United States Senate Inquiry

Day 4

Testimony of Herbert J. Pitman, cont.

Senator SMITH.
When the Carpathia was about 5 miles away did you row toward her?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I waited to make certain it was a steamer, until I could see both masthead lights.

Senator SMITH.
You knew it was an object?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes; but I did not know what it was. It might have been a star.

Senator SMITH.
Could it have been a star - could you have taken it for a star?

Mr. PITMAN.
Oh, quite possibly.

Senator SMITH.
But when you satisfied yourself from the number of lights that it was a relief boat -

Mr. PITMAN.
We pulled toward it.

Senator SMITH.
You pulled toward it. At that time were there any people in the water?

Mr. PITMAN.
There were no noises; no sounds then.

Senator SMITH.
All moaning and cries of distress had ceased?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes; that must have been about 4 o'clock.

Senator SMITH.
Daybreak?

Mr. PITMAN.
It was just breaking day; yes.

Senator SMITH.
As you pulled your boat toward the Carpathia I understood you to say you saw icebergs?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes, sir.

Senator SMITH.
Several of them. Did you see any bodies in the water?

Mr. PITMAN.
None whatever, sir.

Senator SMITH.
After that time?

Mr. PITMAN.
None whatever, at any time.

Senator SMITH.
Did you, at any time during the time you were lying on your oars awaiting developments, see lights of any other character than those displayed on the Titanic or the Carpathia?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes; some of our boats had lamps and green lights.

Senator SMITH.
Aside from the lifeboats, did you see any other lights?

Mr. PITMAN.
I saw one white light.

Senator SMITH.
Where?

Mr. PITMAN.
Away on the horizon. We could not make anything out of it.

Senator SMITH.
At what time?

Mr. PITMAN.
About half-past 1.

Senator SMITH.
While you were lying on your oars?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes.

Senator SMITH.
In the lifeboat?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes.

Senator SMITH.
In what position was it?

Mr. PITMAN.
It was to the westward. Right ahead -

Senator SMITH.
Right on the course of the Titanic?

Mr. PITMAN.
Exactly.

Senator SMITH.
Did you hear the testimony of Mr. Boxhall on that point?

Mr. PITMAN.
No, I did not. I have heard him speak about it.

Senator SMITH.
Describe what you saw with your own eyes.

Mr. PITMAN.
I just saw a white light, and that is all. I said, "There is no use in pulling toward it until we know what it is." We saw the light, but I said, "What is the use of pulling to it?" It might have been one of our own boats with a white light on it.

Senator SMITH.
One of your own lifeboats?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes.

Senator SMITH.
Did you see these lights at any time before you left the Titanic?

Mr. PITMAN.
No, I did not, sir.

Senator SMITH.
Did you see any rockets or other signals of distress sent up from the Titanic, under the so-called Morse regulations?

Mr. PITMAN.
Oh, no; the Morse lamp is altogether different from the rocket.

Senator SMITH.
I understand. I will divide the question. Did you see any Morse signals given from the Titanic before you left her side, or while you were lying on your oars in that lifeboat?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I did not notice the Morse -

Senator SMITH.
Did you see any rockets?

Mr. PITMAN.
I should say about a dozen rockets were fired.

Senator SMITH.
What did you see? What did they do?

Mr. PITMAN.
They were fired from the rail. They make a report while leaving the rail, and also an explosion in the air, and they throw stars, of course, in the air.

Senator SMITH.
Red in color?

Mr. PITMAN.
Various colors.

Senator SMITH.
You saw those signals of distress, did you, from the Titanic?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes.

Senator SMITH.
And you saw about a dozen or so of them?

Mr. PITMAN.
It may have been a dozen or it may have been more, sir.

Senator SMITH.
When was this? When did you first see them; before you left the Titanic?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; shortly after.

Senator SMITH.
Did you see any while you were aboard the Titanic, any of that character?

Mr. PITMAN.
None were fired.

Senator SMITH.
None were fired?

Mr. PITMAN.
No.

Senator SMITH.
You do not know, of your own knowledge, whether the Morse signals of distress were given?

Mr. PITMAN.
There are no Morse signals of distress.

Senator SMITH.
Well, I mean Morse signals. I mean a communication from the Titanic -

Mr. PITMAN.
To this supposed ship?

Senator SMITH.
To this supposed ship, on your course?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes; I heard of them Morsing to her; that is all. I do not know for certain.

Senator SMITH.
You heard of that, but you did not see anything of that kind?

Mr. PITMAN.
No, sir.

Senator SMITH.
And do not know anything about it of your own knowledge?

Mr. PITMAN.
No, sir.

Senator SMITH.
Did you have a watch on when you entered the lifeboat?

Mr. PITMAN.
I did, sir.

Senator SMITH.
Can you fix the exact moment of time when the Titanic disappeared?

Mr. PITMAN.
2.20 exactly, ship's time. I took my watch out at the time she disappeared, and I said, "It is 2.20," and the passengers around me heard it.

Senator SMITH.
2.20 a. m.?

Mr. PITMAN.
2.20 a. m., the 15th of April.

Senator SMITH.
Did the firing of the rockets make any noise like the report of a pistol?

Mr. PITMAN.
Like the report of a gun.

Senator SMITH.
Did you, aboard the Titanic, hear anything of your proximity to the Frankfurt, of the North German Lloyd, or any other ship?

Mr. PITMAN.
No, sir.

Senator SMITH.
Do you know what time the Helig Olav - do you know a boat of that name?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I do not.

Senator SMITH.
You do not know anything about a boat of that name?

Mr. PITMAN.
There may be one.

Senator SMITH.
But you do not know?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I do not know.

Senator SMITH.
I neglected to ask you whether, in fixing the time when the Titanic disappeared beneath the water, you gave me ship's time?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes; that is ship's time.

Senator SMITH.
You had the accurate ship's time?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes, sir.

Senator SMITH.
When were the ship's clocks set; do you know?

Mr. PITMAN.
They are set at midnight every night.

Senator SMITH.
They were set at midnight?

Mr. PITMAN.
Every night.

Senator SMITH.
And were they set at midnight Sunday night?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; we had something else to think of.

Senator SMITH.
Exactly; so that you got the ship's time?

Mr. PITMAN.
Ship's time.

Senator SMITH.
From midnight Saturday?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes.

Senator SMITH.
And your watch

Mr. PITMAN.
Was correct.

Senator SMITH.
Was correct?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes, sir.

Senator FLETCHER.
Midday or midnight, did he say?

Senator SMITH.
Midnight.

Senator FLETCHER.
Midnight of Saturday night?

Mr. PITMAN.
They are corrected in the forenoon, perhaps half a minute or a minute; that is all.

Senator SMITH.
What is that, Mr. Lightoller?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
The clocks are set at midnight, but that is for the approximate noon position of the following day. Therefore Sunday noon the clocks will be accurate.

Senator SMITH.
That is Mr. Lightoller, the second officer. (To the witness:) What was the Greenwich time compared with the ship's time?

Mr. PITMAN.
I can not say.

Senator SMITH.
Can you say, Mr. Lightoller?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
I can give you the Greenwich time.

Senator SMITH.
I wish you would.

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
5.47 - 2.20 - 5.47 Greenwich mean time: 2.20 apparent time of ship.

Senator PERKINS.
Captain, what was the certificate the Titanic had as to number of passengers and crew?

Mr. PITMAN.
I do not know, sir.

Senator PERKINS.
She had over 2,000, did she not?

Mr. PITMAN.
Passengers and crew?

Senator PERKINS.
Yes.

Mr. PITMAN.
I think so.

Senator PERKINS.
And you had boats to accommodate only about 1,200 at the most?

Mr. PITMAN.
I could not say how many they were supposed to accommodate.

Senator PERKINS.
Twenty lifeboats, with a capacity of about 60, a sea boat, and a collapsible - let us call the average 60; it would be about 1,200 passengers and crew they were capable of carrying?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes.

Senator PERKINS.
Therefore she had life-saving appliances for only about one-half of the passengers and crew?

Mr. PITMAN.
All these details can be got from the builders, I suppose.

Senator PERKINS.
She had a certificate from the board of trade in London or Liverpool, did she not?

Mr. PITMAN.
The British Board of Trade, issued from London, I suppose.

Senator BURTON.
Are you quite sure, Mr. Pitman, that you saw a white light ahead?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes; but I am not certain what it was attached to. It may have been one of our own boats.

Senator BURTON.
That is, one of the lifeboats that had been cut loose?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes; one of the lifeboats.

Senator BURTON.
Could you not tell whether it was a steamer or sailing vessel coming on your course, or whether it was a floating lifeboat there right near at hand?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; because there was no motion in it, no movement.

Senator BURTON.
Whatever it was, it was not moving?

Mr. PITMAN.
Not moving.

Senator BURTON.
How long was it visible?

Mr. PITMAN.
I really could not say; I did not really take any notice of it.

Senator BURTON.
When did you first see it?

Mr. PITMAN.
It may have been 1 o'clock or half past 1. One of my men called my attention to the white light over there.

Senator BURTON.
How far distant did it seem to be?

Mr. PITMAN.
It may have been 3 miles.

Senator BURTON.
You did not see the red light on the starboard side?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I did not?

Senator BURTON.
You did not think, then, that that was a steamer or a sailing vessel coming?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I did not, sir.

Senator BURTON.
I believe that is all.

Senator NEWLANDS.
What is the fastest ship you have ever sailed on?

Mr. PITMAN.
The Titanic, sir.

Senator FLETCHER.
Who was the chief officer on the Titanic?

Mr. PITMAN.
Mr. Wilde.

Senator FLETCHER.
And there were how many other officers?

Mr. PITMAN.
Six.

Senator FLETCHER.
You designate them as the chief officer, and then the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth? [Wilde, Murdoch, Lightoller, Pitman, Boxhall, Lowe and Moody]

Mr. PITMAN.
Exactly.

Senator FLETCHER.
What are the duties of the chief officer?

Mr. PITMAN.
He keeps his watch the same as the others, the same as the first and second, sir.

Senator FLETCHER.
What became of him?

Mr. PITMAN.
He went with the rest.

Senator FLETCHER.
When did you see him last, and where?

Mr. PITMAN.
I can not recollect seeing him at all, sir.

Senator FLETCHER.
You do not remember seeing him at all that Sunday night?

Mr. PITMAN.
Not after 8 p. m.

Senator FLETCHER.
Was he on duty at all?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; not from 6. He was due on watch at 2 a. m.

Senator FLETCHER.
And he went off watch when?

Mr. PITMAN.
At 6 p.m.

Senator FLETCHER.
You did not see him about the ship at all after the accident?

Mr. PITMAN.
I did not, sir; no.

Senator FLETCHER.
And then the first officer was who?

Mr. PITMAN.
Mr. Murdoch.

Senator FLETCHER.
And you testified about seeing him last when you lowered boat No. 5?

Mr. PITMAN.
Exactly.

Senator FLETCHER.
When did he go on duty that night?

Mr. PITMAN.
He was on duty then, at the time of the accident; at 10 o'clock he went on.

Senator FLETCHER.
Who was the second officer?

Mr. PITMAN.
Mr. Lightoller.

Senator FLETCHER.
When did he go on duty?

Mr. PITMAN.
He had left the bridge at 10; he was on duty from 6 to 10.

Senator FLETCHER.
You saw him about the decks after the accident?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I can not say that I did, because he was on the opposite side of the ship from me. I was on the starboard side and he was on the port side. I did see him once on the port side; yes.

Senator FLETCHER.
What was he doing when you saw him?

Mr. PITMAN.
Superintending the clearing away of the boats.

Senator FLETCHER.
Did you see him any other time except at that moment when he was superintending the clearing of the boats?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I did not see him after that. The next time I saw him was when we came alongside of the Carpathia.

Senator FLETCHER.
What were his duties?

Mr. PITMAN.
The same as the first.

Senator FLETCHER.
Where did he belong at that time? What was his particular place on the ship?

Mr. PITMAN.
At the time of the accident?

Senator FLETCHER.
Yes.

Mr. PITMAN.
He was off watch then; he was in bed.

Senator FLETCHER.
Were his quarters close to yours?

Mr. PITMAN.
Next door.

Senator FLETCHER.
You did not see him when you got up and went out, when you first heard of the accident?

Mr. PITMAN.
I saw him when I was coming back; on my return.

Senator FLETCHER.
Did you hear him give any orders or directions or instructions, or anybody give him any instructions or orders?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; we were inside, in our own quarters then.

Senator FLETCHER.
But after that?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I did not. I was not in his company after that.

Senator FLETCHER.
The next officer was who?

Mr. PITMAN.
Myself.

Senator FLETCHER.
You were in charge of boat No. 5?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes, sir.

Senator FLETCHER.
What were your duties in connection with that boat?

Mr. PITMAN.
Simply to get it out and get the people into it, and get her away.

Senator FLETCHER.
Is the officer in charge of the boat expected to go with the boat if it leaves the ship?

Mr. PITMAN.
Not necessarily so.

Senator FLETCHER.
Is it his duty to see that the boat is properly loaded?

Mr. PITMAN.
The senior officer will see to that, superintending the lowering of the boats.

Senator FLETCHER.
Who was the senior officer that night?

Mr. PITMAN.
Mr. Murdoch was the senior officer on that side.

Senator FLETCHER.
After the boat is lowered and in command of the officer who is placed in command of it, it is his duty to direct the movement of that boat, is it not?

Mr. PITMAN.
Exactly.

Senator FLETCHER.
Irrespective of any suggestions or demands of passengers or crew?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes.

Senator FLETCHER.
Can you draw just a rough diagram showing the location of those boats on the ship?

Mr. PITMAN.
I can show you a photograph of it that would be better than a drawing. I am not a very good hand at that.

Senator FLETCHER.
You can show a photograph showing the location of the boats, and their numbers?

Mr. PITMAN.
I can. (Handing photograph.)

Senator FLETCHER.
Start, for instance -

Mr. PITMAN.
Forward?

Senator FLETCHER.
Forward. You are looking at the stern here, are you not? How are the boats numbered on the starboard?

Mr. PITMAN.
Even numbers one side and odd numbers the other.

Senator FLETCHER.
Which is which?

Mr. PITMAN.
The port side would be No.2.

Senator SMITH.
Witness, just number the boats on this diagram (handing witness diagram).

Senator FLETCHER.
How are they numbered?

Mr. PITMAN.
Even numbers port side, odd numbers starboard side.

Senator FLETCHER.
Beginning on the starboard side, you commence with No. 1, the emergency boat, do you not?

Mr. PITMAN.
With No. 1.

Senator FLETCHER.
That is the emergency boat, is it not?

Mr. PITMAN.
Emergency; yes.

Senator FLETCHER.
That boat is swung away from the ship?

Mr. PITMAN.
It is always swung out.

Senator FLETCHER.
Then the next one to that would be No. 3, that is a lifeboat?

Mr. PITMAN.
Nos. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15; this is the starboard side.

Senator FLETCHER.
On the port side you would begin with No. 2, the emergency boat?

Mr. PITMAN.
Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16. There are no numbers given to the collapsibles.

Senator FLETCHER.
Where are the collapsible boats placed?

Mr. PITMAN.
Close by the bridge.

Senator FLETCHER.
Under what numbers?

Mr. PITMAN.
Under Nos. 1 and 2.

Senator FLETCHER.
The collapsibles are placed under Nos. 1 and 2?

Mr. PITMAN.
Two of them are.

Senator FLETCHER.
Then there are four of these?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes; the other two of them are close by the funnel.

Senator FLETCHER.
Under Nos. 4 and 6?

Mr. PITMAN.
Abreast of Nos. 3 and 4.

Senator FLETCHER.
On the house?

Mr. PITMAN.
On the officers' house.

Senator FLETCHER.
What officer had charge of No. 7?

Mr. PITMAN.
There was no officer in that boat.

Senator FLETCHER.
What officer was assigned to No. 7?

Mr. PITMAN.
No officer was assigned to it - a petty officer.

Senator FLETCHER.
Whose station was it?

Mr. PITMAN.
I can not remember them all.

Senator FLETCHER.
You stated at one time that the fifth [Lowe] and sixth [Moody] officers were placed in charge of boats, did you not?

Mr. PITMAN.
That was at Southampton.

Senator FLETCHER.
How about on the voyage?

Mr. PITMAN.
We were each allotted a boat.

Senator FLETCHER.
You do not remember what officer was assigned to No. 7?

Mr. PITMAN.
No.

Senator FLETCHER.
You testified that Mr. Murdoch superintended the loading of No. 7, did you not?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes.

Senator FLETCHER.
Whom did he place in charge of the boat when it was loaded?

Mr. PITMAN.
A quartermaster, I think.

Senator FLETCHER.
Did he continue in charge? Did he go with the boat?

Mr. PITMAN.
Oh, yes.

Senator FLETCHER.
He went with the boat?

Mr. PITMAN.
He went with the boat.

Senator FLETCHER.
What assistants did he have in that boat?

Mr. PITMAN.
Two or three more of the crew there with him. What rating they were I can not say.

Senator FLETCHER.
I understood you to say that after you reached the water and found No. 7 and attached your boat to her, there was no officer in charge of her - no one able to row her?

Mr. PITMAN.
I did not, sir. No; I said there was no officer there.

Senator FLETCHER.
I am talking about No. 7, the lifeboat.

Mr. PITMAN.
There was a quartermaster in charge.

Senator FLETCHER.
Who were the people in No. 7?

Mr. PITMAN.
What do you mean - the passengers or the crew?

Senator FLETCHER.
Everybody.

Mr. PITMAN.
I have not the slightest idea who the people were in her.

Senator FLETCHER.
You saw her the next morning?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes; but I do not know one passenger in a thousand.

Senator FLETCHER.
No; but I mean, speaking generally, with reference to the men, women, and children, how many were in the boat?

Mr. PITMAN.
I really could not say.

Senator FLETCHER.
I understood you to say that when No. 7 reached the water you afterwards had her attached to your boat, because there was nobody in her to row No. 7.

Mr. PITMAN.
No; not to row it. My idea of lashing together was to keep together, so that if nothing hove in sight before daylight we could steady ourselves and cause a far bigger show than one boat only and with far more hope of being picked up. That was my idea in hanging together.

Senator FLETCHER.
Do you know how many oarsmen there were in No. 7?

Mr. PITMAN.
I do not, sir.

Senator FLETCHER.
Were there plenty of capable oarsmen in No. 7 to navigate her?

Mr. PITMAN.
I do not know anything about the crew in No. 7 at all.

Senator FLETCHER.
Notwithstanding she was right alongside of you?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I do not.

Senator FLETCHER.
Did you notice her when she was unloaded on the Carpathia?

Mr. PITMAN.
No; I did not, sir.

Senator FLETCHER.
How long after your boat was reached by the Carpathia was it before No. 7 was reached?

Mr. PITMAN.
It may have been 20 minutes. I did not assist in unloading No. 7.

Senator FLETCHER.
Why did you place on No.7 two men, as you have stated?

Mr. PITMAN.
Two passengers, that was.

Senator FLETCHER.
Two passengers?

Mr. PITMAN.
Yes, sir.

Senator FLETCHER.
Why did you do that?

Mr. PITMAN.
Simply to even them up a bit.

Continued >