to two or three of them, that they knew that there was ice; that they were approaching ice.
Senator SMITH.
What time of day was this?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I do not know. It was on the fore part of the Carpathia.
Senator SMITH.
The fore part of the journey on the Carpathia?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did they seem to be quite agreed that that was the case, or was there some dispute about it?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No; there was no dispute. This was just a casual remark that was made.
Senator SMITH.
You do not know by whom?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes; I know it was made by the third officer.
Senator SMITH.
By the third officer?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Is there anything further? I think that is all, Major.
Maj. PEUCHEN.
Could I make just a little statement, sir? It will not be very long.
Senator SMITH.
Yes.
Maj. PEUCHEN.
I have been quoted as making a great many statements or as saying several things, and I would like to just put this straight. I do not criticize Capt. Smith, but I do criticize the policy and methods pursued by the company, for I feel sure that in this case caution would have been of every virtue and would have averted the terrible calamity. I have been given the credit of saying many things which are absolutely untrue and I wish to state that I have not said any personal or unkind thing about Capt. Smith. I have been quoted as saying some very unkind things about the late captain, but I assure you I have never made any statement of that kind.
Senator SMITH.
Did you ever sail with him before?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Is that all you care to say, Major?
Maj. PEUCHEN.
That is all. I am here, sir, more on account of the poor women that came off our boat. They asked me if I would not come and tell this court of inquiry what I had seen, and when you wired me, sir, I came at once, without being pressed in any way, simply to carry out my promise to the poor women on our boat.
Senator SMITH.
The committee is greatly obliged, Major. You will be excused.
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