(The witness was sworn by Senator Bourne.)
Senator BOURNE.
Please state your name, age, and occupation.
Mr. ANDREWS.
C. E. Andrews; age, 20; 125 Millbrook Road, Southampton; occupation, steward.
Senator BOURNE.
How long have you followed the sea?
Mr. ANDREWS.
This is my fourth year, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
How long have you been a steward?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I have been a steward now, sir - this is my fourth year, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
When you started to sea, you started in the capacity of a steward, did you?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir; officer's steward.
Senator BOURNE.
Were you on the Titanic on her maiden voyage?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
When did you join the ship?
Mr. ANDREWS.
On Wednesday morning, sir, the day of the sailing; the 10th of April.
Senator BOURNE.
And you were with her up until the time of the catastrophe?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Were you allotted to any of the lifeboats or emergency boats or rafts?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I do not know anything about that, sir; but a friend of mine, a steward, second class, he told me to go and see what my boat was, on Sunday morning, and just before breakfast he came back and told me it was No. 16.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you go to No. 16 at the time of the accident?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I did, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
What officer was in charge of No. 16?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I could not tell you what officer, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Was it an officer, or one of the petty officers?
Mr. ANDREWS.
An officer, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Had you sailed with the White Star Line prior to this voyage?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir; I had been with the White Star Line just four years.
Senator BOURNE.
And your service has been with them?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
In all of the four years' service as steward with them have you participated in any of their fire or boat drills?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
How often have they been held?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Well, they have been held on Sunday. They muster in New York, or hold muster in New York, and then there is one on the Sunday home, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
During your voyages have you held any of these drills?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Was there any held on the maiden voyage of the Titanic?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Was there any notice of any drill?
Mr. ANDREWS.
That I do not know, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
You saw none?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
You know that no drills were held?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
If there had been, you would have had to participate?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
And you would have been censured for not being at the drill if one was held?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Will you explain for the information of the committee what knowledge you have of what occurred immediately prior to and following the catastrophe of the Titanic?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir. I came off watch about a quarter to 11 and went down and turned in. About 20 minutes after that I was wakened up by a movement of the ship. Several of the boys woke up with the shock also. So with that I got out of my bunk and went into the working alleyway, seeing lots of stewards out. I walked up and down the alleyway several times with another steward. After that I went back to the quarters. I went back and laid down for a few minutes and then got up again. I had no sooner gotten there than somebody came and said, "All hands on deck."
Senator BOURNE.
How severe was the shock? Did it awaken you? Were you asleep at the time?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I was just dozing off, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Did it throw you out of your bunk?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you think that the ship was in a serious condition, at all?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir; I thought something might have gone wrong with the engines.
Senator BOURNE.
When you went out on deck, you assumed that there was no danger, and went back to bed again, did you?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Until the call came for "All hands on deck"?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I got out of my bunk just before that, because I heard the rush of water, and I thought to myself, I guess I had better dress and go out; so I had just got to the door when somebody said, "All hands on deck."
Senator BOURNE.
Now, will you go on?
Mr. ANDREWS.
With that I walked up on deck and stood by my boat. There were lots of people around, and I saw stores brought to the boat, and bread. I did not see the stores put in the boat. I assisted in helping the ladies and children into the boat. After the boat was full the officer called out for able seamen, or any individuals then, to man the boat. After several had got into the boat --
Senator BOURNE.
How many?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Six, sir. Five, sir, had got into the boat, and I was the sixth.
Senator BOURNE.
Five besides yourself?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Five besides myself. The master-at-arms - there was two master-at-arms, and one [Joseph Bailey] was in charge of our boat.
Senator BOURNE.
What was the name of the one in charge of your boat?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I do not know his name, sir; he was a master-at-arms.
Senator BOURNE.
How many were passengers in the boat besides the six men manning the boat?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I should think about 50, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Was it one of the lifeboats or one of the collapsible boats?
Mr. ANDREWS.
A lifeboat.
Senator BOURNE.
Now, will you go on?
Mr. ANDREWS.
After they were all in the boat the officer looked around at me and asked me if I could take an oar, and I said I could, sir. At that he told me to get into the boat. After I got in the boat I assisted by putting the rowlocks in. We lowered the boat to the water and rowed away from the ship. On our way out we came in contact with another boat, and stood by.
Senator BOURNE.
That is, rested on your oars?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir; we had to rest because we came across another boat, sir, filled up with ladies. The remark was passed by some one in the boat to go back, but as the two boats were full we stood at a distance away.
Senator BOURNE.
Who passed the remark to go back?
Mr. ANDREWS.
One of the passengers, sir. The boats were full, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
If was in the boat you were in, No. 16, that one of the passengers passed this remark to go back?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
What attention did the officer in charge of the boat pay to the remark, if any?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I never heard nothing else, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Did the passenger who made the remark express any reason?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
He did not say why he wanted to go back?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir. When daylight came we saw a light, which was on the Carpathia, and we proceeded to her.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you see any light at the time of the accident, immediately preceding or following, from any ship, or any light of any kind or description other than what was on the Titanic itself?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Well, sir, we saw a light that seemed over the Titanic, back of the Titanic.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you think it was on the Titanic or beyond the Titanic?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir. The coxswain of the boat, the master-at-arms, thought it was another ship coming up to give assistance; but after a while the light disappeared.
Senator BOURNE.
How long was that after you left the Titanic?
Mr. ANDREWS.
About an hour.
Senator BOURNE.
That you saw this light over and beyond the Titanic?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Believing it to be a rescue ship?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
You left the Titanic at what time - about what time - according to your recollection?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I should think it was about half past 12, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
What time did the accident take place?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Well, sir, to my recollection, about 20 minutes past 11, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
You were in your bunk at the time?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I was, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Are you absolutely sure as to the time of the accident or is that an impression?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Well, that is, so far as I know, sir, because I was in my bunk. There was no clock about. I think I was lying down about 20 minutes.
Senator BOURNE.
You were dozing at the time of the accident, and so your idea of the exact time of the accident would be rather hazy, a mere guess. More of a guess than anything specific?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes.
Senator BOURNE.
Will you kindly go on?
Mr. ANDREWS.
We transferred one of our men to the other boat.
Senator BOURNE.
Why?
Mr. ANDREWS.
To assist to row. They had not very many in the other boat to row, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you transfer any of your passengers?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir; one of our crew, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Your boat was lowered past the steerage quarters, on a lower deck, was it not?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Well, it was the after boat on that side, so far as I know, sir, on the boat deck.
Senator BOURNE.
In lowering it, it went by the steerage quarters, on the lower deck, did it not?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Was there any effort on the part of the steerage men to get into your boat?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir; I was told by the officer to allow nobody in the boat after the last one in it.
Senator BOURNE.
Was there any effort on the part of anyone to get into it?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir; everything was quiet, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
When the officer started to fill the boat with the passengers, and the men to man the boat, were there any individuals who tried to get into the boat that he would not permit to get in?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Was there any confusion or panic in loading the boat?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir; none whatsoever.
Senator BOURNE.
Kindly proceed.
Mr. ANDREWS.
On the way to the Carpathia we saw some of our boats also proceeding. When we arrived there, there were one or two boats set adrift.
Senator BOURNE.
Who set them adrift, and why?
Mr. ANDREWS.
That I do not know sir. I think they were damaged boats, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Well, of your knowledge, after they were filled and loaded, had any of their occupants been drowned or injured?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Not that I know of, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Your boat was as full as it would hold with safety, was it?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
You were up to the limit of your capacity?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I should think so, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you hear any cries?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
At the time that the ship sank?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Yes, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Immediately preceding or just following?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Well, sir, we had just stood by the other boat when we heard the cries?
Senator BOURNE.
How far were you from the Titanic at the time?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I should say about half a mile, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you see the Titanic sink?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Well, sir, she must have been halfway sinking when I saw her.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you hear any explosion or noise?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I heard just a small sound, sir; it was not very loud, but just a small sound.
Senator BOURNE.
Did it create any discussion in the boat?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
What was the impression it made on your mind?
Mr. ANDREWS.
I thought perhaps it was one of the boilers that had just gone, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you think that the ship broke in two?
Mr. ANDREWS.
That I do not know, sir. When we got away in the boat at the last everything seemed to go to a black mist. All the lights seemed to go out and everything went black.
Senator BOURNE.
Did the lights go out altogether on the whole ship, or go out in part, and then the remainder go out?
Mr. ANDREWS.
They seemed to go out altogether, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
You are familiar with the different decks of the ship? You know the E deck?
Mr. ANDREWS.
No, sir; I do not know them. I do not know anything about the decks, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
E deck being the deck on which those quarters were located, was there any water on that deck, do you know?
Mr. ANDREWS.
Not as I know of, sir.
Senator BOURNE.
That is all. We are very much obliged to you.
(Witness excused.)
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